Our Day Trip Route Through Joshua Tree National Park

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Photo of Joshua Trees at various stages of growth in a desert landscape with smooth rocks underneath a clear blue sky

Joshua Tree National Park is a popular weekend getaway destination for millions each year, but you can definitely tick off the park’s major highlights in just one day if you’re shorter on time. We know because we did it ourselves. Our action packed day trip was filled with hikes, views and non-stop photos of wide open landscapes, smooth boulders and yucca plants.

In this guide we walk you through the perfect one day Joshua Tree itinerary, based on our experiences.

Our Experience

Photo of a couple standing together with the Joshua Tree National Park welcome sign on a sunny day
Here we are at the park’s welcome sign

We’d been road tripping through California for more than 2 weeks by the time we left San Diego with Joshua Tree plugged into our GPS. Three hours later we arrived, grabbed dinner, took silhouetted photos of the famous trees under moonlight and eventually checked into our hotel. Then after a hearty breakfast, we entered the park early and spent all day exploring the top trails and viewpoints.

We loved how easy going and relaxing the park was. It was small enough to easily get through the things we wanted to see and do without feeling rushed. And it didn’t have that same theme park feel like other popular national parks. Our favorite spots were Keys View, Ryan Mountain and Cholla Cactus Garden. But the whole place was understated and tranquil, in a good way. Read more about us.

What You Need To Know

Photo of silhouetted Joshua Trees with yellows and oranges in the sky at sunset
We really enjoyed taking silhouetted photos of the famous yucca plants

Okay, let’s get right into it. Here are the most important things you need to know before you visit:

  • Joshua Tree is just 127 miles from Downtown L.A.
  • It’s 147 miles from San Diego to Joshua Tree
  • You can enter at Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms or Chiriaco Summit
  • Fall, winter and spring are the busiest seasons
  • The park is almost entirely exposed to the elements
  • Ryan Mountain is the top rated hike on AllTrails
  • The park receives more than 3 million visitors annually

Entry Fees: It costs $30/vehicle to enter Joshua Tree National Park. The price includes driver and all passengers for up to 7 consecutive days. Alternatively, you can use an America the Beautiful Pass for free entry.

Route Map

Click or touch the map below to activate. Zoom in and out, move around the map and you’ll see icons for each stop along with the driving route. You can also click on the “view larger map” icon in the top right to expand the map, which is much easier to see.

Map key:

  • Red icons – Top attractions
  • Blue line – Driving route

One Day Itinerary

Next, let’s walk through our Joshua Tree day trip so you can see if it will work for your visit.

1. Visitor Center

Photo of a desert in California with a sandy trail leading through vegetation to tall smooth rock formations
These were some of the first yucca plants and smooth boulder formations we saw after entering the park

We started the morning with breakfast at JT Country Kitchen before driving down to Joshua Tree’s main visitor center. Inside, we picked up a map and asked a ranger to confirm the route we’d plotted was as efficient as possible. It was spot on, so we drove down Quail Springs Road to the entrance kiosk and showed our America the Beautiful Pass for entry.

2. Hidden Valley

Photo of a hiker walking through a desert landscape with smooth boulders and cactus plants under a blue sky
This was Kristen hiking around Hidden Valley

Our first port of call was Hidden Valley Nature Trail: an easy, flat and family friendly 1 mile roundtrip hike with stunning scenery. We passed by a few trailheads on the way to Hidden Valley, but with just one day in Joshua Tree we had to carefully pick and choose our stops. The hike was a perfect introduction to the park, with plenty of sand colored boulders and fully grown yucca plants on display throughout.

3. Barker Dam

Photo of a rocky landscape with smooth boulders and cactus plants on a clear day
Barker Dam was empty when we visited the park but it’s still a nice landscape to explore

Next, we took a quick look around Intersection Rock to see a bunch of rock climbers scaling different parts of the formation. Then we hopped back in the car and drove to Barker Dam Trail to hike another easy 1.1 mile loop. It hadn’t rained in a while so it was barren when we hiked, but after rain the dam will fill with water. Don’t miss the rock art site for a glimpse of human life in the desert.

4. Keys View

Photo of a wide open far reaching view over a valley in the California desert from Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park
This was our superb vista from Keys View

After a few mid morning snacks we drove 20 minutes to Keys View for a spectacular panoramic view over the San Andreas fault line and Coachella Valley. It was a bit hazy, but we could just about see the Salton Sea. On a clear day you should be able to make out Signal Mountain across the Mexican border. We didn’t expect the view to be that impressive, so definitely check it out when you visit.

5. Lost Horse Mine

Photo of an old wooden mine entrance in the California desert
This is all that remains from Lost Horse Mine

Next up was Lost Horse Mine Trail, which was just 12 minutes drive away. This was technically a loop trail, but we decided to keep things shorter by hiking out and back for a total of 4 miles to see the old mining site. Between 1894 and 1931, Lost Horse Mine produced what would be worth $5 million today in gold and silver. It was a good but not amazing hike, so it’s not essential for your Joshua Tree itinerary.

6. Ryan Mountain

Photo of Ryan Mountain Trailhead in Joshua Tree with a trail sign next to steps leading to a tall mound
We took this trailhead photo before racing up to Ryan Mountain summit

Moving onto a hike you absolutely must do, our next stop was Ryan Mountain Trail. This was a lung-busting and calf-burning climb up 1,000 ft in just 1.5 miles (total of 3 miles roundtrip) to a sensational 360-degree viewpoint. If you plan to stay over in the park, this summit is the best place to watch a sunset or sunrise. This was our favorite hike in the park and we’d love to do it at dawn or dusk.

