Planning a road trip to Joshua Tree National Park?
Joshua Tree’s high desert wonderland of rocks will offer you a chance to escape from the everyday. And this Joshua Tree travel guide will give you lots of tips for spending time out in nature and off-the-grid!
Where is Joshua Tree National Park
Located in Southern California. Joshua Tree National Park is about 2.5 hours east of LA and about an hour north of Palm Springs. At 4,200ft, the park is home to coyotes, bighorn sheep, black-tailed jackrabbits, and of course the infamous Joshua tree. In addition to the wildlife, J Tree, as it’s commonly called, is the perfect little road trip destination to get off the beaten path with family or friends!
What is a Joshua Tree?
As a member of the Yucca family, the Joshua tree’s spikey stature can only be found in the Mojave Desert ecosystem. Where is that? Well, the Mojave desert covers parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. In addition, the Joshua trees can only be seen between 2,000 to 6,000ft of elevation. So, although the Mojave desert is vast, you’ll only notice the trees begin to appear as you climb above 2,000 feet.
Joshua trees also bloom in Springtime, along with millions of other wildflowers in the park. Therefore, Joshua Tree National Park is a very popular destination for Spring Break travelers.
Lastly, Joshua trees provide shelter for lizards, birds, and other animals to escape the sun-baked terrain. So they play an important role in the park’s ecosystem.
What to expect at Joshua Tree National Park
What you will not find:
- Running water
- Cell service (unless you read on to learn about our secret spots!)
- Wifi
- Flush toilets
- Shade
- Power
- Dogs on trails
- Mountain biking
What you will see/hear/experience:
- Coyotes
- Rattlesnakes
- Rock climbers
- Stars
- Cool desert nights
- Instagrammable scenes around every corner!
So if you’re already convinced JTree is where you want to go, download our Road Trip Packing Checklist! But, for those of you that want more information about the park, let’s dive more into our Joshua Tree travel guide!
Driving to Joshua Tree National Park
Park Entrances
If you are flying in, the most popular towns to drive to Joshua Tree from would be San Diego, Palm Springs, or Los Angeles. Therefore, when driving from these spots to the park, the most common entrances are often through the north or west side.
So, you will enter through the town of either Joshua Tree – the West Entrance, or 29 Palms – the North Entrance to the park. However, there are a few other roads that come into the park. These less visited entrances include:
- Cottonwood- At the south end of the park near Cottonwood Campground and visitor center
- Black Rock- At the west side of the park, where you’ll find both a campground and visitor center
- Indian Cove- Located on the north side of the park and home to the Indian Cove Campground
Driving in Joshua Tree
It’s good to note that all the main roads in the park are paved. Therefore can you drive in with your Class A Motorhome, RV, camper van, trailer, bicycle, or motorcycle and enjoy all the park has to offer. That being said, there are a few dirt roads within Joshua Tree National Park. You’ll find these inside a few of the campgrounds, and near some of the major trail entrances.
Looking to rent a camper van for your trip? We love Outdoorsy.com. In fact, if you’re considering renting one for your trip, here’s a $50 credit to get you started!
Pro tip: if you’re interested in rock climbing, you’ll want to drive into the park at the West or North Entrance to be closer to the popular climbing areas like Hidden Valley, Quail Springs, Boy Scout Trailhead, and Sheep Pass.
Joshua Tree National Park Camping and Entrance Fees
Before we dive into camping and entrance fees, we highly recommend picking up a National Parks Annual Pass. Read more about how an Annual Pass makes a great gift for adventurous family and friends. Just be sure to hint that you want to come with them!
Joshua Tree Fees:
- Car, RV, or camper van entrance fee: $30, good for 7 days and can be purchased in advance
- Camping fee: $20/night (Just $10 if you have an Annual Pass! Read more about making Joshua Tree camping reservations below.)
- Individual on foot or by bike: $15
- Annual Pass: $80 and good for ANY National Park or National Monument for 1 year from the date of purchase. You can also buy an annual pass for just Joshua Tree National Park for $55. However, if you’re travelers like us, it’s worth it to get the $80 pass.
One last reason we buy an Annual Parks Pass every year? They are a great way to give back to the public lands we love!
Camping in Joshua Tree National Park
First Come, First Serve Campgrounds
Most of the camping in Joshua Tree National Park used to be first-come, first-serve. Examples of our favorites?
- Hidden Valley
- Sheep’s Pass
However, both of these campgrounds are extremely popular with rock climbers. Therefore, this means that during the high season (Spring and Fall), you’ll have to drive in during the week to secure a spot. Or, be prepared to drive circles around the campground in the mornings to see if anyone is packing up. Another suggestion: use Sēkr! (more on this below)
Often we’ll walk the campground with our dog Lucy and give a friendly good morning wave, then check-in to see if people are leaving. It’s much less offensive than yelling out your car window!
Pro tip: Join the Park Rangers for Climber’s Coffee every Saturday and Sunday from 8-10am at the Hidden Valley Campground. This is also a great way to find out if there may be spots opening up that morning, or later in the week.
