Joshua Tree National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You are welcome to drive in and out at any time. There is an entrance fee, but sometimes the fee booth is closed. You may be asked to show your pass or pay the entrance fee on your way out. Reservations are not required for entrance.

There are no gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, or hotels. Bring all your own food, water, and supplies. There is no water available in the interior of the park. Cell phone reception is very limited. Pets are not allowed on trails. They must always be on a leash and can’t be more than 100 feet from a road. The park can be crowded on holidays, weekends October to May, and during spring break season (March to mid-April). Be prepared for long lines, limited parking, busy trails, and full campgrounds.

Purchase your pass ahead of time at recreation.gov. This will help expedite the wait times at the entrance. Passes can also be purchased at any visitor center or entrance station. If camping, reserve your campsite in advance. Nearly 85% of the 500+ campsites in the park are by reservation only. They can be booked on recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance. First-come, first-serve campsites fill up very quickly on holidays, most weekends, and the springtime. Check out our current conditions webpage. This has up-to-date information on closures, restrictions, and advisories. Check the weather forecast. It can range from blistering hot to freezing cold and can include gale-force winds, heavy rain, and snow. Download the NPS app. You can find information on visitor centers, campgrounds, trails, things to do, and more. You can also download an offline map to use when you don’t have cell phone reception.

For an in-depth exploration of the park without having to cover a lot of ground on foot, and to probably see features you’d never know about with a guide, consider taking a Jeep or Hummer tour with outfitters such as Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours. You will be showered with incredible information about plants, animals, geology, and Native American history—and if you’ve ever wanted to see inside an active earthquake fault zone, this is one of the coolest ways you can do it. The three-hour San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour will take you between the narrow walls of the water-carved slot canyons created by the seismic movement of the earth’s plates, and teach you about the culture and lifestyle of the Cahuilla Indians. Go during the cooler months (November through March) for the most comfortable temps on the open-air ride through the desert. BOOK NOW

Joshua Tree National Park

The resort is close to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National park where we enjoyed some amazing hikes, but, far enough away from the hustle and bustle to feel like we were in our own little world. We will definitely be back someday soon

Very nice park. Great park for visitors going to Salton Sea, Joshua Tree. Loved the heated pool and hot tubs, so great to have them available this time of year

Discover Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is an American National Park in Southeastern California, East of San Bernardino and Los Angeles, and North of Palm Springs. It’s about a 27 minute drive (24.5 Miles) from Coachella Lakes RV Resort. There are five palm oases in the park! Joshua Tree is crisscrossed with hundreds of faults, and it’s a great place to see raw rocks and the effects of earthquakes. Joshua Tree was once home to Columbian mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, giant ground sloths, horses, camels, and llamas!

First time visitors guide

Information About the Park

The Basics

Joshua Tree National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You are welcome to drive in and out at any time.
There is an entrance fee, but sometimes the fee booth is closed.
You may be asked to show your pass or pay the entrance fee on your way out.
Reservations are not required for entrance.

Need to Know

There are no gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, or hotels.
Bring all your own food, water, and supplies. There is no water available in the interior of the park.
Cell phone reception is very limited.
Pets are not allowed on trails. They must always be on a leash and can’t be more than 100 feet from a road.
The park can be crowded on holidays, weekends October to May, and during spring break season (March to mid-April). Be prepared for long lines, limited parking, busy trails, and full campgrounds.

Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree National Park

Temperatures are most comfortable in the fall and spring, with highs typically in the range of 70-85°F (21-29°C) and lows around 50 (10°C).
In the winter, highs are usually around 60°F (15°C) and near or below freezing at night. It occasionally snows at higher elevations.
Summers are hot. The highs are typically around 100°F (38°C), and lows are usually near 75°F (24°C) at night.
Springtime and holidays are the busiest times of the year and the park can be very crowded.

Planning Check List

Purchase your pass ahead of time at recreation.gov. This will help expedite the wait times at the entrance. Passes can also be purchased at any visitor center or entrance station.
If camping, reserve your campsite in advance. Nearly 85% of the 500+ campsites in the park are by reservation only. They can be booked on recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance.
First-come, first-serve campsites fill up very quickly on holidays, most weekends, and the springtime.
Check out our current conditions webpage. This has up-to-date information on closures, restrictions, and advisories.
Check the weather forecast. It can range from blistering hot to freezing cold and can include gale-force winds, heavy rain, and snow.
Download the NPS app. You can find information on visitor centers, campgrounds, trails, things to do, and more.
You can also download an offline map to use when you don’t have cell phone reception.

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Things to Do at Joshua Tree National Park

Hiking in Joshua Tree

Popular Hikes include – Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, Arch Rock, and the Discovery Trail. They are all around one mile and very scenic.

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Experience Breath Taking Vistas

Experience Sunset at Keys View
The highest point in Joshua Tree, Keys View offers round-the-clock breathtaking vistas.
Nighttime serves up sparkling splendor; and during clear days, visitors are treated to sweeping views of the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, and the surrounding peaks that stretch all the way to Mexico. But Keys View is at its very best at sunset, when bright oranges and blistering reds saturate the desert sky.

Book An Experience Climbing Guide

Experienced climbing guides offer lessons for all abilities—from novices to calloused and muscled rock stars—at this land of giant boulders and weathered stone outcroppings. To find a guide stop in at a local climbing gear shop, like Nomad Ventures, in the town of Joshua Tree, on the park’s north side.

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Book A Jeep Tour

For an in-depth exploration of the park without having to cover a lot of ground on foot, and to probably see features you’d never know about with a guide, consider taking a Jeep or Hummer tour with outfitters such as Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours.
You will be showered with incredible information about plants, animals, geology, and Native American history—and if you’ve ever wanted to see inside an active earthquake fault zone, this is one of the coolest ways you can do it.
The three-hour San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour will take you between the narrow walls of the water-carved slot canyons created by the seismic movement of the earth’s plates, and teach you about the culture and lifestyle of the Cahuilla Indians. Go during the cooler months (November through March) for the most comfortable temps on the open-air ride through the desert.

BOOK NOW

2024 Tips For Stargazing in Joshua Tree National Park

Visits on nights when the moon is NOT in the sky – Check Moon Schedule.
The Park gates are always open (24 Hours a day), so you can come and go anytime.
The entrance fee is $30/car.
The park has designated Stargazing Areas – which have parking and restrooms (see map below)
Overnight camping is only allowed in designated Campsites – See our Camping Guide for more Information.
Get the Sky Guide App to help you locate the objects in the Night Sky.
Bring a Lawn Chair!
NOTE: Prime Milky Way Season is Summertime, but you can still see a small portion of it year round – use the App!

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