I know how frustrating can be going to a new place and having to plan your itinerary. I want to make your life easier so you feel more motivated to travel. If you are going to Joshua Tree, this travel guide is perfect for you. And if you have more time to explore this amazing national park, use this itinerary as a guideline and add more stops to it.
Information about Joshua Tree
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours a day, all year-round
Fee: Day pass fee is $30 per car or $15 per individual on foot and they are valid for 7 days. You can also buy an annual pass or visit during a “free” day.
Address: 74485 National Park Drive. Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3597
Where to stay in Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms These are your best options. These small towns are great if you want to arrive early to avoid crowds as they are really close. I stayed in Twentynine Palms and it took me 20 min to arrive to Joshua Tree National Park. There are many cute Vrbo/Airbnbs where you can stay, here are a few:
Indio, Palm Desert and Palm Springs If you prefer to stay in a bigger city these is where you should stay. They are a little bit further, around 30-60 min, but they offer other activities you can add to your trip.
Where to eat in Joshua Tree
Pappy and Harriet’s It’s located in Pioneertown. This place was once a movie set. Come here to enjoy the music and bbq.
The Natural Sisters Cafe It’s located in Joshua Tree. Stop here for breakfast; it offers a great variety of healthy options including vegan ones. It’s delicious!
Tips to visit Joshua Tree
A few things you should know before you visit Joshua Tree
Come prepare. Bring plenty of water and food, and fill up your tank before entering. You cannot buy anything inside the park.
No service. Download a map of the area before you go so you can use it offline.
Come early. I arrived at 7 and there was no line but when I left the line to get in was huge.
Consider the temperature. It’s a desert. If you come during summer, it’s really hot. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen. If you come during winter, it can get chilly at night. A good idea is to bring extra layers.
Be careful with bees. Some parts of the park are full of bees. I got stung by one.
Things to do in Joshua Tree
Arch Rock and White Tank Campground
The trail to Arch Rock is a short hike, just 1 mile (if you don’t get lost like I did, the trail is not clearly marked in my opinion 😂) To access this hike you need to park in Twin Tanks and start there. If you have time, you can explore White Tank Campground that is right next to it and climb the rocks for a better view. There is supposed to be a heart shape rock but I couldn’t find it.
Skull Rock
This rock with a skull shape is one of the most popular spots in the park. It’s located in the main east-west park road and you can park just there on the road. The rock is right there next to the road so it’s really accessible, you don’t have to walk for hours to get there. After that, you can adventure through the jumbo rocks behind Skull Rock.
Keys View
This spot provides a panoramic view of Palm Springs, Salton Sea and Coachella Valley. It’s the perfect place to watch sunrise or sunset. It’s about a 20 min drive from Park Boulevard, one of the main roads. The trail has a parking lot just below and from there it’s only a 0.1 mile loop. It has a relatively step slope, but there’s a separate viewpoint which is wheelchair accessible.
Cholla Cactus Garden
This high concentration of cacti is a must in Joshua Tree. It’s a short and easy trail (0.25 mile) with a convenient parking lot right next to it. The cholla cactus is also known as teddy bear or jumping cactus. Be aware that even a slightly brushing against a cholla will cause the spines to dive into your shoes, clothes, and/or skin. Speaking from personal experience, it hurts a lot. If this happens to you, there’s a box with a spine remover, bandaids, and alcohol pads.
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