Ultimate One Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

Last Updated: 10/17/2024

Joshua Tree National Park is a high desert wilderness in southern California that is perfect for a day trip. It is home to unique rock formations, one-of-a-kind plants, and some fun and easy hikes. If you’re interested in visiting the park but you’re not sure what attractions are best, what time of the year to visit, which entrance to use, or what to expect, then this guide is for you!

Road Trip Joshua Tree: Where is it and how to get there

Joshua Tree is a remote area, but getting there is surprisingly easy from major surrounding cities. If you are flying into Joshua Tree, you can fly into San Diego international airport or you can fly into LAX in Los Angeles, both of which are excellent options. It's hard to say which is the closes airport, as both Los Angeles and San Diego are 2.5-3 hours to the West Entrance of Joshua Tree in the town of Twentynine Palms. And if you're coming from Palm Springs, it's only 45 minutes to 1 hour to the North Entrance.

To get turn by turn directions from your location in either LA or San Diego, enter the West Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms CA in your map app of choice, and it will pop right up. To get there from Palm Springs, enter the North Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park.

The drive between San Diego and Joshua Tree in particular is an amazingly scenic drive. You get to drive past the San Bernardino mountains, which are capped with white snow during the winter. And once you get into Yucca Valley you’re treated to peaked hills and unique cacti plants as you drive up into the high desert landscape of the Mojave Desert, which is 1 of the 4 major deserts in North America.

No matter where you come from on this road trip, you’re going to be driving through some truly unique and stunning landscapes. Be sure to take some pictures as you’re rolling along!

Other Road Trip Options

Los Angeles/San Diego to Palm Springs to Joshua Tree

If you wanted to include Joshua Tree National Park into a bigger SoCal road trip, you could start at either San Diego or LA and drive over to Palm Springs, a 2.5-3 hour drive. You could spend a few hours at the aerial tram up to Mount San Jacinto for some truly stellar views, drive through the city to Joshua Tree, and then drive back to your city of choice. See maps below with the route highlighted.

Big Bear/Lake Arrowhead to Joshua Tree

If you wanted to make a weekend trip out of this, you could spend a day at Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains and get some hiking, biking, and swimming in. Big Bear is a personal favorite of mine as there is no shortage of stunning views and the Pacific Crest Trail goes through so you often run into through hikers. There's also amazing rock climbing in the area, and the town itself is very fun to explore, with many unique boutiques and restaurants. Let me know in the comments section if you want to see a post all about Big Bear CA in the near future!

Drive over to the Salton Sea

If you have a curiosity to see California's largest lake by surface area, you could consider adding the Salton Sea to your day trip to Joshua Tree. The Salton Sea was formed by accident when the Colorado River overflowed and breached irrigation canals, flooding the Salton Sink, a below-sea-level desert basin. In the 1950's, it was a popular tourist destination that led to a real estate boom. Unfortunately, as the water started to evaporate and the salinity of the lake increased, it slowly became too toxic and polluted to safely allow humans to recreate on the water. This led to a real estate crash as tourism dried up along with the lake. However there are some really cool things to see in the area, such as slab city, Salvation Mountain, the ruins of Bombay Beach, and the birds that use this as a stopover during migration.

There are many ways to incorporate Joshua Tree National Park into a bigger road trip, but for this blog post, we’re going to focus on a full day in Joshua Tree so that you get most out of this spectacular park.

Where to get in: Park Entrances & Visitor Centers

There are three park entrances that you can choose based on where you’re coming from and what hikes and sites you want to see. The park entrances include the West Entrance, the North Entrance, and the South Entrance.

West Entrance

Location: the town of Joshua Tree CA

Entry fee: $29 per car

Hours: generally open 24/7, but hours may change in the summer due to weather factors

Amenities: Joshua Tree Visitor’s Center: cafe, restrooms, information desk, bookstore

This park entrance is most convenient for those coming from San Diego and Los Angeles, and is the entrance that we used when visiting. It allows access to the western portion of the park. It offers the main Joshua Tree Visitor’s Center, and has an information desk, exhibits, bookstore/gift shop, restrooms, picnic area and a cafe. It is definitely worth visiting if you’ve never been to Joshua Tree before.

