My husband and I were thrilled to take a Joshua Tree day trip from Palm Springs to check another national park off our list. As we drove and walked around the park, we felt a certain mystique about the desert. I now understand why this is such a popular destination for artists.
Joshua Tree National Park is an ideal destination for a day trip, making it a popular choice for visitors from Palm Springs and even San Diego. If you’re staying in San Diego, be sure to check out my 3-Day Itinerary for more information.
You are probably wondering, why is Joshua Tree National Park so special? Well, with proximity to major metropolitan areas in California, Joshua Tree makes for a unique national park experience. With the crazy rock formations, desert landscape, incredible stargazing, and picturesque Joshua Trees, this park is 100% worth the trip.
Common Questions About a Joshua Tree Day Trip From Palm Springs
Is a day trip to Joshua Tree worth it?
Absouletly, Joshua Tree is such a unique National Park that you can easily experience in one day. Definitely add to your list!
Which entrance is best for Joshua Tree from Palm Springs?
We decided to start at the North entrance so we could end our day by exited from the West entrance, which is in the town of Joshua Tree.
Is it better to stay in Palm Springs of Joshua Tree?
Whether you want to stay in Palm Springs or Joshua Tree is truly dependent on how you want to plan your trip. Palm Springs will have more accommodations and attractions, but if decide to stay in Joshua Tree, you will be surrounded by nature.
Planning Your Joshua Tree Day Trip From Palm Springs: The Basics
Driving to Joshua Tree
When planning your Joshua Tree day trip from Palm Springs, there are three different entrances to choose from. Listed below are the various distances to enter the park.
- To the South Entrance, Palm Springs is 50 miles (50 minutes) away
- To the West Entrance, Palm Springs is 38 miles (50 minutes) away
- To the North entrance, Palm Springs is 49 (1 hour) miles away
We began our journey by entering through the Cottonwood Visitor Center. After entering, there was a little bit of a drive before our first stop. This route made more sense as we wanted to exit through the town of Joshua Tree.
The entrance fee for Joshua Tree is $30 per car for 7 days. Click here to view other pass options and discounts.
Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree
The most ideal times to visit Joshua Tree are spring and fall when the temperature averages around 84 degrees. Unfortunately, we visited in August, so we had to wake up extremely early to beat the heat. We enjoyed exploring the park, but I highly recommend not visiting during the summer, as the heat can be dangerous and unbearable.
How Much Time You Should Spend
One day is plenty of time to explore the park, making Joshua Tree a perfect day trip! If you have additional time, another cool experience within Joshua Tree is stargazing. Being completely surrounded by the desert and with very little light pollution, you will get some amazing views of the stars.
What to Bring For a Joshua Tree Day Trip From Palm Springs
- Water, Water, and More Water
- Even though this is a self-explanatory item to bring, it is SO important to stay hydrated while exploring the desert. We even brought some electrolyte water to stay replenished as dehydration can sneak up on you.
- Lunch
- I would plan to pack a lunch as there aren’t any restaurants within the park. There are a couple of restaurants directly outside of the west entrance within the town of Joshua Tree.
- Sunscreen
- Definitely important to bring sunscreen as you walk around under the desert sun.
Places to stop Within Joshua Tree National Park
Throughout the drive, there are numerous opportunities to stop and appreciate the scenery or take a brief stroll in the area. The park’s charm lies in its relatively small size, allowing visitors to leisurely explore and pause wherever they please. The picturesque landscape makes it difficult to resist stopping at every opportunity.
Listed below are the major stops within the national park that I think are most memorable for a Joshua Tree day trip from Palm Springs.
1. Chollas Cactus Garden
- Visit during the sunrise or sunset to get some amazing hues as the expansiveness of the cholla cacti complements the sunrising.
2. Arch Rock
- Once you enter the loop trail, you must hike a .1-mile distance to reach the Arch. After seeing the trail’s namesake, you can continue the .2 mile-long loop trail.
3. Skull Rock and Jumbo Rocks
- These two stops are connected via the 1.8-mile-long Skull Rock Trail. The skull rock was formed from water erosion making this a unique formation.
- While walking along the trail, we spotted a desert fox, which was really cool to see!
4. Cap Rock
- Another unique rock formation within Joshua Tree. There are picnic tables at this scenic spot, making it a great place to stop for lunch. If you are interested in hiking, the Cap Rock Trail is a .4-mile-long loop where you’ll be up close and personal with the magnificent rock formations.
5. Keys View
- This stop along Joshua Tree is a little bit off the beaten path, but worth the 20-minute drive to see amazing views of the San Bernardino mountains and Coachella Valley.
- After several stops to admire rock formations and Joshua trees, it was refreshing to see a wide mountain range.
6. Barker Dam
- Barker Dam is an expansive view of several rock formations that make up the area. The 1.1 mile loop trail provides great views of the various rock formations.
Other Notable Places Outside Joshua Tree National Park
Even though a Joshua Tree day trip from Palm Springs can fill your whole day, listed below are a few other options in the area if you find that you have more time left in the day.
- The town of Joshua Tree is a perfect way to end your day after exploring the national park by venturing into some unique shops. The town itself is pretty small, so you don’t need a ton of time here.
- Pioneer Town is located 17 miles (25 minutes) miles from Joshua Tree and 30 (45 minutes) miles from Palm Springs. Initially, this area was created as a huge movie set for old westerns in the 40s and 50s.
- Fun place to go back in time and walk around the town and stop in some shops and restaurants.
- Salvation Mountain is off the beaten path, being 1 hour and 10 minutes from the Joshua Tree South entrance and 1 hour 30 minutes from Palm Springs.
- Created by Leonard Knight as a tribute to God and the powerful message “God is Love”, this is something I wish my husband and I planned to see.
- Salvation Mountain is super close to Slab City, which would also be a fun stop to explore.
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