Joshua Tree National Park in California has one of the most unique landscapes in the world. It is dotted with Joshua Trees which is one of the most interesting trees you will ever come across. This Joshua Tree itinerary will make sure you experience the pristine beauty of this natural wonder.
This national park is incredibly beautiful with huge desert rocks, cactuses of multiple varieties and hikes that you will not find anywhere else in the world. For this reason It attracts everyone from photographers to hiking enthusiasts to adventurers that want to explore the Mojave Desert.
I went to Joshua Tree during the summers in July and it was one of my most memorable trips ever.
Joshua Tree Itinerary for one day
You can do a single day Joshua Tree itinerary though I would recommend that you spend at least one night here to fully enjoy the beauty that this national park has to offer.
This blog post for Joshua Tree has all the information about where to stay, what to do, which hikes to go on, the best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park and all the frequently asked questions about a Joshua Tree itinerary.
- Best time to visit – The best time to visit Joshua Tree is either in fall or in the spring. Both of these seasons have cool temperatures which are good for hiking in the day and camping at night. During the winter months, camping at night becomes difficult because of the cold.
- Where to stay – You can either stay at one of the three nearby towns or you can book one of the unique Airbnbs near Joshua Tree.
- How to get to Joshua Tree – Joshua Tree is accessible by car from Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. All of these cities are between 2.5h to 3.5h away. You can also fly into one of the nearby airports.
- How to get around – To get around Joshua Tree you will need to have your own car. You can rent a car at Rentalcars.com.
Planning a day trip to Joshua Tree
If you are planning a day trip to Joshua Tree you might wonder what all there is to do in the desert. This post has the perfect single day Joshua Tree itinerary for you. You will be surprised to know that Joshua Tree National Park is packed with things to do.
A single day itinerary to Joshua Tree consists of waking up for sunrise at Cholla Cactus Garden then going on a hike near Arch Rock, seeing sunset at Keys Viewpoint and finally making your way over to the camp to set up for the night.
The landscape at the convergence point of the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert creates an otherworldly landscape that looks beautiful at all times during the day. Make sure to keep some time to click pictures.
How to get to Joshua Tree
By car
Joshua Tree is accessible from all the three nearby main cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. The drive from each of these three cities is between 2.5h and 3.5h. The best way to go to Joshua Tree is to take your own car and drive down. If you would prefer to rent a car you can rent a car from Rentalcars.com to find the best deals. The platform has rentals from major retailers including Enterprise, Avis and Hertz.
By flight
Another alternative is to fly into one of the nearby airports if you live further away and prefer not to drive. You can use Skyscanner.com to find flights and compare them for the cheapest price. The seven airports are the closest ones to Joshua Tree National Park.
- Palm Springs International Airport : 1 hour
- Ontario International Airport : 2 hours
- John Wayne Airport : 2.5 hours
- Los Angeles International Airport : 3 hours
- San Diego International Airport : 3 hours
- Harry Reid International Airport, formerly McCarran Airport : 4 hours
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport : 5 hours
Navigating Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree does not have any public transportation. You will need to have your own car to travel around Joshua Tree. The two main roads in Joshua Tree are in good condition and you can rent any car for your trip to Joshua Tree. If you plan on going off road then consider renting a 4 by 4 instead of a sedan.
Entrance fees
National park pass – You can get an America is Beautiful National Park Pass for $80 which gives you free access to all national parks for a year.
Entry upon arrival – For entry upon arrival you have to pay $30 for a seven day pass or $55 for a one year pass.
Entrances to Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree West Entrance Station – This is the main entrance to Joshua Tree National Park at the north end of the park near the town of Joshua Tree. Joshua Tree Visitor Centre is right next to this entrance.
Oasis North Entrance Station – The other entrance at the north end of the park is Oasis North Entrance Station which is closer to this town of Twentynine Palms. The Oasis Visitor Centre is next to this entrance.
Cottonwood South Entrance – There is one entrance at the south end of the park which is the Cottonwood South Entrance. The Cottonwood Visitor Centre is next to this entrance.
Roads to take through Joshua Tree National Park
The two roads running through Joshua Tree National Park are Park Boulevard and Pinto Basin Road. When we went to Joshua Tree we saw lots of parking spots at the places that people like to get down and walk into the national park. There are also many pull out places throughout the way where you can park your car.
Park Boulevard – Park Boulevard is at the north of the national park and goes from Twentynine Palms to the town of Joshua Tree.
Pinto Basin Road – Pinto Basin Road runs from the north end of the park to the south end of the park.
Where to stay near Joshua Tree National Park
Hotels near Joshua Tree National Park
You can stay at one of the hotels in the town of Joshua Tree, in Yucca Valley or any of the hotels in Twentynine Palms. Some of the good hotels have been listed below for ease of access.
Joshua Tree – Cascade Trails Sanctuary, Aqua Soleil Hotel, Safari Motor Inn
Yucca Valley – Sure Stay Plus Hotel, Super 8 by Wyndham, America Best Value Inn
Twentynine Palms – Fairfield Inn & Suites, Sure Stay Plus, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites.
Airbnbs near Joshua Tree National Park
Some of the Airbnbs near Joshua Tree are really cool. One of these is shaped like a UFO and another is a refurbished camper. These properties are really close to the entrance and a good alternative to camping inside the park. You will still get to stargaze and see the landscape right outside your bedroom.
For a list of all Airbnbs in Joshua Tree, check out my post below.
Campgrounds inside Joshua Tree National Park
You can also camp at one of the campgrounds in Joshua Tree. There are multiple campgrounds where you can pay a fee and reserve a spot in advance. There are also first come first serve campgrounds and government lands which are free to camp on. The peak season for camping is between October and April and reservations are required during this time. During off season none of the campgrounds require reservations.