North Entrance

Location: Twentynine Palms CA

Entry fee: $29 per car

Hours: generally open 24/7, but hours may change in the summer due to weather factors

Amenities: Oasis Visitor Center: bookstore, restrooms, information desk

The North Entrance to the park offers several amenities and is accessed via Highway 62 in Twentynine Palms. This entrance allows access to the northern portion of the park and is most convenient to those coming from Palm Springs. Amenities include an information desk, exhibits, bookstore, restrooms, picnic area. If you wanted to extend your road trip beyond a day or include Palm Springs in your 1 day road trip, this could be a good option for entering the park.

South Entrance

Location: Indio CA

Entry fee: $29 per car

Hours: generally open 24/7, but hours may change in the summer due to weather factors

Amenities: Cottonwood Visitor Center: Information desk, exhibits, bookstore, restrooms, picnic area

The south entrance is at the southern tip of the park, which allows easy access for those coming from Indio CA, Phoenix AZ, or Coachella Valley CA. A popular road trip would be to enter the park from the North or Western entrance, do some hikes in those areas, and drive along the main road of the park, Park Boulevard, until you exit at the south entrance and drive back to your city of origin.

Photo courtesy of the National Park Service

Getting Around the Park: Main Roads

There are several main roads that you can navigate through the park. If you enter through the West Entrance of the park you will be driving along Park Boulevard, which accesses many popular trails and campgrounds such as the Qual Springs Trail (popular with rock climbers) and the Sheep Pass campground. Park Boulevard eventually intersects with Pinto Basin Road which will bring you to the popular walking path Cholla Cactus Garden.

Pinto Basin Road will also lead into Cottonwood Canyon eventually which is how you exit (or enter) the park from the South Entrance. While these are the main roads through the park, there are many other smaller, dirt roads that you may need to travel in order to access hiking or climbing opportunities.

Pro Tip: I’ve had friends who have started at the south entrance when driving from San Diego and they regretted it. I suggest that you start at the North or West entrance and get all of the hiking and walking done first, and then you can spend the rest of the day relaxing as you drive through the park for sunset or enjoy the view of the Milky Way at night.

The Perfect 1 Day Itinerary

1 day in Joshua Tree is the perfect amount of time to see the main attractions, get some hikes in, and experience the magic of this high desert park. This itinerary is ideal for those coming from San Diego or Los Angeles, but if you’re coming from Palm Springs or the Big Bear area you should have no problem following along.

I like to get an early start when going to National Parks and I suggest that you do as well, otherwise you may end up waiting in a long line to get into the park! We got to the West Entrance around 9:00 AM and found no line, good weather, and comfortable start time that allowed for a stop at the Visitor’s Center and plenty of coffee stops along the way.

So let’s dive into your perfect 1 day in Joshua Tree!


Time	Activity
8:00 AM	Arrive at the Joshua Tree Visitor's Center on Park Boulevard
9:00 AM	Arrive at the Western Entrance
9:30 AM	Start hiking up Ryan Mountain
11:30 AM	Hike to Wall Street Mill via the Wall Street Mill Trail
3:00 PM	Drive to Skull Rock
4:00 PM	Head to Pioneertown for dinner at Pappy + Harriet's

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8:00 AM: Arrive at the Visitor's Center

The Joshua Tree Visitor’s Center is at the base of the road heading towards the West Entrance, and in my opinion it’s a must-see for a first time visitor. When we went it was a first for both of us, so we stopped on our way in to check it out. The visitor’s center has a gift shop, a cafe, a restroom, and a large map outside with popular hikes organized by time to completion, elevation, location in the park, and difficulty. I highly suggest stopping by to learn more about the park, help organize your day, and pick up a gift or last minute provisions.

9:00 AM: Arrive at the West Entrance

At the entrance the ranger will charge $30 per car, or if you have your America the Beautiful pass you just have to show them that. The ranger will offer you a paper map, which I highly suggest taking, and then you’re on your way to your first adventure- Ryan Mountain!

9:30 AM: Start hiking up Ryan Mountain

Traveling along Park Boulevard, which is the same road that the West Entrance is located on, you will find the trailhead to Ryan Mountain. We found to be a fun way to start the day, and wanted to get the most scenic, hardest part of our day over with in the morning. There’s nothing like a brisk hike to get the day going! Let’s look at the stats for Ryan Mountain:

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 3 miles round trip (out & back)

Elevation Gain: 1,050 feet

Time to Completion: 1.5-2.5 hours

Crowds: Moderate

Parking Area: Between Sheep Pass and Ryan Campground

Trail Description:

Hiking up Ryan mountain gives you a birds eye view of the park, and the drive to the trailhead is really lovely. There is a parking area at the base of the trailhead that had plenty of room when were there on a Saturday morning in February. There is also a vault toilet at the base of the trail which was very convenient.

