Like any Californian city, Barstow enjoys the Mediterranean weather. However, it is not located by the famous beachside that California is so famous for; the city is actually part of the also-famous Mojave Desert. The Mojave Desert plays a key part in the development of this city as the line of transportation is built through Barstow thereby making it an inter-city transportation centre.

The perfect time to visit Barstow is during the spring or summer as the climate will be extremely cold during the winter times. This is mostly contributed by the low moisture level in the atmosphere as the day turns to night, the city experiences rapid change of temperature. The locals find the weather just fine because they get just enough sun during the day and an enjoyable night sleep with the cold breeze at night.

Barstow is a quaint, little Californian city with a small community and low living standards. It oozes the wild western feeling despite being small. The city of Barstow has been trying to up its ante to attract more visitors over the years and it certainly serves as a perfect destination for adventure seekers.

For those who seek adventurous thrill in Barstow, there are cave potholing opportunities. Deep down into these caves, cavers can go through the lava tubes which were formed by lava flow below land in the past. There is also a way to explore these caves in a less adventurous manner where you can opt for the guided tours instead.

Located just within the desert means more desert thrills are in store for visitors. These parts of the desert are marked as Off-Highway Vehicle Areas and there are five of them scattered around Barstow. The Mojave Off-Road Racing Enthusiast holds yearly competitions here and often draws a large crowd of Off-Highway Vehicle racers to the city.

Being a major transportation hub for so many years, the city has a museum for the historic Route 66 of California which is also known as the “Mother Road” of highways in the United States. A walking tour in the city will bring you across the Main Street Murals which is an ongoing project by the local community to revive the city and to attract visitors to the place. Most of the murals are historically themed and are painted by the locals including artists, adults and also the young.
 
In 2002, President George W. Bush granted the National Historic Trail status to the Old Spanish Trail in Barstow. Many school field trips were organised to visit this historic site which is widely known as “the longest, crooked-est, most arduous pack mule route in the history of America” in a quote by Explorer John C. Fremont. The trail which passes through Barstow was once an important trade route between New Mexico and California.

Another famous historic part of the city would be the Calico Ghost Town which was once a silver mining town. The Calico Ghost Town though abandoned, still plays a key part in the yearly Festivals in Barstow. There are Civil War Re-enactments, Calico Ghost Town Heritage Festivals and various other activities are held here annually.