Joshua Tree National Park: Travel Guide

Joshua Tree National Park is a beautiful, vast and one-of-a-kind place located in Southern California near the Arizona border. It is made up of the Colorado Desert and Mojave Desert and is home to the famous Yucca brevifolia, also known as the Joshua Tree. These unique plants are native to the Southwestern United States and there is no better place to view them than the park that is named after them!

Visiting Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is located near the Coachella Valley, making it a great option for a weekend trip for those staying in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix or San Diego. It takes about 2 hours to drive to the west entrance from Los Angeles and about an hour from Palm Springs.

Although you can drive through the entire park in one day, we think it’s best to spend 2-3 days visiting the park if you can. This is a great stop to add for those doing a road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas or to tag onto a Palm Springs getaway!

There are four visitor centers and three main entrances for this park.

West Entrance - Most popular for those driving from Los Angeles or Palm Springs (Joshua Tree Visitor Center)
North Entrance - Nearby the West Entrance and is usually quieter (Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center)
South Entrance - Best for those driving from San Diego or Phoenix (Cottonwood Visitor Center)
Black Rock - Part of the park, but outside the main entrances (Black Rock Nature Center)

Useful Information:

Standard entrance fee - $30 per vehicle
No other facilities within the park - fill up on water, gas, food and supplies first
Wifi is available at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center outside the park
There is almost NO phone reception within the park
Restrooms available within the park

If you plan to visit here again or any other national parks in the year, we recommend purchasing the $80 America The Beautiful annual pass, which is what we always opt for.

When To Visit Joshua Tree

The two best times to visit Joshua Tree National Park are late spring and late autumn. The busy season for Joshua Tree is around October to May and actually becomes quieter in the summer because of the heat.

Autumn/ Spring - Best weather, busiest time, beautiful changes to flora and fauna, best for camping.

Winter - Exciting time to visit especially if you get a chance to see snow in the desert! It can get very cold at times.

Summer - Very hot, uncrowded, best for sunrise hikes and stargazing.

Camping in Joshua Tree

There are so many options for camping in Joshua Tree and it’s one of the best places we’ve ever camped! Camping in the desert means no bugs, no bears and the most amazing unobstructed views for stargazing. It costs between $15-$25 per night for a campsite and reservations can be made at recreation.gov.

Campsite Options:

Hidden Valley (first-come, first-served)
White Tank (first-come, first-served)
Belle (first-come, first-served)
Jumbo Rocks (reservation required)
Ryan (reservation required)
Cottonwood (reservation required)
Indian Cove - outside of North Entrance (reservation required)
Black Rock - outside of West Entrance (reservation required)
Sheep Pass Group Campground Only (reservation required)

Group sites - available at Sheep Pass, Indian Cove and Cottonwood campgrounds.

Equestrian sites - available at Black Rock and Ryan campgrounds.

Backcountry camping permits - available at Black Rock, Indian Cove, Twin Tanks, Pleasant Valley, Juniper Flats, Keys West, Geology, Covington Flat, Cottonwood Spring, Pine City, Turkey Flats, Porcupine Wash, and the North Entrance.

Note - some campgrounds close partially or fully during the summer.

Things to do in Joshua Tree

Scenic Drive

You can drive through the entire park from the West Entrance to South Entrance in less than 2 hours (not including stops) and it is a really relaxing and beautiful drive. This is a great thing to do for those who can’t or don’t want to hike, because you can really see a lot from the car at this park.

Hiking

Hiking is easily one of the best things to do in Joshua Tree National Park. There is such diverse vegetation and terrain, as well as different length hikes to choose from. We have a list of our top hikes to do in Joshua Tree here!

Climbing

Joshua Tree National Park has many climbing and bouldering routes around. You can often spot tons of climbers near Hidden Valley and there is even Climber Coffee on weekend mornings at the campground.

Horse Riding Trails & Backcountry Roads

If you are experienced at riding or you prefer empty dirt roads, Joshua Tree National Park has plenty of routes to explore. Grab a map at the entrance or check out the one online here to plan your next adventure.

Photography

From engagement photoshoots, to wildlife and landscape photography, as well as astrophotography, Joshua Tree National Park is the ultimate desert canvas for art. Plan to visit for sunrise or sunset to get the most beautiful skies.

Stargazing

This is one of the best places we’ve ever been to for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way. This is the main reason to camp inside the park, so you can step outside of your tent and take in the expansive and unobstructed desert night sky. Quail Springs, Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, and Ryan Mountain are the park’s designated stargazing areas.

Tips for visiting Joshua Tree National Park

There is no service once you enter the map, so grab a map on your way in if it’s your first time.
There is essentially no shade along the road or on trails, so pack plenty of water and sun protection.
Joshua Tree National Park is home to plenty of wildlife, including snakes, spiders, scorpions and coyotes. Be careful when hiking and driving to avoid harming them or yourself. We’ve had the pleasure of seeing so many birds and animals inside Joshua Tree National Park.
Consider adding Mojave Desert National Preserve or Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to your Joshua Tree National Park itinerary.