11 Amazing Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park

11 Amazing Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Trees remind me of Dr. Seuss trees. They just don’t seem like they belong to this world. They were given their name by Mormon settlers who thought the tree’s shape resembled the biblical story where Joshua reaches his hands to the sky in prayer.

What You Need to Know Before You Visit Jtree

• There is no cell service in the park. Although one of our RVer friends told us they found some small patches to stream a show, we’ve never had any luck with it. Download your google maps and keep a park map handy.
• Get the America the Beautiful Pass to save money. An annual pass costs less if you visit Jtree more than once or visit two national parks within one year.
• October to May is peak season since it’s so hot in the summer.
• March to May has the best weather, but visitation is the highest. It’s great for wildflowers and is peak climbing season. If you come on a weekend, expect crowds. Temps get up to the hundreds in the summer, but you can still explore in the mornings and evenings and take an AC break mid-day.
• Late April to late July for the best stargazing and astrophotography since the galactic center is visible longer.
• If you don’t want to drive, take the free RoadRunner Shuttle Bus. It takes you to all the main attractions and gives you free entry into the park. They run every 30 minutes and depart Twentynine Palms Transit Center and Oasis Visitor Center every hour. During peak season, if you don’t go early, parking lots fill up at popular spots.
• If you’re trying to get a campground at peak season, plan ahead. We’ve gone a couple of times on a whim where we were circling the campgrounds for hours. Most weekends will be full. Try to arrive between 9 am and noon when people are leaving. Come by Fri morning if you want to get in for the weekend (if not earlier). If you can’t snag a campsite, have a backup plan.
• Pets are only allowed at campgrounds, picnic areas, and paved and unpaved roads. They are not allowed on trails and must always be on a leash.

See More: Joshua Tree Camping – What You Need to Know

What to Bring

• Bring enough drinking water. There aren’t many places in the park where you can get water. If you’re there multiple days, you can always do a supply run in town or drive out daily for what you need.
• Pack layers. The desert temperatures can change drastically from day to night.
• Don’t forget your sunscreen. There isn’t much shade in the park.
• Pets are only allowed at campgrounds, picnic areas, and paved and unpaved roads. They are not allowed on trails. They also must always be on a leash.
• Your National Park Passport to collect your stamp! We recently started buying the stickers they sell in store (3 for $1) that we can stamp and stick in our book rather than bringing the book everywhere we go.

Seasonal Activities

Summer Only: Stargazing & Astrophotography

Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park, and stargazing is great anywhere in the park. You do get a little light pollution from surrounding communities, and if you’re going for (hour+) long exposures Cottonwood Campground has the darkest skies. If you want to see the Milky Way, make sure you’re visiting during New Moon on a clear day.

See More: 13 Stargazing Events You Don’t Want to Miss This Year

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Spring Only: See Joshua Tree Wildflowers

In the spring, especially during a superbloom, the valleys fill up with various flowers. We came during the first week of. April and in the south near Cottonwood Visitor Center, we saw California bluebells (wild Canterbury Bells). In Wilson Canyon, we saw a variety of flowers, but mostly Parish poppies that weren’t open for the day yet. Now, the flowers are slowly making their way up north in the park.

Pro Tip: I’ve looked at various websites for the superbloom, and this one has been the most accurate. Check the dates carefully because sometimes people post later than when they visit. 

See More: The Most Beautiful California Flower Fields to Visit This Spring

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Joshua Tree Map

We collaborated with @mytraveltoons to create an illustrated map of the highlights of the park. You can check out more of his work here.

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Directions to Joshua Tree

The closest airports are Palm Springs (42.7 mi), Santa Ana (120 mi), Long Beach (130 mi), Los Angeles (146 mi), San Diego (162 mi), Las Vegas (182 mi).

We’ve driven in from San Diego and Las Vegas for both day trips and weekend trips. The road from Las Vegas goes through the Mojave National Preserve. It doesn’t have much light and it’s windy, so drive carefully. We saw one person speeding who drove off the road.

More THings to Do in and Near Joshua Tree

• Become a Junior Ranger. Mostly kids 4-14 complete the Junior Ranger program to get a badge, but adults can too. I always do it at every National Park since it helps me learn so much about the park. Plus, it’s a free souvenir!
• Desert Institute Field Class – adult classes to learn more about the cultural history, survival skills, desert naturalist studies, creative arts, and more.
• Join a Ranger Program – talks, hikes, and guided walks given by park rangers.
• Ocotillo Patch – it’s not the most concentrated that we’ve seen, but if you haven’t seen ocotillos before, it could be worth the trek to the southern end of the park.
• Barker Dam Trail – petroglyphs
• Mastodon Peak Hike – A 3-mile strenuous hike with views of the Eagle Mountains and Salton Sea.
• Lost Horse Mine Loop (4 mi, moderate) – pass several mines and ruins.
• Cottonwood Spring Nature Trail (0.1 mile, easy, 10 min out and back) – You end up in a fan palm oasis with cottonwood trees. It’s also a great spot for wildflowers and birding. Other great birding spots are Oasis of Mara and Barker Dam.
• Cottonwood Wash is a good place to spot bighorn sheep.
• Night Sky Festival (Sept)
• Pappy and Harriet’s, Pioneertown – live music and BBQ.
• The Integraton, Landers – a dome used for sound baths. You can choose private or public sound baths, but book early since they book up months in advance.
• World Famous Crochet Museum, Jtree – It’s free and open 24 hours.
• Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum, Jtree – it’s right next to the crochet museum
• Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Desert Art Museum, Jtree

Places to Eat Near Joshua Tree

Since driving in and out takes time, we suggest packing your own meals. The only exception is if you’re visiting in the summer. Retreating to a restaurant with AC might be a good idea.

• The Natural Sisters Cafe, Joshua Tree (Vegetarian & Brunch, $$)
• Sky High Pizza, Joshua Tree (Pizza, $$) – this place is usually packed. It took us a few visits before we could get in.
• Crossroads Cafe, Joshua Tree (American, $$)
• La Copine, Yucca Valley (New American, $$)
• Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace (New American, $$) – open late and has live music.

Joshua Tree Camping

We love camping in Joshua Tree. We’ve camped in three of their campgrounds, brought an RV into the park, and even slept on BLM land. Click here to see our full guide on camping in Joshua Tree.

See More: Joshua Tree Camping – What You Need to Know

Best Places to Stay

What’s Nearby

• Coachella and Desert X (34.1 mi east, 45 min, map)
• Palm Springs (54.7 mi east, 1 hr, map)
• Anza Borrego State Park (103 mi southwest, 1 hr 45 min, map)

More Resources

• Joshua Tree Trail Map
• Moon Joshua Tree Travel Guide
• Joshua Tree Bouldering Guide
• Joshua Tree Climbing Guide
• Best Easy Day Hikes in Joshua Tree