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Trip Planner :  USA  /  California  /  California Desert  /  Ridgecrest

Ridgecrest

4.1
Museums Nature Shopping
Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is located along U.S. Route 395 in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS, or China Lake). The population was 27,616 at the 2010 census, up from 24,927 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated as a city in 1963.Ridgecrest is surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra Nevada on the west, the Cosos on the north, the Argus Range on the east, and the El Paso Mountains on the south. It is approximately 82mi from the Lancaster/Palmdale area and approximately 145mi from both Bakersfield and San Bernardino, the three nearest major urban centers. Private air travel in and out of the city is provided through the Inyokern Airport. There are currently no scheduled commercial flights in or out of Ridgecrest.Ridgecrest is within two hours of the highest and the lowest points in the contiguous U.S.
Ridgecrest is in California Desert. Add Ridgecrest and other destinations to your itinerary using our United States road trip planning website , and learn about what to see, what to do, and where to stay.
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Popular things to do in Ridgecrest

Little Petroglyph Canyon
5.0
Duration: 2​h 30​min
©
Maturango Museum
4.5
Duration: 1​h 30​min
©
Red Rock Books
4.7
Duration: 1​h 30​min
China Lake Naval Weapons Center
3.1
Duration: 2​h

Side trips from Ridgecrest

©
Badwater Basin
Death Valley National Park
4.7
Duration: 2​h 30​min
©
Zabriskie Point
Death Valley National Park
4.8
Duration: 2​h
©
Dante's View
Death Valley National Park
4.9
Duration: 1​h 30​min
©
Artists Dr
Death Valley National Park
4.6
Duration: 2​h 30​min
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Places to visit with Ridgecrest

San Francisco BEST FOR: Nature, Museums, Parks
Yosemite National Park BEST FOR: Nature, Trails, Scenic Drive
Los Angeles BEST FOR: Museums, Theme Parks, Childrens Museums
San Diego BEST FOR: Zoos & Aquariums, Museums, Beaches
Anaheim BEST FOR: Theme Parks, Fun & Games, Parks
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