One Day in Joshua Tree National Park: Joshua Tree Day Trip
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This magical and otherwordly National Park is a must-see when visiting Los Angeles, Palm Springs, or other Southern California locations.
A Day in Joshua Tree: (Jump To)
Enter the park via the West Entrance
Keys View
Barker Dam
Skull Rock
Cholla Cactus Garden
Sunset and Stargazing in Joshua Tree
Exit the Park
Where To Stay When Visiting Joshua Tree.
Base yourself in Palm Springs or the towns of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms for easy lodging near Joshua Tree National Park, from design-forward hotels to cozy cabins. If you’re planning a Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park day trip, book early and aim for the best places to stay in Joshua Tree National Park to catch sunrise and late-night stars.
We’ve always used the nearby town of Palm Springs as a base for exploring Joshua Tree National Park. You can drive to the park’s west entrance in about an hour from Palm Springs. The nearby towns of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms are very small and do not offer a lot of options for accommodations. If you’re more outdoorsy you can, of course, bring a tent.
Camping For Free in Joshua Tree
Backcountry rules allow free, dispersed camping if you’re at least 1 mile from any road and 500 feet from the nearest Joshua Tree National Park trail—pack out everything and bring more water than you think you’ll need. Wake to desert silence, then wander among iconic plants in Joshua Tree National Park before connecting with nearby hiking trails in Joshua Tree National Park.
It is worth mentioning that if you are in a tent you can camp for free inside the park as long as you pitch the tent at least 1 mile from the nearest road and 500 feet from the nearest hiking trail.
There is not anything of note inside the park to get lunch, so pack a cooler with something for lunch. It goes without saying, but it’s the desert, so bring loads of water.
Joshua Tree Itinerary by Car
Joshua Tree National Park is conveniently arranged in a large loop with two excursions outside of the loop that will require some backtracking (but more on that later).
Get an early start, there is a lot to pack into our day.
At the intersection with the Twentynine Palms Highway (Hwy. 62) and Park Blvd in the tiny city of Joshua Tree, you’ll find the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center. Stop in for a quick visit to set the tone for the day and to grab a map of the park. The visitor center has some great displays about the plants, geography, and history of the park.
Enter The Park via The West Entrance
Kick off your Joshua Tree National Park itinerary at the Joshua Tree National Park West Entrance, the fastest gateway to big boulders and spiky trees. Arriving early beats the line at the Joshua Tree National Park entrance and sets you up for quick detours to Joshua Tree National Park Hidden Valley and other favorites.
Enter the park and set your GPS to Key’s View. This is our next stop. Along the way, you’ll get a taste of the rock formations and namesake trees that will fill the day. There are many opportunities to pull off the road to get some selfies atop boulders, feel free to stop.
Keys View
Drive the ridge to Keys View for a widescreen look at the Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea, and on crystal days, Mexico—this is what to do Joshua Tree National Park if you want a huge payoff with almost no effort. Fold it into your one day in Joshua Tree National Park for an early stop before crowds or a golden-hour finale.
After about 40 minutes of driving, you’ll be at the top of the most stunning view in the park. Park the car and take the very short hike to take in the view of the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. If conditions are right from here you can see all the way to Mexico.
Barker Dam
Stretch your legs on the Barker Dam loop, a classic Joshua Tree National Park trail where spring showers can leave a reflective pool and Joshua Tree National Park wildflowers dotting the sand. Keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep and petroglyphs to round out the history-meets-nature vibe.
Set your GPS to Barker Dam. You’ll backtrack a bit before rejoining the park loop. This should take about 15 minutes by car.
Once parked, find the Barker Dam Nature Trail. This is a 1.2-mile loop trail. The highlight of the hike is the dam created in the early 1900s by local ranchers. Depending on the time of year and rainfall a small lake may be on view. If there is standing water, you’re almost guaranteed to see some bighorn sheep.
On the walk back to the parking lot look out for a sign pointing to a slight detour to see ancient petroglyphs on the inside wall of an arched rock.
Skull Rock
Pull over at Skull Rock for an easy stroll through jumbo boulders and playful shadows—perfect for quick photos and picnics on a Joshua Tree National Park day trip. It’s one of the simplest activities in Joshua Tree National Park and a good spot to let kids scramble safely.
Again set your GPS to Skull Rock. A brief 15-minute drive will land you at the unique rock formation that, at the right angle and shadow, looks a bit like a human skull.
This is a great spot for lunch. Find the rock that looks most comfortable and spread out your national park picnic.
Cholla Cactus Garden
Walk the short loop at Cholla Cactus Garden to see one of the densest displays of plants in Joshua Tree National Park, glowing at sunrise and sunset. In good years you’ll spot tiny blooms among the spines, making it a must on any Joshua Tree National Park itinerary.
After lunch, make another diversion from the loop to see the Cholla Cactus Garden. It should take under 20 minutes to drive there via the Pinto Basin Road.
This is my favorite hike in the park. The short loop winds through a tightly concentrated colony of Cholla Cactus plants. The extremely prickly cacti are sometimes called the “Teddy Bear Cactus” because they look cute and cuddly. Don’t hug them. They’re a rare and protected species, and also, covered in spines.
Sunset and Stargazing in Joshua Tree
Wrap the day with a blazing Joshua Tree National Park sunset as the rocks warm up and the sky cools down. When darkness falls, stick around for world-class Joshua Tree National Park stargazing—Milky Way views are why one day in Joshua Tree National Park often turns into two.
By now it’s probably that magic part of the day when the sun is starting to set. Find a nice spot to watch the sun drop below the horizon. The orange glow of the setting sun against the sandstone boulders is a thing of beauty.
If you can, stay a bit longer to enjoy the starscape after sunset. Joshua Tree is a wonderful place free from light pollution.
Exit the Park
If you’re doing a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park, exit toward Twentynine Palms for a smooth loop back to Highway 62 and on to Palm Springs. Heading home after a weekend or a Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park day trip, you’ll be swapping sand for skyline in just a few hours.
Set your GPS to the city of Twentynine Palms and take the final drive outside of the park and back to Highway 62 to meet your original starting point.
Read about our four favorite national parks in California.
