This Tiny Desert Town Was Just Named the Best in the U.S.—and It’s Surrounded by Hot Springs, Hiking Trails, and Great Mexican Food

The first time I visited El Centro, California, the temperature soared to a blistering 114 degrees and I watched a tumbleweed roll down the sleepy main street. I was passing through in hopes of grabbing a quick bite en route to the famed public art installations near the Salton Sea.

I unexpectedly ended up spending the better part of the afternoon discovering awesome indie boutiques, stellar tacos, and a warm, creative community. Just over two hours east of San Diego and 15 miles north of the Mexican border town of Mexicali, El Centro has grit and charm.

“Five cars is considered traffic in El Centro,” jokes Mark Silva, owner of the new Gateway Gallery in nearby Ocotillo. “The town constantly seems to be on the verge of emerging.”

I think the time has come. The region’s first hotels have popped up in the past year, including an Insta-worthy hot springs hotel midway between San Diego and El Centro, and a handful of makers and chefs are setting up shop in town. The annual Bombay Beach Biennale, a word-of-mouth gathering of creatives, will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, and a shocking amount of musicians come through this remote desert area that delivers one surprise after another.

Why El Centro Is the Best Desert Town in the U.S. for 2025

This desert town’s gems don’t jump out. You need to be looking to discover the cool vintage and vinyl stores, craft beer bars, and artisanal coffee spots. It’s fresh off its first-ever restaurant week and given its proximity to the border, the Mexican food is sensational. Plus, hot springs, hiking trails, and funky public art installations are all just a drive away.

Where to Stay

Jacumba Hot Springs

Opened in 2024, this hip hot springs hotel was revived by three friends and has brought fresh energy and a cool Cali crowd to the desert. It feels reminiscent of Pioneertown in California’s High Desert near Joshua Tree. Mexico, the Med, and Morocco design influences can be found throughout the common areas, 18 rooms, two palatial suites, and five nearby guesthouses. Anyone can buy a pass to the pools and healing waters, and the hotel’s moody saloon hosts an exciting line-up of musicians and DJs.

Cambria Hotel-El Centro

The Imperial Valley welcomed its first full-service hotel last November. Rooms are decorated with murals that pay homage to the area’s agricultural roots, and the colorful restaurant, 1905 Bar & Grill, has already earned a loyal following with locals. “My family loves the burger and the burrata,” says Quintero.

Modern Airbnb

This three-bedroom, three-bathroom Airbnb in El Centro looks like it belongs in Palm Springs with its mid-century modern architecture and palm trees swaying in the front yard. Unanimous five-star reviews rave about the attentive host (a local wildlife biologist), spacious modern rooms, and most of all the gorgeous tiled bathroom with a soaking tub and rainfall shower.

Things to Do

Check Out the Art Scene

There’s a mystical allure to the desert that attracts a wildly creative set of thinkers and artists. Architect and San Diego native Mark Silva couldn’t resist the pull. His mom, an archeologist, was instrumental in opening the Imperial Valley Desert Museum (worth a stop) in Ocotillo, a town about 30 minutes east of El Centro. When he learned the Valley lacked a commercial art gallery, he opened the Gateway Gallery in Ocotillo. The grand opening last February drew 250 art enthusiasts and featured the works of around 10 artists. “I really wanted to do something that inspired and gave back to the community,” says Silva, who hosts three exhibitions a year. “There’s even a covered patio I named the Friendship Patio that I turned into a concert venue. Locals can bring chairs and coolers.” Less than an hour north of El Centro is California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea. Its shores have become a pilgrimage spot for art lovers who come to see quirky landmarks like Salvation Mountain, a 50-foot-tall, hand-built folk art installation, and East Jesus, a 30-acre sustainable sculpture garden with works crafted from bicycles, plastic bags, and other discarded items. Next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Bombay Beach Biennale, a mutli-day festival of art installations, concerts, film screenings, dance performances, community dinners, and more. Dates are only spread by word of mouth, which adds to the intrigue.