How to Make Camping Reservations in Joshua Tree
Since COVID-19, there are now more opportunities to reserve a campsite in Joshua Tree through Recreation.gov. The most popular campgrounds where you can reserve a spot in advance?
- Ryan Mountain
- Jumbo Rocks
- Cottonwood
- Indian Cove
finding campsites through sĒkr
If you find yourself without a campsite, or you’d like to camp outside the park, use Sēkr! Formerly the Van Life App, and created by 2 San Diegan women, Sēkr is your go-to app for planning car camping, RVing, or van life adventures!
Download Sēkr for FREE, create a log-in, and you’ll find lots of locations, reviews, and tips for camping around Joshua Tree! In addition, you can connect with fellow ‘van lifers’, save places, and create lists to plan out a full camping road trip!
What to Expect While Camping in Joshua Tree
As we mentioned earlier, camping in Joshua Tree National Park is fairly primitive. You can expect 1-2 parking spots, and an easy walk-in, with campsites 20-30 feet from your car. In addition, they’ll be a picnic table and fire ring. Some sites often have a tall BBQ grill, or at least a grill grate to fold over your campfire.
Campgrounds will also have single-stall compost toilets, trash, and recycling containers throughout the campground. Keep in mind, there is no running water in the park. In addition, some campgrounds will also have a camp host, guided tours and talks, and extra/overflow parking spots for vehicles that do not fit at your campsite.
Camping with Pets
Good news, dogs are allowed in Josuha Tree! However, they must remain on a leash, and cannot be left unattended at your campsite. Dogs are also not allowed on trails. Why? Mainly to preserve the park’s wildlife. Read more about Joshua Tree National Park’s travel guide and rules for bringing your pup camping.
What to Pack for Camping in Joshua Tree National Park
Since you won’t have access to any restaurants or cafes inside the park, be prepared to bring enough food, water, and firewood for the length of your stay. Remember, 1 gallon of water per person, per day. And bring extra for the pups. Also, don’t forget marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers to make s’mores over the campfire!
Need a quick packing list for all the other non-food items you might need? Download ours from our Road Trip blog! We’ve thought of everything from pillows to propane. Headlamps to hair ties. Solar chargers to spatulas!
But, if you’ve already left town, there are several places to stock up on supplies in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Twentynine Palms. There’s even a Walmart! Forgot some climbing gear or a guidebook at home? No problem. Nomad Ventures is just outside the Park’s West Entrance and will have everything you need.
Best Places to Eat and Drink near Joshua Tree
If you’d rather make your own meals for breakfast and lunch, but then head out for a proper dinner, or margaritas to cool off after a long day of climbing, we’ve got you covered! From the Rib Company to Dickey’s Barbeque Pit. Sam’s Indian Food & Pizza. The Joshua Tree Saloon. And, of course, every trip is worth the drive out to Pappy & Harriet’s! Why? The owner often books musicians that you’d normally see on stage at Coachella! Read more on Joshua Tree’s best watering holes.
Things To Do in Joshua Tree National Park:
- Hiking- best hikes are near the Real Hidden Valley, Lost Horse Trail, Ryan Mountain, and Jumbo Rocks. Pro tip: You can easily get turned around and off trail as the formations begin to look the same. Use All Trails, but also bring a printed map or screenshots of a topo map so you can find your way!
- Trail running
- Rock climbing- mainly trad climbing with very little sport climbing in the park
- Bouldering
- Read & relax!
I could write a whole separate blog on why Joshua Tree is one of my top 3 spots for rock climbing in Southern California…and maybe I will. But for now, you’ll find everything you need in one of the many rock climbing guidebooks. And, Falcon Guides are our fav travel guides!
Mountain Project is also helpful as a travel guide for climbing in the park, just make sure you download both the area and the photos. With no service in the park, it can be hard to find the route you’re looking for without a photo to guide you.
Cell Service and Wifi in Joshua Tree
If you like living and working remotely, but still need to check that email or make a call while visiting Joshua Tree, it can be done. Typically heading for higher ground might get you 1-2 bars of cell service. But, here’s a few other spots where we’ve been able to make calls and send emails while camping in Joshua Tree National Park:
- Boy Scout Trailhead entrance near Quail Springs Road
- Sheep Pass parking lot
- Key’s View
However, if you need to be on a video call or download something more than 5MB, head outside the park. Even just by making the descent back into Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms, you’ll come back into cell service before you even leave the park.
In addition, to keep from roaming and draining your battery, we often keep our cell phones in airplane mode most of the day. Then, we turn our phones off at night, using our solar chargers to power them back up during the day!
Adventure Awaits in the Desert!
We enjoy any opportunity to explore new places, but Joshua Tree National Park is one we go back to several times each year. Just pulling out our climbing packs gets me excited! Don’t forget to download our Road Trip Packing Checklist if it’s been a while since your last road trip.
Want more travel tips? Read our blogs:
- Backpacking in the Wind River Range in Wyoming
- Road tripping through Utah’s National Parks
- Driving California’s 395 to Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, and Yosemite National Park
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Until next time, happy traveling!
– Meredith McConvill
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