How to Spend an Amazing Weekend in Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park is an amazing destination for stunning scenery, unique vegetation, and luxurious accommodations. The Park is full of the famous Joshua Trees, whose name originated in the 19th century when Mormon pioneers moving westward were reminded of the outstretched hands of the biblical figure Joshua.
Despite the desert climate, the Park features many mountains and sprawling valleys giving it an ever-changing terrain that is perfect for exploration. This itinerary will take you on a weekend adventure through the top spots within the National Park and neighboring towns.
Joshua Tree stretches nearly 800,000 acres, so one of the best ways to explore the Park is by car, as you’ll be able to cover a lot of ground. There are many viewpoints along the side of the road that allow for quick stops with beautiful scenery. While hiking might not be entirely necessary, Joshua Tree features some easy to moderate hiking with rewarding views that we feel are worth the effort.
This trip is great for those craving a little adventure while also having access to creature comforts and beautiful accommodations. The solitude of the desert makes for the perfect getaway. Come and see the magic that Joshua Tree is all about!
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Trip Description
When to Visit
How to Get There
Know Before You Go
Itinerary Details
Trip Description
Type: Small Group
Style: Adventure, Hiking
Pace: Moderate
Flexibility: Medium
Scope: Best of the Best
For more information on our descriptors, visit our FAQ page!
When to Go
We recommend visiting Joshua Tree National Park during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall since summertime can see temperatures soar to extreme levels in the desert. We visited in April and thought the weather was perfect, with temperatures rising to the low-80s during the day and cooling off at nighttime. You will even get the chance to see the desert blooms.
How to Get There
Depending on where you are coming from, you will likely need to fly. Palm Springs is the closest airport to Joshua Tree, but you will likely score a cheaper flight if you land in Los Angeles (LAX), which is only 2.5 hours away. San Diego International Airport is another option, which is roughly 3 hours away by car. Regardless, we recommend that you rent a car for getting to and around the Park.
Know Before You Go
There is little to no cell service in the park, so make sure to download Google Maps for the roads and the AllTrails Maps for any hikes you plan to take! This can be a lifesaver. If you need any tips on what to pack for a hiking trip, check out our packing list here.
Itinerary Details
Day 0
Arrive in Joshua Tree, California in the evening and check into your accommodation.
We stayed at an amazing AirBnb called Moon Camp. This home is located in a more secluded part of town, making it the perfect place for privacy and stargazing! The property features a main “Dome House,” in addition to two shipping containers that house a guest room and a hang-out spot. The yard also had hammocks, lounge chairs, a picnic table, and a fire pit– basically everything you need for a relaxing stay!
Day 1
Good morning! Wake up and grab a quick breakfast in town at Crossroads Cafe. It might also be helpful to make a quick stop at Wal-Mart to pick up any supplies you might need during your trip, such as granola bars, snacks, water, sunscreen, or firewood.
Once you’re ready to go, head out to Joshua Tree National Park. During your drive into the National Park, you’ll be greeted by thousands of beautiful Joshua Trees, rising mountains, and cacti galore.
There are a ton of different hikes to choose from at the National Park, many of which are rated easy to moderate, so it’s a great place for beginners. Start the morning off easy with a drive over to Arch Rock, Skull Rock, and Split Rock. These three relatively flat trails range between 1.2 to 1.9 miles each and feature unique rock formations. Located all within a 10-minute drive, it’s a great way to spend a leisurely morning.
After your morning hike, head back to town and grab lunch at La Colpine. Once you’ve eaten, stop back at your accommodation to relax and freshen up.
For the late afternoon, head over to the Hidden Valley Trail (1 mile) and walk through this fairly easy loop filled with beautiful scenery.
Afterwards, take the 10-minute drive up to Keys View for sunset. You’ll want to arrive here well before the actual sunset time in order to find parking and get a prime view. We recommend at least 45 minutes to an hour prior since it can get very crowded.
Once you’re settled, you’ll be delighted by sweeping views of the mountains and valley within the park as you watch the sun dip below the horizon and paint the sky with beautiful colors.
Next, head over to Joshua Tree Saloon for dinner. Featuring a great outdoor patio, this place is a fun spot for drinks and some BBQ!
Finish your night off with some stargazing at your accommodation. Joshua Tree National Park is known for having excellent conditions for viewing the night sky, and it’s even designated as an International Dark Sky Park.
