Pool days, midcentury style & desert stars
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Palm Springs & Joshua Tree
Palm Springs to Joshua Tree
Palm Springs and Joshua Tree sit about 60 km (37 mi) apart in a straight line, with Joshua Tree to the east. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Palm Springs & Joshua Tree itinerary, a 3-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 60 km · 37 mi
- Est. road distance
- 72–84 km
- Est. drive time
- 55 min – 1 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Palm Springs & Joshua Tree itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 72–84 km (45–52 mi) of road and 55 min – 1 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
A car is the practical choice. Palm Springs and Joshua Tree are roughly a scenic drive apart, and the sights inside the national park are spread out. Many people fly into Palm Springs or drive in from Los Angeles.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Joshua Tree
Give it 2 days: hiking and scrambling in the park by day, Pioneertown and stargazing at night.
Joshua Tree National Park
Granite boulder piles and Joshua trees across two deserts.
Hidden Valley Nature Trail
1-mile loop through a boulder-ringed valley once used by cattle rustlers.
Keys View
Lookout over the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault.
Crossroads Cafe
Joshua Tree's go-to diner for breakfast before hiking.
Joshua Tree Saloon
Roadside saloon with burgers, karaoke and live music.
Barker Dam
Short loop to a small reservoir and petroglyphs.
Before you leave Palm Springs
Spend 2 days: the tram and canyons in the morning, pool and midcentury design in the afternoon heat.
On this curated route
Where Palm Springs → Joshua Tree sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Joshua Tree to Palm Springs is the same 60 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in December, when Joshua Tree averages highs 5°C cooler than Palm Springs.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs high | 20° | 21° | 25° | 29° | 34° | 41° | 43° | 42° | 38° | 31° | 24° | 19° |
| Joshua Tree high | 15° | 17° | 22° | 26° | 31° | 37° | 39° | 38° | 35° | 27° | 20° | 14° |
| Palm Springs rain | 23 | 23 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 22 |
| Joshua Tree rain | 15 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 14 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Joshua Tree month guides.
Palm Springs to Joshua Tree: questions travelers ask
How far is Palm Springs from Joshua Tree?
Palm Springs is about 60 km (37 mi) from Joshua Tree in a straight line, with Joshua Tree to the east. By road, we estimate 72–84 km (45–52 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree?
An estimated 55 min – 1 h 45 min, assuming 72–84 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree?
Our Palm Springs & Joshua Tree itinerary includes this leg. Palm Springs & Joshua Tree runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Oct – Apr.
Guides for both ends
- Palm Springs travel guide
- Palm Springs weather best time to visit
- Joshua Tree travel guide
- Joshua Tree weather best time to visit
Joshua Tree by month
Plan Palm Springs → Joshua Tree with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.