Where is Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park is located in southern California, between the Mojave and Colorado deserts. It is 127 miles (205 km) from Los Angeles, 158 miles (253 km) from San Diego, and 215 miles (346 km) from Las Vegas.
How to get to Joshua Tree
✈️What are the closest airports to Joshua Tree
If you want to fly to the park, the closest airport to Joshua Tree is Palm Springs International Airport, located about an hour away from its various entrances, as it's halfway between them. Further away are Los Angeles International Airport, San Diego International Airport, and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
🚗How to get to Joshua Tree by car
If you're on a road trip along the USA West Coast and you're renting a car (or have your own), then you can get there from several places:
Getting to Joshua Tree from Los Angeles
Los Angeles and Joshua Tree are127 mi or 205 km apart, so you can reach the westernmost entrance to the park in 2 hours (if LA traffic doesn't swallow you up). Just leave Los Angeles via Route 10 heading east, then turn off towards the town of Joshua Tree.
Try to leave Los Angeles during times when there may be less traffic (if possible), otherwise you could easily double the time it takes to get there.
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Getting to Joshua Tree from San Diego
The distance between San Diego and Joshua Tree is 158 miles or 253 km, so it takes about 3 hours to get there if you want to enter via the southern access point. In this case, you have to head east towards Salton City to skirt part of the Salton Sea, which is 65 meters (213 feet) below sea level and is, therefore, the second lowest point in the United States after Death Valley.
On the way, you'll pass through Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California's largest state park, which offers beautiful arid landscapes with very few visitors. If your trip coincides with spring, you may enjoy the beautiful bloom that can occur here. It's a visual spectacle!
Another option is to enter via the westernmost access point. In this case, the distance is 160 miles or 258 km and it will take you about 2.5 hours to get there, as the route is more direct. Ideally, you should enter from the north and exit from the south (or vice versa) so that you can explore the entire park.
Getting to Joshua Tree from Las Vegas
The distance between Las Vegas and Joshua Tree is 215 miles or 346 km, so it will take you about 3.5 hours to get there. The fastest route is to head south from Las Vegas towards Henderson, then take the 95 to Arrowhead Junction.
Here you'll turn off to take Route 40, which runs along the southern edge of the Mojave National Preserve (where you can stop if you like, as it's well worth it) to turn off again towards Twentynine Palms and enter the park via the north entrance.
What are the entrances to Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park has five entrances, three of which are the main ones, and the other two are used to access smaller areas of the park that aren't connected by road to the main points. The vast majority are located in the northern part of the park, except for one that is in the south.
Each entrance has its own visitor center or Ranger Station, where you can stop to find out about things related to the park and, in some cases, buy your ticket or pass.
Access to Joshua Tree via the West Entrance
If you're coming from Los Angeles or San Diego, you'll use the West Entrance. It's located past the town of Joshua Tree and is the busiest of all, as it connects to Los Angeles and leads to the most attractive area of the park. In the town of Joshua Tree, before the entrance, is the Joshua Tree Visitor Center, which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Access to Joshua Tree via North Entrance
If you're coming from Las Vegas, the best option is to enter here, which can be reached from the town of Twentynine Palms, just 15 mi or 24 km away from West Entrance. The Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center is located in Twentynine Palms, and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Access to Joshua Tree via Black Rock
This secondary entrance is accessed from the town of Yucca Valley and provides access to a more remote area of the park that isn't connected by road to the main points of interest. People usually come here to do specific hikes, such as the Panorama Loop, and to camp at the campground. The Black Rock Nature Center is located here, it's open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (with a breka from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) and is closed Monday through Wednesday in the summer.
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Access to Joshua Tree via Indian Cove
Located between the West Entrance and the North Entrance, this secondary access point is reached by turning off Indian Cove Road to visit the Indian Cove area. Here you'll find a campground and some hiking trails, as well as the Indian Cove Ranger Station. At this station you can find out more about this area of the park, and it's the only place where drinking water is available, although opening hours vary depending on staff availability.
Access to Joshua Tree via South Entrance
If you're coming from Anza Borrego State Park, the Salton Sea area, or San Diego, you can enter through the only access point in the south, following Cottonwood Spring Road. This entrance is less crowded, and although this area has fewer attractions, it also has some interesting sights to see. A few miles after passing the entrance is the Cottonwood Visitor Center, which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
How much is the entrance fee to Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree standard fee varies depending on your mode of transportation:
- Cars, pick up trucks, RV and vans with a maximum of 15 seats: $30 per vehicle. This fee covers all persons traveling in the vehicle.
- Motorcycle: $25 and covers 2 motorcycles and a maximum of 4 passengers.
- On foot or by bicycle: $15 per person (over 16 years old).
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This ticket allows you to enter the park for 7 consecutive days and can be purchased at any of the visitor centers mentioned above, as well as at the North Entrance Station and West Entrance Station. Unlike other parks, there are no ticket booths at the entrances where you can buy your ticket.
At visitor centers, you can pay with cash or card (which is unusual, as national parks don't normally accept cash), while at other locations, you can only pay by card. 💸 We recommend checking out our article on the best cards for traveling to the United States to avoid fees!
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There are also a number of passes that already include admission to Joshua Tree National Park. If you have any of these, you won't have to pay anything extra:
- Annual Entrance Pass: $55 and allows unlimited entry to the park for 12 months. Only for U.S. citizens and residents.