To start out, find the Ryan Mountain Trail sign in the middle of the parking area, note that dogs are not allowed on this trail. From there it’s fairly straight up, with some steps put in along the way. We did encounter snow along the trail, so be prepared with waterproof boots and appropriate hiking gear. The trail is very exposed, and it was very windy that day. We were both glad we packed some weather proof layers!

Pro Tip: Download our FREE day hiking checklist so you know exactly what to pack every time you go out!

Although it is a challenging 1.5 miles to the summit, the views at the top are worth it! We could see most of the park laid out below us in dabbled browns, and in the far distance we could see the white peaks of the San Bernardino mountains against the blue of the sky.

There’s a giant pile of rocks at the summit and a sign, so you really can’t miss it. No false summits here! Enjoy your time at the peak, and when you’re ready head back down, use the same trail that you took to the top. Simple, fun, and rewarding. Just the way we like them!

This hike could take anywhere from 1.5 to 2+ hours, depending on fitness level, crowds, and how much you are enjoying the summit. It took us a full 1.5 hours and we took our time to enjoy the journey.

11:30: Hike to Wall Street Mill via the Wall Street Mill Trail

After the tough Ryan Mountain hike, you’re probably ready for a little break. That’s what this next hike is all about; taking a break from the steeps, getting out into the desert, and interacting with some history. Here are the stats:

Difficulty: Moderate/Easy

Length: 2 miles round trip (out & back)

Elevation Gain: 80 feet

Time to Completion: 1.5-2.5 hours

Crowds: Moderate

Parking Area: Off the unpaved Queen Valley Road just east of Barker Dam

Trail Description:

The Wall Street Mill trail is an easy, flat hike through the desert and around some cool rock formations that takes you to some old mill ruins from a different era of Joshua Tree. Back in the early 19th century there was some gold mining activity, but no significant gold deposits were ever found.

That didn't stop people from digging tunnels and installing gold mines however. Now that all mining activity has been dead for decades, and now that Joshua Tree is a National Park, you can visit those gold mill ruins. You will come across the ruins of that mill at the end of the hike, complete with some rusted husks of vintage cars.

There are also some cool rock formations that you can climb up to make this hike even more interesting. And when you’re ready for a lunch break, you can head back to the car and enjoy a picnic lunch!

3:00: Drive to Skull Rock

Once lunch is wrapped up, head to one of most popular hikes in the park, skull rock! This is an easy one and a great place to take some pictures of a rock formation that resembles a human skull. Let’s look at the stats:

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 1.7 mile loop

Elevation Gain: 100 feet

Time to Completion: 45 minutes - 1 hour

Crowds: Heavy

Parking Area: Jumbo Rocks Campground

Trail Description:

Another mellow hike with lots of desert views and rock formations, the real star of the show is the rock formation called Skull Rock. After many years of water dripping on the rock, eye sockets have formed on the rock to make it look like a human skull. This is a very busy area and one of the most popular hikes, so come prepared with patience.

There are a few places to break into the loop, but the best place to do so is at Jumbo Rocks Campground. You can park alongside the road if the small parking area is filled up, and you immediately get to see the skull rock formation. Climb up and take a picture, and then do yourself a favor and hop on the trail to explore the rest of the area.

You’ll get to see some cool Joshua trees, climb some rock formations, and generally enjoy the area. And by the time you get back to your car it will be time to exit the park and check out another unique area; Pioneertown!

4:00: Head to Pioneertown for dinner

A Joshua Tree day trip isn’t complete without a visit to one of the main attractions in the area; Pioneertown. Built to be a movie set for western movies, the area is still maintained and has some cool shops to check out along with some restaurants and even a bowling alley.

Just a short drive from the town of Joshua Tree, it’s easy to get to and a great place to get a drink and a bite to eat as the sunsets. We went to Pappy + Harriets for some barbecue and were not disappointed with the pulled pork sandwich. The restaurant is interestingly decorated, and even has old bottles in the walls that creates a unique old world charm that you have to experience for yourself.

The buildings are straight out of a western film (literally), and are overall a cool and unique area to check out at the end of a long day. If you're into fashion, there were some truly unique boutiques and a vintage shop to scratch your western itch.

