Needles, California
Needles is a city of 4,872 people in San Bernardino County, California.
Why visit Needles
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 12 parks and trails, 16 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include El Garces Intermodal Transportation Facility, Needles Regional Museum, Manny Morris Park and Jack Smith Marina.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 110°F; December lows average 45°F.
Weather in Needles
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Needles
Needles is a city in San Bernardino County, in the Mojave Desert region of Southern California. Situated on the western banks of the Colorado River, Needles is located near the California border with Arizona and Nevada. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95. The population was 4,931 at the 2020 census, up from 4,844 at the 2010 census.
From the Wikipedia article Needles, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks5
El Garces Intermodal Transportation Facility
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Railway station in Needles, California
950 Front Street, Needles
Needles Regional Museum
Museum · 2.2 mi
929 Front Street, Needles
Mo-Sa 09:00-14:00; Jun 17-Sep 06 off
Parks, trails and playgrounds12
Jack Smith Marina
Park · 2.6 mi
Boat Launch Facility $20.00 Day Launch Pass $180.00 Annual Launch Pass $5.00 Vehicle Day Parking Pass All passes to be purchased at...
1000 River Road, Needles
Rivers Edge Golf Course (Needles Municipal)
Golf course · 2.5 mi
18 hole Par 71
144 Marina Drive, Needles
Jack Smith Memorial Park
Park · 2.6 mi
Boat Launch Facility $20.00 Day Launch Pass $180.00 Annual Launch Pass $5.00 Vehicle Day Parking Pass All passes to be purchased at...
1000 River Road, Needles
Restaurants and cafes16
Lucky Dhaba Indian Food
Restaurant · Indian · 2.5 mi
2411 West Broadway Street, Needles
Mo-Su 06:00-22:00
Panda Garden
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.4 mi
2302 West Broadway Street, Needles
Mo-Su 11:00-21:30; Tu off
The Filter Change
Cafe · 2.5 mi
1714 West Broadway Street, Needles
Tu-Fr 07:00-16:00; Sa,Su 08:00-14:00
Wagon Wheel
Restaurant · 2.6 mi
2420 Needles Highway, Needles
Mo-Su 06:30-21:00; Fr,Sa 06:30-21:30
Needles Smashed Burgers
Bar and pub · 2.4 mi
2205 West Broadway Street, Needles
Mo-Su 10:00-20:00
Domino's
Fast food · Pizza · 2.0 mi
1036 East Broadway Street, Needles
Mo-Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00; Su 10:00-24:00
4 more on the map.
History
Needles was founded in May 1883 during the construction of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which originally crossed the Colorado River at Eastbridge, Arizona, three miles southeast of modern Needles. Needles was named after "The Needles", a group of pinnacles in the Mohave Mountains on the Arizona side of the river. The crossing was a poor site for a bridge, lacking firm banks and a solid bottom.
A bridge was built, but it was of poor quality. Not only was it a "flimsy looking structure", but it was an obstacle to navigation on the river. Flooding on the Colorado River destroyed the bridge three times – in 1884, 1886 and 1888. The railway built Red Rock Bridge, a high cantilever bridge, at a narrower point with solid rock footings, ten miles downstream near today's Topock. The bridge was completed in May 1890, and the old bridge was dismantled.
From the History section of Needles, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay11
Churches and places of worship13
Gas and EV charging12
The Gas Station Dispensary
Gas station · 1.9 mi
1005 East Broadway Street, Needles
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Pillar Academy of Business & Finance
School · 3.3 mi
1589 E Plantation Rd, Mohave Valley
Healthcare6
Colorado River Home Health
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.4 mi
1406 Bailey Avenue, Needles
San Bernardino County Behavioral Health
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.3 mi
1600 Bailey Avenue, Needles
Map of Needles
90 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°F | 46°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 71°F | 49°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 79°F | 54°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 87°F | 61°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 96°F | 70°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 106°F | 80°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 110°F | 87°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 109°F | 85°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 103°F | 77°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 90°F | 65°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 75°F | 52°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 64°F | 45°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Needles Ap Hcn (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
San Bernardino County has had 40 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-09-11: Bridge Fire (Fire)
- 2024-09-07: Line Fire (Fire)
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-10-26: Blue Ridge Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Needles Airport (EED) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Mohave Valley 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Fort Mohave 13 mi north, about 21 min by car
- Bullhead City 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
- Desert Hills 23 mi southeast, about 37 min by car
- Lake Havasu City 28 mi southeast, about 45 min by car
- Golden Valley 35 mi northeast, about 56 min by car
- Kingman 45 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- New Kingman-Butler 47 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Cienega Springs 49 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Big River 49 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- NeedlesCAsignflowersJan09, Ken Lund at https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Needles library building CA 2026-04-05 15-50-01, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Spikes desert dog park Needles CA 2026-04-05 10-44-02, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Days Inn motel room Needles CA 2026-04-04 19-12-45 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Vista Colorado Elementary School entrance Needles CA 2026-04-05 15-53-17, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Quality Inn Needles CA 2026-04-05 10-39-29, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- McDonalds Needles CA 2026-04-05 10-39-34, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Motel 6 from above Needles CA 2026-04-05 10-42-07, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Days Inn evening Needles CA 2026-04-04 19-23-15, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Needles High School buildings Needles CA 2026-04-05 15-58-08, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Home of the Mustangs wall Needles High School CA 2026-04-05 15-56-44, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Needles, California (3226903381) (cropped), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Needles, California (3226903381), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Imperial 400 motor inn Needles CA 2026-04-05 16-14-33, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Cubs Liquor Needles CA 2026-04-05 16-14-59, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- River Palms Apartments Needles CA 2026-04-05 16-17-07, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- 2014 07 19 El Garces Needles CA 02, Mark-edit, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2014 07 19 El Garces Needles CA 03, Mark-edit, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2014 07 19 El Garces Needles CA 02 (cropped), Mark-edit, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2014 07 19 El Garces Needles CA 01, Mark-edit, CC BY 3.0
- Needles, California wagon, Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- J and J Classics Needles CA 2026-04-05 16-22-02, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Old Trails Inn gas station Needles CA 2026-04-05 16-19-35, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- 66 Motel front Needles CA 2026-04-05 16-23-49, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- El Garces courtyard Needles CA 2026-04-05 16-04-12 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- El Garces side Needles CA 2026-04-05 16-02-10, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Needles CA Amtrak station 2026-04-05 16-03-33 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Sage Motel day Needles CA 2026-04-05 15-35-33, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Sage Motel sunset Needles CA 2026-04-04 22-01-43, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- ISS022-E-43965 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS006-E-29853 - View of Arizona, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-213369 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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