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Best time to visit · California, United States
On the climate data, the best time to visit Joshua Tree is January – April and October & November, scoring up to 100/100 with highs around 78°F (26°C) and 0.2 in (4 mm) of rain in April. May and December are good shoulder-season months. The toughest months are June – August, mainly because of heat.
Highs run from 57°F to 102°F across the year, and the yearly total is about 3.8 in (97 mm) of rain.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high | 59°F15°C | 63°F17°C | 71°F22°C | 78°F26°C | 88°F31°C | 98°F37°C | 102°F39°C | 100°F38°C | 94°F35°C | 81°F27°C | 68°F20°C | 57°F14°C |
| Avg low | 35°F2°C | 38°F3°C | 43°F6°C | 49°F9°C | 57°F14°C | 67°F19°C | 75°F24°C | 74°F23°C | 67°F20°C | 55°F13°C | 44°F7°C | 35°F2°C |
| Rain | 0.6 in15 mm | 0.6 in15 mm | 0.3 in7 mm | 0.2 in4 mm | 0.0 in1 mm | 0.0 in0 mm | 0.4 in9 mm | 0.4 in11 mm | 0.2 in6 mm | 0.3 in7 mm | 0.3 in8 mm | 0.6 in14 mm |
| Humidity | 44% | 42% | 38% | 32% | 27% | 20% | 24% | 26% | 26% | 29% | 34% | 44% |
| Cloud | 38% | 37% | 32% | 26% | 19% | 15% | 27% | 22% | 20% | 24% | 31% | 39% |
| Comfort | 88 | 95 | 99 | 100 | 84 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 | 99 | 100 | 85 |
Source: NASA POWER (public domain), 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km satellite and reanalysis grid, so coasts and valleys can differ from what's shown. Temperatures were adjusted from the grid cell's ~541 m (1,775 ft) to Joshua Tree's ~797 m (2,615 ft) elevation using the standard lapse rate of 6.5°C per 1,000 m. Precipitation includes snow as melted water; daylight is calculated from latitude. Check a forecast before you go.
The cold peaks here: highs of 57–63°F (14–17°C), and nights reach 35°F (2°C). It's the wettest season, with about 1.7 in (44 mm) of rain, 45% of the year's total. Comfort peaks here: January & February rank with the year's best, and the season averages 89/100.
Temperatures climb through the season, from 71°F highs in March to 88°F by May. It's the driest season, with only about 0.5 in (12 mm) of rain, 12% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 43°F (6°C). March & April are among the best-scoring months (season average 94/100).
The warmest stretch of the year, with highs of 98–102°F (37–39°C). About 0.8 in (20 mm) of rain falls across these months, 21% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 67°F (19°C). It holds the toughest stretch on our comfort score (June – August), averaging 60/100.
Temperatures slide from 94°F highs in September to 68°F by November. About 0.8 in (21 mm) of rain falls across these months, 22% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 44°F (7°C). October & November are among the best-scoring months (season average 90/100).
By comfort score: 8 Great and 4 Good. Great months: October – May. Tap a month for its own guide.
On the climate data, the best time to visit Joshua Tree is January – April and October & November, scoring up to 100/100 with highs around 78°F (26°C) and 0.2 in (4 mm) of rain in April. May and December are good shoulder-season months. The toughest months are June – August, mainly because of heat.
January is the wettest month, averaging about 0.6 in (15 mm) of rain. June is the driest, with less than 0.1 in (3 mm). The yearly total is around 3.8 in (97 mm).
December is the coldest, with average lows of 35°F (2°C) and highs of 57°F (14°C). The warmest is July, with average highs of 102°F (39°C).
Not very: summer (June – August) humidity averages 23%, and highs peak around 102°F (39°C), so heat matters more than mugginess.
Not on average: even in December, the coldest month, lows average 35°F (2°C). Individual cold snaps can still dip lower.
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