Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake

Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake provides land, facilities, and other assets supporting the U.S. Navy’s research, development, acquisition, testing, and evaluation of weapons systems. Located in California’s Western Mojave Desert, its two ranges and main site cover more than 1.1 million acres, the Navy’s largest single landholding. This is an active military installation with controlled access, not a walk-in public attraction: visitors require vetting and an approved badge, and the Pass and ID Office processes access requests. Normal access-office hours are 6:00–15:30 Monday–Thursday and 6:00–14:30 on non-flex Fridays; it is closed on flex Fridays, weekends, and holidays. Review current base-access and vehicle-policy guidance before travel.