Joshua Tree National Park
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself! — nps.gov
Joshua Tree National Park at a glance
- State
- California
- Established
- October 31, 1994
- Size
- 795,156 acres
- 2025 visits
- 2,932,644
- Busiest-park rank
- #12 of 63
- Entrance
- $30 / vehicle
Best time to visit
When is Joshua Tree quiet?
Joshua Tree is busiest in March and quietest in July. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, May is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 2,932,644 recreation visits, the #12 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Joshua Tree open right now? →
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: JulyBusiest: March
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Joshua Tree
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
No park-wide reservation
The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Joshua Tree National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
Things to do
Things to do in Joshua Tree
- Hike Cottonwood Spring5-20 Minutes · All year
A short, easy 0.1 mile walk to an oasis.
- Hike Bajada Trail15-30 Minutes · Winter, Spring, Fall
Enjoy this short, easy trail through the Colorado desert.
- Hike Cap Rock15-45 Minutes · All year
An easy .4-mile loop hike
- Hike Cholla Cactus Garden15-30 Minutes · All year
An easy quarter mile hike through a cholla patch along Pinto Basin Road.
- Visit the Black Rock Art Gallery15-45 Minutes · All year
Visit the Black Rock Art Gallery
- Visit the Universal Threads Exhibit15-60 Minutes · All year
Visit the Universal Threads Exhibit and learn about the intertwining relationships between plants, animals, earth, sky, and human life.
- Attend a Ranger Stroll30-45 Minutes
Join a ranger on an educational stroll.
- Become a Joshua Tree Junior Ranger30-120 Minutes · All year
Become a Junior Ranger at Joshua Tree National Park.
Show all 48 things to doShow fewer
- Hike Barker Dam Trail30-60 Minutes · All year
- Hike Hidden Valley Trail30-60 Minutes · All year
- Hike Indian Cove Trail30-45 Minutes · All year
- Hike Oasis of Mara30-45 Minutes · All yearPets OK
- Attend an Evening Ranger Program45 MinutesPets OK
- Hike Arch Rock45-90 Minutes · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Wall Street Mill45-120 Minutes · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Biking in Joshua Tree National Park1-10 Hours · Winter, Spring, FallPets OK
- Drive 4x4 Roads1-10 Hours · All yearPets OK
- Drive Park Boulevard1-10 Hours · All yearPets OK
- Hike Boy Scout Trail1-10 Hours · All year
- Hike Hi-View Trail1-2 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Minerva Hoyt Trail1-2 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Skull Rock1-2 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Horseback Riding in Joshua Tree National Park1-10 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Attend a Keys Ranch Tour90-120 Minutes · Winter, Spring, FallReservation/permitFee
- Hike Split Rock90-150 Minutes · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Contact Mine2-3 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Fortynine Palms Oasis2-3 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Lost Horse Mine2-4 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Mastodon Peak2-3 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Pine City Trail2-3 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Ryan Mountain2-3 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike West Side Loop2-3 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Panorama Loop Trail3-5 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Willow Hole3-5 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Hike Lost Palms Oasis4-6 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall
- Black Rock Zone Backpacking2-15 Days · All yearReservation/permitFee
- Boy Scout Trail Zone Backpacking2-15 Days · All yearReservation/permitFee
- Eagle Mountains Zone Backpacking2-15 Days · All yearReservation/permitFee
- Juniper Flats Zone Backpacking2-15 Days · All yearReservation/permitFee
- Maze Zone Backpacking2-15 Days · All yearReservation/permitFee
- Pine City Zone Backpacking2-15 Days · All yearReservation/permitFee
- Birding at Joshua TreeAll year
- Bouldering Near Barker DamWinter, Spring, Fall
- Photographing Joshua TreeAll year
- Rock Climbing at Echo TWinter, Spring, Fall
- Rock Climbing at Hidden Valley Nature TrailWinter, Spring, Fall
- Rock Climbing in Indian CoveWinter, Spring, Fall
- Stargazing at Joshua TreeAll year
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Astronomy44
- Auto and ATV33
- Backcountry Camping51
- Backcountry Hiking43
- Biking44
- Birdwatching48
- Camping60
- Car or Front Country Camping41
- Climbing26
- Food46
- Front-Country Hiking42
- Group Camping33
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Horse Camping (see also camping)14
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)21
- Horse Trekking32
- Horseback Riding25
- Museum Exhibits36
- Picnicking34
- Rock Climbing15
- Scenic Driving30
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto19
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking22
- Stargazing39
- Wildlife Watching53
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Joshua Tree
Days are typically clear with less than 25% humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average highs around 85°F (29°C) and average lows around 50°F (10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights.
It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and not cooling much below 75°F (24°C) at night.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Joshua Tree
From I-10, take exit 117 for CA Hwy 62 toward 29 Palms/Yucca Valley. This will allow you to access the West Entrance, the North Entrance, Black Rock, and Indian Cove. Take exit 168 off I-10 to come in at the park's South Entrance.
74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA, 92277-3597 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Joshua Tree
- Death Valley National Park192 mi~5 h drive (est.)
- Channel Islands National Park233 miChannel Islands is not reachable by road
- Sequoia National Park237 mi~6 h drive (est.)
- Kings Canyon National Park251 mi~6 h drive (est.)
- Grand Canyon National Park255 mi~6 h drive (est.)
- Zion National Park282 mi~7 h drive (est.)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: San Diego (105 mi) · Los Angeles (148 mi) · Las Vegas (164 mi) · Phoenix (217 mi)
Road trip
Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Kings Canyon & Sequoia
4 parks, about 300 miles between them (~7 h of driving, estimated).
Joshua Tree is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Joshua Tree National Park
FAQ
Joshua Tree, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in May, the quietest shoulder-season month. March is the busiest month on average, and July the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Joshua Tree National Park?
- $30 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
- Do you need a reservation for Joshua Tree National Park in 2026?
- The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Joshua Tree National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
- What are some things to do in Joshua Tree National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 48 things to do in Joshua Tree National Park, including Hike Cottonwood Spring, Hike Bajada Trail, Hike Cap Rock, Hike Cholla Cactus Garden, Visit the Black Rock Art Gallery. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Joshua Tree National Park become a national park?
- Joshua Tree National Park was established as a national park on October 31, 1994.
- What is the closest national park to Joshua Tree?
- Death Valley National Park, about 192 miles away in a straight line (roughly 5 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.Joshua Tree National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Joshua Tree National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/jotr.
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