The scenery at Joshua Tree National Park is whimsical and unique! A clashing of two deserts, stare at the famous Joshua Trees and visit the Cholla Cactus Garden. Known as the best place to rock climb in California, this park has over 8,000 climbing routes. Here is exactly what you need to start planning your trip today!
Where To Find It
Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It’s characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park hugs the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler. Keys View looks out over the Coachella Valley. Hiking trails weave through the boulders of Hidden Valley.
The easiest way to get there is by car. Rent a car if you are flying into Las Vegas, an easy 3-hour drive to Joshua Tree. Another option is to fly into Los Angeles California and take a small road trip to cover the Channel Islands, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree (a 3-hour drive) These two are the closest cities and are great airport locations. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days).
Where To Stay
There are over 500 campsites in this park, within 8 campgrounds!
Black Rock, Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Jumbo Rocks, and Ryan campgrounds are by reservation only. Reservations can be made the same day or up to 6 months in advance and can be booked on recreation.gov. Book your site before entering the park. Cell service is unreliable and nonexistent in Joshua Tree National Park.
Reserving a site is highly recommended if you plan to camp on a holiday, a weekend, or any day of the week in the spring. The busy spring season runs from November to May.
Belle, Hidden Valley, and White Tank are First Come, First Serve. A ranger will come by with portable registers to collect the campsite payment throughout the day. There is no longer a self-registering, pre-payment system for first-come, first-serve campsites. The fee is $15 per night.
First-come, first-serve campsites are highly competitive on holidays, most weekends, and the springtime. They are full nearly every weekend from Sept-May and most weeknights during the busy spring season from mid-February to mid-May. On the weekends, they are typically full by Friday afternoon.
The earlier you arrive in a week, the better chance you will have to secure a site.
All reservation campgrounds are open year-round. Some sections of Indian Cove Campground, Black Rock Campground, and Cottonwood Campground close in the summer. White Tank Campground and Belle Campground temporarily close during the summer. Hidden Valley Campground is open year-round.
If you are not keen on camping try out the many Airbnbs in the area! Joshua Tree is full of quirky, elegant, and relaxing stays! I highly recommend staying at Geronimo. It is a fabulous and sophisticated midcentury modern cabin and the perfect distance to Joshua Tree. Geronimo offers wifi, parking, a hot tub, and multiple fire sites! The neighborhood is serene and the property is private. Stay here for a relaxing and beautiful stay!
Where To Eat
Joshua Tree has eight picnic areas: Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Live Oak, Split Rock, Cap Rock, Hidden Valley, Quail Springs, and Black Rock. All perfect for a packed lunch!
There are no restaurants or grocery stores inside Joshua Tree National Park, but there are plenty, outside the park.
If you like pizza, I recommend trying Pies For The People! They make custom and delicious pies by combining the traditions of New York with the freshness of the west coast. Choose between over 50 combinations of pizza along with their tasty salads, subs, and desserts!
Outside of Joshua Tree is Pioneer Town. An old western filming location during the 1940s and 1950s. Today, Mane Street in Pioneertown still retains its charm and old-west image. Stop by Pappy and Harriets Pioneertown Palace for lunch or dinner. The Red Dog Saloon is another great option! As well as Mine Train Smokery!
What To Pack
I would recommend visiting this park in the morning or evening hours, especially during the summer months. (But I don’t really recommend going there at all during that time). The desert sun can be hot and it is hard to find any shade in Joshua Tree. Do not underestimate the power of the desert sun. Please protect yourself and bring these items with you on your trip.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
The most obvious is water! I love my Hydro Flask. It keeps my water cool and sometimes the ice doesn’t even melt until the end of the day!
Hat and Sunglasses- these will keep the sun off your face and out of your eyes. Making your outdoor adventures must more enjoyable. Here is the hat I wear!
Sunscreen – no one likes to get sunburned on their weekend getaways. Apply sunscreen in the morning and be sure to reapply if needed. This is my favorite kind.
Aloe – in case you do miss a spot with your sunscreen bring aloe to soothe those burns.
Climate and Best Time To Go
Joshua Tree National Park ranges in elevation from 536 feet (163 m) in the park’s extreme southeast corner to 5,814 feet (1,773 m) atop Quail Mountain. Conditions may vary greatly depending on your exact location within the park.
Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with average highs around 85F (29C) and average lows around 50F (10C). Winter brings cooler days, around 60F (15C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100F (38C) during the day and not cooling much below 75F (24C) at night.
September to May is the best time to visit the park, with spring being the busier season.
Bucket List Activities
Joshua Tree is vast and diverse. Stop by the Hidden Valley and walk the trail as you observe the boulder piles along the way.
Drive out to Keys View for a gorgeous view of the Coachella Valley as you spot the infamous San Andreas Fault Stretching 700 miles from the Gulf of California to the Mendocino Coast north of San Francisco.
Instagram Worthy Spots
The best time to capture photos in Joshua Tree is sunrise or sunset! (Plus fewer tourists to bomb your shot).
Cholla Cactus Garden, walk through the garden trails as the sun makes the cacti gleam in the growing light.
You can pretty much see many different kinds of figures and shapes in the boulders all around the Park. But the most famous is Skull Rock. It began when raindrops accumulated in tiny depressions and started to erode the granite. As more rock eroded, more water accumulated, leading to more erosion until two hollowed-out eye sockets formed and the rock began to resemble a skull.
Thank you for reading!
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