Hit the Hot Springs

“Jacumba has transformed the region with its events,” says Quintero. Spend a day lounging in a poolside cabana and soaking in three mineral-rich pools. The restaurant serves light, fresh fare like Baja ceviche and pozole and cocktails such as the Sonoran highball, mezcal mixed with grapefruit aperitif, serrano bitters, and mineral water. The first Saturday of each month, the owners host a makers market in the old bathhouse. About a half-dozen local vendors, like leather workers and ceramicists, set up pop-ups on property. The bathhouse doubles as a concert venue that hosts acts ranging from Nigerian rock to country blues.

Explore the Trails

Anza-Borrego State Desert Park has more than 100 miles of hiking trails. “It’s one of largest state parks in the lower 48 and the most biodiverse park in California,” says Jeff Osborne, co-owner of Jacumba Hot Springs. “More rare species only exist there than anywhere else and it’s one of the quietest places I’ve ever been.” Popular routes include the Slot Canyon hike and the 2.8-mile Palm Canyon Loop which winds through the third-largest palm oasis in California. Leave early and bring plenty of water.

Where to Shop

Tiendique

This vintage boutique in the heart of town wouldn’t be out of place in Brooklyn. Racks are curated with styles ranging from modern denim jeans to a mint-condition 1940s hostess gown that Lucille Ball might have worn on I Love Lucy. “People are always surprised to find someone with great style living here,” says owner Elizabeth Rodriguez. “I love to travel and am always buying pieces for the shop.”

Discordia Records

The vinyl collections in the rooms at Jacumba Hot Springs were sourced from this extremely well curated record shop on El Centro’s main drag. Rodriguez says she recently spotted the drummer from alt rock band Sixpence None the Richer browsing vinyls there.

Simply @ Home

The Imperial Valley’s largest antiques store is a treasure trove of weird and wonderful finds, from retro Star Wars toys and sports jerseys to vintage Hawaiian Aloha shirts and electric guitars.

Where to Eat and Drink

Smashed

Pitmaster Daniel Hughes recently shuttered Saltcedar BBQ in Imperial to open Smashed, an artisanal burger spot on El Centro’s main drag. Imperial Valley beef is the star ingredient, and he has plans to open a small-batch distillery in the same space.

Mexca Brew Co.

“Mexca feels like a punk rock dive bar,” says Melissa Strukel, co-founder of Jacumba Hot Springs. Slightly tucked away on the town’s main drag, Mexca (pronounced mesh-ka) brings in an eclectic mix of local and international bands ranging in genre from country cowpunk to garage rock. Owner and El Centro local Ernie Quintero serves craft beers from his brewery in neighboring Imperial, but his best seller is his Jamaica Fuerte, a hard hibiscus tea served like an agua fresca.

D’Poly Taco Grill and Beer

Silva makes a point to detour to this humble Mexican restaurant located in an unassuming shopping plaza in El Centro for the made-from-scratch chimichangas and addictive carne asada fries. They also have a great happy hour and creative drinks, like tamarindo mezcalitas and jalapeño margaritas.

Humble Farmer Brewery

This community-focused brewery and taproom in neighboring Imperial is known for its live music, trivia nights, and farm-to-tap craft beers. “The 80 Acre Carrot Ale sounds weird but it’s award winning,” says Rodriguez. They also serve really tasty pub food, she says. Local favorites include the corn dog bites and buffalo chicken sandwich.

Vintage & Coffee

Levi’s, Lees, and lattes are the specialty at this newly opened vintage shop and coffee bar on Main Street. Browse vintage barware, classic watches, and racks of pre-loved denim as you sip artisanal coffee drinks.

The Best Times to Visit

Summer temperatures in El Centro and the surrounding Imperial Valley consistently exceed 100 degrees. “Locals joke we hibernate in summer,” says Rodriguez. Jacumba is only 45 minutes west, but it has a unique ecosystem and is typically 10 to 15 degrees cooler. Spring and fall offer more tolerable temps and events like the Bombay Beach Biennale, which takes place in spring, and the annual Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo, held each November.

How to Get There

An easy trip from San Diego, El Centro is just under a two-hour straight-shot east on Interstate 8 from the airport and Jacumba is a nice midway stop just over an hour into the drive. Part of the appeal of El Centro is the surrounding desert trails and attractions so you’ll want a car to explore.