Hello there, and welcome to Dirt In My Shoes! Are you ready to plan an unforgettable trip to Joshua Tree National Park?! From the peculiar plants and animals to the gorgeous vistas that stretch for many miles, you are sure to find something that everyone in your group will LOVE.
Joshua Tree is a place where the imagination runs wild. It’s a landscape that most people have never seen (except maybe in a Dr. Seuss book)! So much life and beauty exist in this seemingly desolate place, and my goal is to help you get the most out of your vacation to this fascinating park!
There is so much to do. You may have already looked at a map and been a little overwhelmed — and eager — to make sure that you don’t miss the best sights.
I’m a former park ranger, and I’ll help you plan your vacation down to the details. I’ve extensively explored Joshua Tree and am here to help! Whether this is your first time to Joshua Tree, or if you are returning after many years and would like to be reintroduced to the park, this list of 8 things is for you.
What You Need to Know About Joshua Tree National Park
- Drinking water in the park is incredibly scarce. Always keep extra water in your car with you in case of emergency, and never get out of the car to explore without carrying water. You can click here for a map of the park.
- Summer temperatures at this park can easily soar to 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more, so October-May is peak season. Be sure to get an early start to your day and have a solid plan.
- This park is unique because no lodging or services are available within the park — you’ve got to go to the gateway towns of Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree, or Indio for those conveniences!
- There are nine campgrounds in the park, and most are first-come, first-served. You can learn more about camping here.
I’ll make sure that you don’t miss the sights that make this park so popular. Let the adventure begin!
Click NEXT to see this amazing list of 8 things you can’t miss on your first visit to Joshua Tree National Park!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that (at no extra cost to you) I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase. I only recommend products that I personally love, and I appreciate your support and welcome any questions you may have about any products featured on my site. Thanks! Ash
Hi Ash. thanks for providing all the details. I’m planning a 1 1/2 days at Joshua end of May. Is that reasonably good time to see the park. – Not sure if this is a hot season to visit. Please advise.
It will be nice and toasty in May 🔥
Hi Ash,
Thinking of planning a trip to Joshua Tree in 2023 or 2024 over one of my kids’ school breaks (Thanksgiving, Christmas or Spring). I see that there are quite a few campsites in this park. Do you have a favorite campsite? I believe I stayed at Jumbo Rocks the last time I was there, but that was a long time ago. My boys are 10- and 12-year-old and I plan on taking them rock climbing, if that makes a difference.
Thanks
Really any of the campgrounds along that main park road will do! If you’ll be doing a bunch of climbing, it would be more convenient to be at Hidden Valley or Ryan because those ones are closest to the best climbing spots :) But Jumbo Rocks, Belle, and White Tank are within striking distance as well. Climbing in Joshua Tree is so much fun — lucky kids!
How long would it take to see all these must-see places?
2 days!
Ash, you write here that the hike to Cottonwood Spring Oasis is 1 mile roundtrip but the park’s site (https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/hiking.htm) says it’s a short walk, .1 mile. Is that talking about the same hike? Is the 1 mile you wrote above supposed to say .1 mile?
Yes, thank you for catching that. It’s a typo, and it is only 0.1 miles!
Hi Ashe! We are planning a trip to Joshua Tree sometime in October. Not sure what to pack clothing wise for hiking? What do you suggest?
It’s typically still pretty warm, but I would pack layers so that you can adjust as needed!
HI – we plan to drive from Las Vegas to LA in January 2023. If we some in through the west entrance, what sites & lookouts are easy to access and worth stopping at? Also, will we need snow chains at that time of year? Thanks
Hey Michelle! You won’t need chains in that park unless a random storm rolls through. But typically it’s a nice time to be there.
I would enter the park through Twentynine Palms and exit the park at the town of Joshua Tree. You’ll pass by stops like Skull Rock, Keys Ranch, Ryan Mountain, and Hidden Valley as you drive that road. Have fun!
We plan on visiting in winter (December). Any suggestions on what to visit and do during the winter months? Many thanks and I love your website!
The winter months are peak season in Joshua Tree, so you should be able to complete everything on this list with no problem!
Looking for a beautiful spot to propose. Any suggestions?
The top of Ryan Mountain would be awesome :)
Hi there! Thanks for this awesome info, I’m looking into coming out to backpack overnight. I’d like to come out Friday afternoon and car camp then wake up Saturday morning and backpack into a different camping spot… maybe a 6-10 mile hike in… Do you have any recommendations for this type of weekend trip?
I would take a look at the NPS site here: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/backpacking.htm I’m not familiar with a lot of those longer trails, so I’m not exactly sure what would fit the bill for your upcoming trip. Have fun!
Hi Dirt in my shoes .. I am thinking on a trip to Joshua Tree in December? What should I expect weather wise etc .. we have an rv and were planning on camping ???
I really enjoy winter in Joshua Tree. I was there over New Year’s Eve/Day a few years ago and the weather was awesome…sunny skies, mild temps, beautiful trees. I think you’ll love it! RV camping should be very enjoyable. Have fun!
Hi Ash,
I’m so glad you included the Keys Ranch in your list. It was fascinating to learn how those folks scraped a living from the desert with their ranching and campground endeavors. Although it’s not a natural geological or botanical feature of the Park, I’m glad the NPS has continued to keep this bit of Park history accessible. We enjoyed learning about the history behind the formation of the Park and the role of the homesteaders. The artifacts on the ranch curated by the NPS are amazing. The tall tales, told by our guide, of the life of the Keys family, were even better.
I agree, Janice. The history of the parks is important to acknowledge, and I love the way they present this tour. It would have been a hard life out there, and the artifacts are fascinating. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. Happy trails!
Hi Ash, I am planning a trip to twentynine palms to see my son at the base at the end of March. And I deffently want to go into the park. I am hoping the flowers will be blooming in the park at that time of year. Do you think they will be?
This year hasn’t been a great year for water in Joshua Tree, so it’s hard to say how well the flowers will be blooming this year. I’d check the Joshua Tree facebook page….they often post up-to-date conditions within the park. It’s beautiful regardless — you’ll really enjoy it!!
Used a lot of your Joshua Tree suggestions on my last trip. Thank you so much. Included a link to this page in my blog post!! :) Enjoy http://www.thebubblymermaid.com/keys-view/
Thanks Jacq! Great photos of a beautiful place…glad you had a great trip!!