California 247 skirts the eastern edge of the San Bernardino Mountains by connecting Yucca Valley with Barstow via Lucerne Valley. Much of California 247 passes through the Mojave Desert and stays away from populated areas.
Highway Guide
California 247 north
A large portion of northbound California 247 between California 62 and California 18 has a daytime headlights requirement, as shown by this sign. This is to enhance visibility of oncoming traffic along the narrow, two-lane highway. Photo taken 11/00.
This California 247 shield is situated next to a Joshua Tree, a plant common to this area of the desert. Joshua Tree National Park, in fact, is located southeast of the location of this sign. Photos taken 11/00.
California 247 does not actually meet California 18 in Lucerne Valley. Instead, they are connected by a short connector route as shown by the "TO" banner on the signage here, which is along northbound California 247 in Lucerne Valley. The average map makes it appear that these two highways intersect, when in reality they don't quite get that close. Photo taken 11/00.
California 247 south
Barstow Road begins as a city-maintained street in downtown Barstow. It travels south through the city toward the Interstate 15 interchange. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Prior to the intersection with Virginia Way is this unusual trailblazer for the Interstate 15 freeway. Rather than using an Interstate 15 shield, the TO banner is attached a "FREEWAY" sign. Photo taken 03/15/09.
At the top of the hill, southbound Barstow Road meets Interstate 15. This interchange also marks the northern terminus of California 247. Turn right to Interstate 15 south to San Bernardino and Los Angeles, with a connection to California 58 west to Bakersfield. Turn left to follow Interstate 15 north to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, with a connection to Interstate 40 east to Flagstaff and Albuquerque. Photo taken 03/15/09.
California 247/Barstow Road crosses over Interstate 15 on this bridge. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Turn right here to connect from California 247 south to Interstate 15 north to Las Vegas and Interstate 40 east to Needles. Note the use of control cities with the omission of route markers. Photo taken 03/15/09.
A freeway entrance shield for Interstate 15 south is posted at the onramp to the freeway. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Southbound California 247 ends at its junction with California 62 in Yucca Valley. As seen on this sign, the junction of California 62 and Interstate 10 is only 22 miles southwest of this intersection. An equal distance east is 29 Palms, and there are no services on California 62 east of 29 Palms until Vidal Junction (U.S. 95). Evidence of a U.S. 60 shield still remains on this old sign, which dates to the 1960s. An END California 247 shield assembly is found below the mileage sign. Photos taken 11/11/00 and 11/11/08.
