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California, United States

Joshua Tree

Give it 2 days: hiking and scrambling in the park by day, Pioneertown and stargazing at night. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 2 activities and 3 outdoor spots from our curated routes.

Plan Joshua Tree with friendsBrowse 10 places
Joshua Tree, California, United States
Places
10

2 See · 2 Do · 3 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Palm Springs & Joshua Tree

Best season
Oct – Apr

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

39°C / 102°F avg high

Coolest month
December

14°C / 57°F avg high

Wettest month
January

about 15 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Joshua Tree

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around across Keys View and Joshua Tree. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Keys View in Joshua TreePhoto: Keith Ayers · Google
    See

    Keys View

    Lookout over the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault.

    Tip Best light at sunset.

    • Keys View
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Sunset
  • Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum in Joshua TreePhoto: Yiyang Li · Google
    See

    Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

    10 acres of large assemblage sculptures in the desert.

    Tip Free, open sunrise to sunset; donations welcome.

    • Joshua Tree
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Late afternoon

Do

2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Hidden Valley and Central Park. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Hidden Valley Nature Trail in Joshua TreePhoto: Dudubangbang · Google
    Do

    Hidden Valley Nature Trail

    1-mile loop through a boulder-ringed valley once used by cattle rustlers.

    Tip Easy; good first walk to orient.

    • Hidden Valley
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Ryan Mountain Trail in Joshua TreePhoto: Jacob Miller · Google
    Do

    Ryan Mountain Trail

    3-mile round trip climb to 360° views over the park.

    Tip Steep and exposed; avoid midday.

    • Central Park
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Sunrise

Outdoors

3 outdoor spots for fresh air across Joshua Tree, Hidden Valley and Pinto Basin. 2 of them are free.

  • Joshua Tree National Park in Joshua TreePhoto: Jarek Tuszyński · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Outdoors

    Joshua Tree National Park

    Granite boulder piles and Joshua trees across two deserts.

    Tip Enter at the West Entrance early; no water inside.

    • Joshua Tree
    • $$
    • 8 hr
    • Oct–Apr
  • Barker Dam in Joshua TreePhoto: LCGS Russ · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Outdoors

    Barker Dam

    Short loop to a small reservoir and petroglyphs.

    Tip Look for bighorn sheep near water.

    • Hidden Valley
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua TreePhoto: S J · Google
    Outdoors

    Cholla Cactus Garden

    Dense stand of teddy-bear cholla on a short boardwalk.

    Tip Stay on the path; spines detach easily.

    • Pinto Basin
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Golden hour

Eat

Where we would book a table in Joshua Tree across Joshua Tree and Pioneertown.

  • Crossroads Cafe in Joshua TreePhoto: P · Google
    Eat

    Crossroads Cafe

    Joshua Tree's go-to diner for breakfast before hiking.

    Tip Breakfast burritos are the order.

    • Joshua Tree
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Breakfast
  • Pappy & Harriet's in Joshua TreePhoto: Pappyswiki · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Pappy & Harriet's

    Pioneertown barbecue joint and live music venue in an old Western set.

    Tip Book dinner on music nights; walk Mane Street first.

    • Pioneertown
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Evening

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Joshua Tree.

  • Joshua Tree Saloon in Joshua TreePhoto: Laurie Morrison · Google
    Drink

    Joshua Tree Saloon

    Roadside saloon with burgers, karaoke and live music.

    Tip Easy last stop after a park sunset.

    • Joshua Tree
    • $
    • 75 min
    • Evening

How to fit Joshua Tree into a trip

Joshua Tree is stop 2 of 2 on our Palm Springs & Joshua Tree route. Follow it as-is or lift Joshua Tree into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Joshua Tree month by month

Average daily highs run from 14°C / 57°F in December to 39°C / 102°F in July. January is the wettest month, with about 15 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Joshua Tree weather and the best time to visit →

Near Joshua Tree

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Joshua Tree questions, answered

How many days do you need in Joshua Tree?

Our route notes suggest 2 days in Joshua Tree. On our Palm Springs & Joshua Tree route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 19 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Joshua Tree best known for?

Give it 2 days: hiking and scrambling in the park by day, Pioneertown and stargazing at night. Standouts on our list: Keys View (Lookout over the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault); Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum (10 acres of large assemblage sculptures in the desert); Joshua Tree National Park (Granite boulder piles and Joshua trees across two deserts).

When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree?

Our Palm Springs & Joshua Tree route is best Oct – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (39°C / 102°F), the coolest in December (14°C / 57°F) and the most rain in January (about 15 mm).

What are the best things to do in Joshua Tree?

Start with Joshua Tree National Park, Hidden Valley Nature Trail, Barker Dam, Ryan Mountain Trail and Keys View. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 2 sights, 2 activities, 3 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Joshua Tree?

Our picks: Crossroads Cafe (Joshua Tree); Pappy & Harriet's (Pioneertown). Breakfast burritos are the order (Crossroads Cafe).

What is near Joshua Tree?

The closest destinations in our guides are Palm Springs (about 60 km / 37 mi), La Jolla (about 172 km / 107 mi) and Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter (about 174 km / 108 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Joshua Tree with your crew

Open the Palm Springs & Joshua Tree route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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