7. Geology Tour Road

Photo of a tourist holding out an arm with a piece of paper listing driving instructions for a 4WD road in a desert
This was Kristen holding up the instructions for Geology Tour Road at the trailhead

If you’re not interested in hiking and you’re visiting Joshua Tree in a 4WD vehicle, you should consider driving the self guided 18-mile long Geology Tour Road. It has 16 stops, lots of mini hikes leading to viewpoints and likely nobody else in sight. We drove a mile or so on the sandy washboard road before turning around. After a certain point the road is only suitable for high clearance vehicles.

8. Skull Rock

Hiker crouched in a small depression in a rock formation that looks a bit like a skull in Joshua Tree National Park
Mark managed to scramble up Skull Rock and into one of its eyes

Next we drove into Jumbo Rocks Campground and parked near the amphitheater. From there we hiked across enormous, smooth and curvaceous boulders to Skull Rock. Mark scrambled up into one of the skull’s eyes for a quick photo, then we completed a loop hike around Skull Rock Nature Trail before connecting back at the car. We enjoyed this one, so don’t miss it.

9. Cholla Cactus Garden

Photo of of two narrow and short cactus plants growing next to one another with a starburst of the sun creeping through the middle
This was a fun starburst of the sun we took at Cholla Cactus Garden

It was getting close to sunset so we had to get a move on. We made a quick stop to see Arch Rock and Heart Rock, before continuing down Pinto Basin Road to Cholla Cactus Garden. And we’re so glad we made the effort. The beautiful cactus garden glowing under soft yellow light at sunset turned out to be one of our favorite experiences from our day in Joshua Tree.

10. Stargazing

Photo of a Joshua Tree taken at night with stars in the sky and moonlit benches in an arid desert
We took this long exposure to capture the stars but the moon was also very bright

The quickest way out of the park from Cholla Cactus Garden was to leave via Twentynine Palms. But we wanted to stick around for a few hours to take photos of the Joshua Trees after sunset. We’d been lucky with clear and calm weather, but we had a full moon so the sky was far too bright for any Milky Way photography. Did you know you can join night sky ranger programs in Joshua Tree?

When To Visit

Photo of smooth rock formations behind Joshua Trees in a flat desert landscape at dusk
We took this photo of more yucca plants and smooth rocks after the sun had set

In contrast to most other US national parks, the busiest months in Joshua Tree are October through May. This is mostly because temperatures are dangerously high throughout summer and the park is totally exposed so there’s no hiding from the heat.

During late fall, winter and spring the busiest periods are weekends and holidays like Spring Break. So, we encourage you to visit in midweek if you have flexibility over your travel days and you prefer to avoid crowds.

Our Joshua Tree day trip was on a Tuesday morning in November. We barely saw anyone else in the park, the trails and viewpoints were quiet, hotels nearby had plenty of availability and the weather was near perfect.

Where To Stay Nearby

Photo of a tourist standing underneath a hanging Joshua Tree with arms in the air
Here’s Kristen pretending to hold up a falling yucca plant

Okay, what if you want to stay for a second day or you’re too tired to drive home after spending a full day in the park? Well, you can choose between a wide range of lodging options in Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, Desert Hot Springs or even Palm Springs.

Traditional hotels near the park are affordable, but you can also book luxury glamping stays under the stars (you’ve probably seen them in magazines or on social media). Take a look through our favorite hotels near Joshua Tree on our sister site Best Hotels Anywhere to learn more. And here’s our popular guide on how to book cheaper hotels.

Inside the park you can stay at one of 8 campgrounds. We had a look around Jumbo Rocks Campground and it looked pretty awesome because each site had its own secluded area within an alcove among large boulders. Get in early if you want to secure a camping spot.

The Morgan Conclusion

Photo of a couple standing together next to cacti in a desert on a sunny evening
Here we are in the Cholla Cactus Garden close to sunset

We really enjoyed our one day in Joshua Tree itinerary, even more so than we expected. The route was easy to plan and execute because of the park’s achievable size. We were pleasantly surprised by the scenic hikes and striking viewpoints, and we had so much fun taking silhouette photos of the yucca plants after sunset.

Did we feel like we needed more than one day? No, absolutely not. We easily got through the park’s top highlights. The only thing we feel like we missed out on was being at Ryan Mountain summit at either sunrise or sunset. So, there’s no doubt in our minds that you can do Joshua Tree as a day trip.

More From California

Want more California content? Head to our California Travel Guides to explore national parks, popular road trips and things to do in major cities of the Golden state.


We hope our guide to visiting Joshua Tree helps with planning your trip to California!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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4 thoughts on “Our Day Trip Route Through Joshua Tree National Park”

  1. Stay on Hwy 62 through Joshua Tree to 29 Palms. The wait, if any, is much shorter at the northeast entrance, and the new Visitor’s Center is educational, especially for life saving safety information. You can get the makings of a picnic at the grocery, or something to go from several places in JT or 29. Yes, I live in 29.

    Reply
    • Thanks Graham! Yep, it was hard to refrain from making a U2 reference when writing! Interestingly, the cover for U2’s Joshua Tree album was shot at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley and not at Joshua Tree National Park, even though it features one of the famous Yucca Plants. We of course played a few of the tracks from the album driving through the park!

      Reply

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