- America The Beautiful Residents: $80 and allows you to enter all US national parks and other natural sites for 12 months. Only for US citizens and residents.
- America The Beautiful Non-Residents: $250 and allows you to enter all US national parks and other natural sites for 12 months. For non-residents only.
⚠️ Joshua Tree isn't included in the list of national parks for which tourists have to pay an additional $100 per person at the entrance if they do not have the America the Beautiful Non-Residents pass.
When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree
🌸🍁Visiting Joshua Tree in spring and fall
The best time to go to Joshua Tree National Park is during spring and fall, when maximum temperatures range from 70ºF to 84ºF (21°C to 29°C) and nights are perfect for sleeping, as the thermometer can drop to 50ºF (10°C).
During these months, you'll need to wear summer clothes during the day and something warmer for the evenings. In addition, spring is the season that receives the most visitors, so you'll need to make reservations in advance (especially on weekends and during spring break), as lodging fill up quickly.
☀️Visiting Joshua Tree in summer
In summer, Joshua Tree is unbearable, with highs that can reach 104ºF (40°C) and nights that are also hot, with an average temperature of 77ºF (25°C). For this reason, it's the least popular time for tourists, with much cheaper accommodation.
If your trip along the West Coast of the USA coincides with these months, limit yourself to visiting the main parts of the park first thing in the morning and last thing in the afternoon. Bear in mind that some campsgrounds close completely from June 1 to August 28, and others close partially, reducing the number of sites available.
❄️Visiting Joshua Tree in winter
In winter, you'll find a very different landscape. During these months, the maximum temperatures are usually around 59ºF (15ºC), and at night it can drop below freezing, so you'll need to dress warmly and find a hotel with heating. It can even snow in the higher areas of the park, which is a spectacular sight. Can you imagine the Joshua trees covered in white? 😍
How many days to spend in Joshua Tree
After visiting this national park, we believe that the ideal amount of time to spend there is one full day, as this is enough to see the essentials. If you have more days available, you won't get bored either, because the hiking options are endless and you can explore more isolated parts of the park, such as the Black Rock Canyon area.
ℹ️ If you're interested, we have a specific post with everything to see and do in Joshua Tree, where we suggest detailed itineraries depending on whether you have half a day, 1 day, or 2 days.
Where to stay in Joshua Tree
Unlike other national parks, there are no hotels within Joshua Tree National Park itself, only campgrounds. Therefore, unless you're camping, you'll have to choose a hotel in one of the towns surrounding the park. Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree are the most common, but there're many other options that will also depend on the access you choose.
For this reason, don't miss our specific post on where to stay in Joshua Tree National Park. In it, you'll also find a table with all the campsgrounds within the park and information about each one (price, reservations, opening times, etc.).
💡Recommended: Where to stay in Joshua Tree | Areas + Hotels + Map |
Things to see in Joshua Tree
There are many things to do in Joshua Tree, such as the famous Skull Rock, the Keys View lookout, the bucolic Hidden Valley, and the photogenic Cholla Cactus Garden. But there are many more!
For this reason, we have a separate post where we explain you what to do in Joshua Tree, with itineraries for half a day, 1 day, or 2 days. Don't miss it!
💡Recommended: Things to do in Joshua Tree and Surroundings | Top Plans + Map |
Tips for visiting Joshua Tree for the first time
- 🍟 Bring enough food and water for your visit to Joshua Tree. Unlike other national parks, there are no restaurants or shops here. You can only refill your water bottle at the Black Rock Nature Center, the West Entrance Station, and the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center.
- ⛽ Make sure you have enough gas and fill up before entering. There are no gas stations inside the park. We always use the GasBuddy app to find the cheapest petrol station.
- 🧴Don't forget to bring all of this: sunscreen, sunglasses, a cap or hat, and light-colored, breathable clothing.
- 🛜 There is no cell service in most areas of the park. Download maps to your phone beforehand. Free Wi-Fi is available at the Black Rock Visitor Center, the Joshua Tree Visitor Center, and the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center.
- ❌ If possible, avoid visiting Joshua Tree on weekends from October to May and during spring break (March to mid-April). We happened to visit on a weekday during spring break, and the park was packed.
- ⛺ If you're going camping in Joshua Tree, remember that it's prohibited to hang clothes, tie ropes, or hang hammocks from Joshua trees or any other type of vegetation.
- 🏨 Book your accommodation well in advance if you're going in spring, as this is the peak season. Check out our post on where to stay in Joshua Tree to choose your hotel.
- ℹ️ Always check the national park's official website for up-to-date information on possible closures or restrictions.
- 🐿️ Don't touch or feed the animals, including squirrels, or take any plant species. It's strictly prohibited and fines can be as high as $5,000.
- 🐢 Respect the speed limits in the park and drive carefully around desert tortoises so you don't run them over if they cross the road. Their population has declined dramatically in recent years!
- 🌠 Joshua Tree is a Dark Sky Park due to its elevation, low light pollution, and location in the middle of the desert. At night, it's a spectacular sight! If you're staying in the area, don't forget to go out at night. The park is open 24 hours a day and is one of the best places in the US to see stars and the Milky Way.
Joshua Tree National Park Map
On this map, you will find marked the entrances to the park, visitor centers, accommodations, campgrounds, and must-see places:
We hope this psot with all the information you need to visit Joshua Tree National Park has been helpful! 🌵
