Joshua Tree
National Park
Joshua Tree National Park, located in Southern California, is the second most visited of the state’s nine national parks, trailing only Yosemite, with around 3 million visitors each year.
Joshua Tree is like a giant natural playground for all ages, filled with massive rock formations to climb, scenic hiking trails, campgrounds, stargazing spots, historic mining ruins, and more. The park lies at the meeting point of two distinct deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado—which creates a uniquely diverse and dramatic landscape. It features rugged boulders, mountain ridges, and its iconic namesake: the Joshua tree.
Joshua Tree At a Glance
$30 per vehicle for 7 days. Or FREE with the America the Beautiful Pass.
Joshua Tree National Park is located in southern California, about an hour east of Palm Springs, CA. Flying into Palm Springs (1 hour) is closest, but you could also fly into Los Angeles, CA (2 hours, 20 minutes), Las Vegas, NV (3 hours) or San Diego, CA (3 hours, 15 minutes).
With the park having a desert ecosystem, Joshua Tree can get very hot. The best time to visit the park would be October through April. We personally visited in February and it was perfect!
Reservations are not required to enter the park.
Different Areas of the Park
Joshua Tree National Park doesn’t have distinct areas like some other national parks. While there are different regions to visit, they are all located close to each other. However, Joshua Tree does have multiple entrances. It can be accessed from both the north, either from Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms, or from the south off Highway 10.
Only the two northern entrances have actual fee booths. The southern entrance has a park sign, but there is not a booth to stop and pay. So if you do not have the America the Beautiful Pass and need to purchase your park pass, you can do so at the Cottonwood Visitor Center.
15+ Best Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park + Top Tips!
Looking for the best things to do in Joshua Tree National Park? In this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know before visiting this gorgeous park, plus where to stay, our tips, and more!
A Perfect One Day in Joshua Tree National Park Itinerary
We put together the perfect itinerary for one day in Joshua Tree National Park. It’s great for any type of traveler because the hikes aren’t super hard and there’s a variety of scenery and activities for everyone!
Videos
We spent a full day experiencing as many of the top sights in the park as possible, from the Joshua trees, to hiking up a mountain, seeing history, playing on rocks, and more!