Best Time of the Year to Visit

Joshua Tree National Park is a desert, which means that it gets very hot in summer. The best time to visit this national park is October-April, before summer really sets in. All of these hiking trails are exposed, which makes hiking in the summer and early fall months dangerous. By avoiding the peak temperatures, you’re keeping yourself safe and creating a more enjoyable outdoor experience. To help you plan your trip, here’s a graph of the average daytime temperatures in Joshua Tree National Park throughout the year:


Month	Average Hi/Low in F	Rainy Days
January	63° / 38°	2 days
February	66° / 38°	1 day
March	74° / 43°	0 days
April	80° / 48°	0 days
May	86° / 55°	0 days
June	97° / 66°	0 days
July	99° / 73°	0 days
August	99° / 72°	1 day
September	94° / 64°	1 day
October	83° / 54°	0 days
November	72° / 44°	0 days
December	61° / 37°	1 day

Source: The Weather Channel

Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

There are many hikes in Joshua Tree that highlight the natural and unique beauty of the area, but if you only have 1 day to see the park you'll want to know what the best hikes are to see the rock formations, the cacti, and the Joshua Trees. I haven't hiked all of these personally yet, but they were recommended at the Visitor's Center at the West Entrance Station:


Hike	Trailhead	Distance	Elevation Gain	Time to Completion	Difficulty	Description
Ryan Ranch	Just east of Ryan Campground on Park Boulevard	1 mile	52 feet	1 Hour	Easy	Out & back. Visit an old homestead including ranch house and other features. Leave what you find.
Hidden Valley	Hidden Valley Picnic area on Park Boulevard	1 mile	100 feet	1 Hour	Easy	Loop. Discover a rock-enclosed valley that's rumored to have been used by cattle rustlers. Limited parking.
Barker Dam	Barker Dam parking area on Park Boulevard	1.1 miles	50 feet	1 Hour	Easy	Loop. Explore cultural history and see a water tank built by early cattle ranchers. Watch for big horn sheep. Limited parking.
Skull Rock	Skull Rock parking area just east of Jumbo Rocks Campground on Park Boulevard	1.7 miles	160 feet	1-2 Hours	Easy	Loop. Easy hike to explore boulder piles, desert washes, and the namesake Skull Rock.
Wall Street Mill	Trailhead located off unpaved Queen Valley Rd east of Barker Dam on Park Boulevard	2 miles	80 feet	1.5-2 hours	Moderate	Out & back. Hike to the remains of a historic gold milling site and see old rusted cars and an old homestead. Leave what you find.
Ryan Mountain	Parking area between Sheep Pass and Ryan Campground on Park Boulevard	3 miles	1,050 feet	1.5-2 hours	Hard	Out & back. Offers bird eye view of the park from summit of Ryan Mountain.
Keys View	Keys View on Keys View Rd	0.25 miles	25 feet	30 minutes	Easy	Loop. Short, paved, steep path. Breathtaking views of San Andres Fault, Mt San Jacinto, Mt San Gorgonio & Salton Sea
Lost Horse Mine	Lost Horse Mine Trailhead off Keys View Rd	4 miles	550 feet	2-3 hours	Moderate	Out & back. See historic gold mine, stay outside fenced area, leave what you find. Limited parking.
Chola Cactus Garden	20 miles north of Cottonwood Visitor's Center off of Pinto Basin Rd	0.25 miles	10 feet	15-30 minutes	Easy	Loop. View thousands of densely concentrated, naturally growing chola cactus. Stay on the trail, wear closed-toe shoes and avoid prickly cactus.

Information curtesy of the National Park Service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any food or water amenities in the park?

Other than the visitor’s center at the Western entrance, NO. Please make sure that you plan accordingly by packing extra water and extra food. Bears aren’t a concern here, so you don’t need to worry about a bear box.

Are there bathrooms in the park?

Yes, there are many vault toilets throughout the park. Many trailheads of popular hikes have them available, as well as flushing toilets and sinks at the visitor’s center.

How much does it cost to enter the park?

It costs $30 per car which is good for entry into the park for 7 days after that. If you have an America the Beautiful pass your entry fee is covered.

Is there any cell service in the park?

No, not really. You should be prepared to be self-sufficient by planning ahead and downloading maps beforehand on your phone.

What are the park’s amenities?

At the visitor’s center there is a small cafe, bathrooms and sinks, and a gift shop.

Next Steps

That’s all we have for you today about the perfect 1 day itinerary in Joshua Tree National Park! Make sure that you comment below if you have any questions or suggestions, and don’t miss signing up for our weekly newsletter!

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Thanks for reading, and enjoy the day!

Ultimate One Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

Road Trip Joshua Tree: Where is it and how to get there