If there is light pollution where you are staying, it might be worth heading back into the park to check out, especially if you are coming from a city. The stars are like nothing you’ve ever seen, and you can often spot the milky way!
Day 2
Rise and Shine! Today you’ll be waking up at 4 am to watch the sunrise from the Cholla Cactus Garden. Trust me this is an experience you don’t want to miss– this was one of our favorite excursions we did in Joshua Tree.
You’ll want to get to the trailhead around 45 minutes before sunrise. For our visit in early April, this meant that we needed to leave our accommodation at 4:30 am to arrive around 5:30 AM for a 6:20 AM sunrise. You can look up the sunrise and sunset times here for your stay.
When you arrive, there is a small parking lot on the side of the road where you’ll find the trailhead. The path itself is only 0.2 miles long, so take a short walk and pick a spot to post up with the best view. Be careful not to run into any cacti! The spines are extremely sharp and sticky! I accidentally brushed by one and it was very painful to remove from my skin.
As the sun begins to peek through the mountain tops in the east, the rays of light will illuminate the cactus spines making them glow. Since the garden is filled with thousands of cacti, it’s truly a magical sight to behold.
After the sun has fully risen, head back into town and stop at Joshua Tree Coffee for a much needed pick-me-up. Right next door you’ll also find JT Country Kitchen, which is a great place for breakfast! Sit down, relax and fuel up for the rest of your adventure.
Once you’ve relaxed for a bit and feel ready to take on some hiking, head back into the Park to Ryan Mountain Trail. This 3-mile, round-trip hike doesn’t sound so bad at first, until you realize you gain about 1,000 feet in elevation within a mile and a half! So please take your time, and be sure to bring a ton of water and sunscreen, because there isn’t much cover throughout the trail and the sun gets HOT.
By the time you get to the top, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the Pinto Basin, Wonderland of Rocks, and both Mount San Jacinto and Mount San Gorgonio in the distance. Spend some time relaxing, taking pictures, and soaking in the views. Don’t worry- the way down is much easier! The whole hike should take you roughly 2-3 hours depending on your speed.
After the Ryan Mountain hike, stop back in town for lunch. We got takeout at the Frontier Cafe, but there are many other cute cafes like Natural Sisters Cafe. After lunch we checked out the cute vintage stops next door, such as Hoof and the Horn, Pioneer Crossing Antiques, and Funky and Darn Near New. The rest of the afternoon is wide open!
If you haven’t gotten your fill of hiking, here are some other trails you should consider:
- Black Rock Canyon Trail to Warren Peak (Moderate – 5.6 miles /2.5 hours)
- Lost Palms Oasis Trail (Moderate – 7.2 miles / 4 hours)
- Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail (Moderate – 3.1 miles / 1.5 hours)
- Lost Horse Mine Loop (Moderate – 6.8 miles / 3 hours)
- Mastodon Peak Loop (Easy – 2.6 miles / 1.5 hours)
- East Indio Hills Badlands (Moderate – 5.2 miles / 2.5 hours)
- Wall Street Mill (Easy – 2.4 miles / 1.25 hours)
Our group decided to dress up and have a little photoshoot inside the park. Joshua Tree is super popular amongst photographers for its unique landscape and amazing aesthetics. Our friend that we traveled with is starting a photography business (shoutout AFC Photography), so it was the perfect place for her to shoot some content.
You can really go anywhere within the park for a photoshoot, whether it’s one of the hikes I mentioned above, or even just pulling up on the side of the road. Joshua Tree National Park is the perfect backdrop for any occasion!
As the afternoon goes on, the next decision to make is where to watch the sunset! Many people recommend the Barker Dam Trail (1.3 miles / 45 minutes) as the Dam features beautiful views of the sky reflecting off of the water.
However, it is important to note that the Dam is only filled with water if it has rained recently. Given the desert climate, this doesn’t happen all that often come springtime, so the Dam was dry during our visit. For that reason (and the fact that we were up at the crack of dawn!), we decided to watch the sunset from our AirBnb and enjoy the hammocks that were set up.
After the sun sets (around 7:15 pm), grab dinner at Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown. This local spot has been around for years and makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time to a Wild West movie. It’s a great stop for classic American fare and they often have live music.
Once we finished dinner, we went back to our AirBnb and had a little fire with some s’mores! It was the perfect way to end a great weekend!
We hope you enjoyed the beauty of Joshua Tree and are feeling inspired to pay the park a visit. Let us know in the comments below if you’ve been to Joshua or if you have any hiking recommendations!