You can reserve a campground through the official government website. The reservations sell out six months in advance so plan your trip in advance to be able to get a spot.
The six campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park are as below.
- Black Rock Campground – reservation required
- Cottonwood Campground – reservation required
- Indian Cove Campground – reservation required
- Jumbo Rocks Campground – reservation required
- Hidden Valley Campground – first come, first serve
- White Tank Campground – first come, first serve
Where to eat in Joshua Tree
There are some cool cafes and restaurants near Joshua Tree National Park that you can grab food at. There is also a Starbucks at the town of Joshua Tree.
- The Natural Sisters Cafe
- Pappy and Harriet’s
- Joshua Tree Country Kitchen
Best time to visit Joshua Tree
The best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park is from fall to spring. The temperatures drop a lot during the winters so I would recommend either going in spring or fall, especially if you are camping. It is impossible to go hiking in Joshua Tree National Park during the summer because of the high temperatures that can prove to be fatal.
Fall
The temperature goes down during fall and the average day temperature reaches up to the mid 60s. This is the perfect time for camping and hiking because the days do not get too hot and the nights are comfortably cool.
Winter
The days in winter are the best for hiking and climbing because they are very cool and you do not sweat as much. During the night the temperatures drop down very low in the desert and do not make for a very comfortable experience for camping. I would recommend staying in a hotel during winters.
Spring
Spring is also one of the best times to visit because the wildflowers bloom during spring which make for very pretty pictures. The temperature during the day reaches up to the mid 70s by Marsh and the nights are comfortably cool.
Summer
Temperatures in Joshua Tree reach above 100 degree Fahrenheit during the summers which is very dangerous for hiking because you can get dehydrated or get a sunstroke. I do not recommend visiting Joshua Tree at all during the summer because it is after all a desert.
Tips for your day trip to Joshua Tree National Park
Always be hydrated – Packing water for your trip to Joshua Tree is one of the most crucial steps. You can get dehydrated without even knowing and start feeling dizzy.
Road assistance takes a long time – Since there are no gas stations near Joshua Tree National Park, fill up on gas fully before entering the national park so you do not run out of gas in the middle of the day.
Download offline maps for easy use – Make sure to either screenshot or download offline maps so you do not get lost.
Keep some food – There are no places to buy food inside the national park so you will need to take your food with you when you enter the park.
What to pack for Joshua Tree National Park
Below is the list of all the essential items that you will need for your two day itinerary to Joshua Tree National Park. The list includes all essential items such as water, sun protection, first aid and some good to have items such as a headlamp and flashlight.
- America the Beautiful National Park Pass
- Water
- Sun Protection
- Hiking essentials
- Food
- Extra clothes
- Headlamp
- Offline maps
- Camera
- First Aid Kit
- Climbing essentials
- Hiking shoes
- Hat
- Sleeping bags
- Flashlight
Day 1 Joshua Tree Itinerary
For your day 1 itinerary to Joshua Tree you will get up really early and drive to Joshua Tree to catch the sunrise at the Cholla Cactus Garden. You will then make your way to Arch Rock and Skull Rock. After this you can choose whichever hike you would like to go on. After the hike make your way to Keys Viewpoint to catch the sunset. Once the sun has gone down make your way to your Airbnb, hotel or campground to do some stargazing in one of the least polluted skies in the United States.
- Sunrise at Cholla Cactus Garden
- Visit Arch Rock and Skull Rock
- Take a hike
- Sunset at Keys View
- Stargazing
Day 2 Joshua Tree Itinerary
Your day two itinerary for Joshua Tree includes a sunrise hike on Ryan Mountain. You will hike up, summit the mountain and then come back down before lunch. After lunch you will visit Pioneertown which is one of the most interesting towns in the US. It was established by settlers that came here a really long time ago. For sunset you will make your way to Barker Dam. After sunset you will leave Joshua Tree and be on your way back home.
- Ryan Mountain hike
- Pioneertown
- Barker Dam Sunset
- Head back
FAQs
Can you do Joshua Tree in a day?
Yes it is possible to do Joshua Tree in one day. A good itinerary for a single day trip to Joshua Tree is explained above.
How much time do you need in Joshua Tree?
You can do a trip to Joshua Tree in one day with the single day Joshua Tree itinerary but I recommend staying at least one night to be able to fully enjoy all of the activities and experiences that Joshua Tree has to offer.
Can you do Joshua Tree in a few hours?
You can visit Joshua Tree for a few hours but you will be hard pressed for time and will not be able to fully enjoy all of the different experiences that it has to offer.
Is Joshua Tree worth the trip?
Yes, Joshua Tree is definitely worth the trip. I have been to Joshua Tree once and I would love to go back for a longer period of time to experience the pristine Mojave Desert.
Is Joshua Tree worth driving through?
Yes, Joshua Tree is worth driving through for the beautiful landscape that is at the convergence between the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert.
Is Joshua Tree a day trip from Palm Springs?
Yes you can do a day trip to Joshua Tree from Palm Springs. The city is much closer to Joshua Tree National Park than any of the other cities and one of the best cities to do a day trip to Joshua Tree from.
Conclusion
Joshua Tree is one of the most beautiful west coast national parks of California. It has a unique landscape of Joshua Trees, rocks, the desert and rolling hills of sand. The hikes in Joshua Tree are alone worth a day trip to the national park. For the stargazing lovers you will be able to see the Milky Way clearly during new moon nights. I definitely recommend going with a two day Joshua Tree itinerary to best enjoy your time here.
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Ultimate 24 Day 12 Stop California PCH Road Trip Itinerary
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