The Best Western China Lake Inn has a south central location in Ridgecrest, at 400 S China Lake Blvd (CA 178) in a mostly residential district though close to various shops and half a dozen restaurants. The inn is a 52 room building on 2 floors, with parking at the front and a small outdoor pool, hot tub & bbq area at the rear; all rooms contain a microwave, refrigerator, ironing facilities & a coffee maker. China Lake, and the entrance to the huge Naval Weapons Center, is 2 miles north along the main road.

Newly built (2008), the SpringHill Suites by Marriott brings economically priced, all suite accommodation to Ridgecrest - the clean, modern property has 93 oversized rooms that all contain a microwave, sink and refrigerator, plus a large work desk and a full size pull-out sofa bed. Free breakfast buffet is served each morning and there are many restaurants along the main road - N China Lakes Blvd. The hotel is located on the north side of Ridgecrest, a short distance from the main entrance to China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station.

One of a group of hotels along China Lake Boulevard a few blocks south of the center of Ridgecrest, the Comfort Inn is a quite a large property with 86 rooms, some with views southwards towards the edge of town and the start of the desert. The main amenities are guest laundry, wireless internet access and an outdoor pool (seasonal) at the front, next to the main road. The inn provides free continental breakfast and is close to at least 5 restaurants.

At the northeast corner of Ridgecrest, the Econo Lodge Inn offers an outdoor pool, free hot breakfast, and all rooms with microwave & refrigerator. The location is 201 W Inyokern Rd (CA 178), just as the highway bends from west to south, opposite the Sandquist Rd entrance to the China Lake Naval Weapons Center. To the east, CA 178 passes the side road to the strange Trona Pinnacles after 20 miles and enters Death Valley National Park after 70 miles. There are 3 restaurants adjacent to the hotel and many more within a mile southwards, along the road to the town center.

The Rodeway Inn motel is located towards the south edge of the Mojave Desert town of Ridgecrest at 31 W Upjohn Ave, just west of the main highway CA 178 and adjacent to the Comfort Inn. This is a small (29 room) property with basic amenities including free continental breakfast, a newsstand, and some rooms with refrigerator & microwave. For dining there are several restaurants adjacent and all other necessary facilities in the town center, along the main road northwards.