Boron, California, is a rural Kern County community served by passenger buses and home to the Borax Visitor Center. You can use the town centre to orient yourself, then plan a separate visit to the center for its local history and mine overlook.
- Local transit: Kern Transit serves Boron with regional routes and, in many communities, Dial-A-Ride.
- Visitor center: Open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting, with last entry at 4:45 p.m.
- Admission and parking: Both are free at the Borax Visitor Center.
- Address: 14486 Borax Road, Boron, CA 93516.
Finding your way around Boron
Boron’s town centre is a practical reference point for getting oriented, while the Borax Visitor Center is a separate stop on Borax Road. Kern Transit provides passenger bus service between and within rural Kern County communities, and Boron is among the communities it serves.
Service includes intercity and regional fixed routes, as well as Dial-A-Ride in many communities. Check Kern Transit’s website for route and schedule information and use its trip planner to review current Boron service details before setting out.
Getting around from the town centre
Kern Transit is the local public transportation provider for rural communities in Kern County, including Boron. For a trip around town or onward to another community, use its route information and trip planner to check which service fits your plans.
The Rio Tinto Borax Mine Visitor Center is just off Highway 58, according to the Scenic 395 area-museums guide.
Planning a visit to the Rio Tinto Borax Mine Visitor Center
The Rio Tinto Borax Mine Visitor Center offers a free visit focused on borax and the local community. It stands at 14486 Borax Road, Boron, CA 93516, and has free parking that can accommodate recreational vehicles.
Weather permitting, the center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last entry is at 4:45 p.m. It closes on major holidays. Check the official U.S. Borax site before you go, especially when planning around opening hours or holiday closures.
Donations are accepted to support local community organizations through the Borax Visitor Center Foundation. The center’s visitor information covers its hours, admission and parking arrangements.
What to check before setting out
Before travelling, confirm the visitor center’s opening arrangements with U.S. Borax and check Kern Transit for current routes and schedules. The center’s listed phone number is +1 760 762 7588.
Keep the visitor center distinct from the working mine: the U.S. Borax mine in Boron is closed to the general public, but the visitor center welcomes visitors. Boron Motel is about a 20-minute drive from the center.
FAQs
Can you visit the U.S. Borax mine?
No. The mine is closed to the general public; the Borax Visitor Center is the place open to visitors.
What is the Twenty Mule Team Museum?
It is an unaffiliated attraction at 26962 Twenty Mule Team Road in Boron.
What can you see at the Borax Visitor Center?
The center was built in 1997 and tells the story of borax and the local community. Its features include historical and geological displays, a video theater, a 20-mule-team replica, a gift shop and a mine-operations overlook.
Is the visitor center overlook accessible?
The center describes its operations overlook as ADA compliant and says an ADA-compliant ramp leads to it.