Just 2.5 hours from Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the easiest desert escapes for a weekend reset. With surreal rock formations, endless Joshua trees, and some of the best stargazing in the country, it’s a place I find myself returning to at least once a year.

Between the hikes, scenic drives, and golden-hour views, this is my favorite way to spend a weekend in Joshua Tree — with everything you need to see in just two days.

If you’re leaving from LA, aim to hit the road around 7AM so you can arrive in the park by roughly 9:30AM and maximize your first day.

If you’re looking for other California National Parks, check out my California National Park Guide for more ideas of where to explore.

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Before You Go: Entrance Fees, Passes & Best Time to Visit

The entrance fee for Joshua Tree National Park is $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days, making it easy to enter and exit multiple times throughout your trip.

If you plan on visiting more national parks this year, the America the Beautiful Pass ($80) is worth it after about three visits and covers all U.S. national parks. You can now buy this online, too!

BEST TIME TO VISIT JOSHUA TREE:
Avoid summer if possible — temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making hikes extremely difficult. The ideal seasons are late fall through spring, when conditions are much more comfortable.

Weekend in Joshua Tree Itinerary

Day 1: South Entrance & First Desert Impressions

If you’re coming from LA, I recommend entering through the South Entrance. It’s a bit further of a drive, but you can knock out all of the hidden gems in the South part of the park without having to make the long trek back to Northat the end of the day (which is where 99% of the options to stay are). 

You’ll get to see the true transition of the park from the Mojave & Colorado Deserts. You’ll also get to explore areas most visitors miss entirely by not coming this far South.

Plus, the South Entrance is not as busy, so you get to explore and drive through without many others around. 

Cottonwood Springs (30-minutes – 1.5 hours)

Once you get into the park, start at the Cottonwood Spring Visitor Center, where you can pick up your pass (if you need to purchase day of), and any your map of the park. From there, it’s time to step onto your first hike!

Right by the visitor center, you’ll find the Cottonwood Spring area, where towering fan palms contrast beautifully with the surrounding desert.

You have a few options here:

• Easy 30-minute nature walk
• 3-mile loop to Mastodon Peak + historic mill ruins
• 8-mile Lost Palms Oasis hike (best for experienced hikers with more time)

If you’re arriving later in the morning, stick to the shorter loop. If you’re early and looking for a good warm up, Mastodon Peak is a great option with gorgeous views and old mill remains.

Cholla Cactus Gardens (30-minutes)

From there, head about 30 minutes north, where you’ll notice the landscape begins to shift dramatically as you get closer to the center of the park. More and more of these bush-like cacti will start appearing, until you reach a parking lot on the left of the road, home to the Cholla Cactus Gardens.

It’s one of the most photogenic stops in the park — a huge and dense field of “teddy bear” cholla that looks almost unreal, especially in soft morning or golden-hour light.

Stay on the walking path here — these cactus are as painful as they are beautiful.

Arch Rock (1-hour)

Next, head into the central section of the park, just 15-minutes further, for one of the most iconic Joshua Tree stops: Arch Rock.

Park at Twin Tanks and follow the short 0.2-mile loop trail. I reccomend starting counter-clockwise for the best views of the arch. It’s a quick loop, but the rock formations feel otherworldly.

Expect a short wait if you want the classic photo under the arch — it’s popular for a reason. Afterward, take time to wander through the surrounding boulder fields. This area is perfect for scrambling and exploring. Every time I make a stop here, I end up finding a new path through the countless boulders!

Most of the popular hikes are located within a 5-10 minute drive from each other once you’re here. Today, you won’t have time to hit everything, so I recommend spending time at Arch Rock. 

Lunch Break Outside the Park

If you’re running low on snacks, exit at the North Entrance for a quick lunch break before heading back in. There are a few options right outside the exit/entrance, which will take about 20-minutes to get to. 

Check out some of the options below:

• Grnd Sqrl (my top pick!)
  • A casual gastropub with incredible burgers, as well as hotdogs, wings, salads, etc and good beer if that’s your vibe
• Taco Shops
  • You’ll come across a few local taco spots like Mexican Street Tacos, Artega’s Mexican Food, Alamilla’s Taco Shop – all which have great reviews
• Takeaway Foods
  • There’s a few fast-food options like Subway, Starbucks, McDonalds, etc., if you’re looking for a quicker stop, as well

Since this isn’t the main entrance either, you’ll be able to get easily back into the park without the long line back in.

Key’s View (30-60 Minutes)

After you refuel, head back into the park for one of my favorite drives in Joshua Tree towards Key’s View.  From this high-up viewpoint, you’ll be able to see the whole Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, the Salton Sea, and the San Andreas Fault.

The road to get to Key’s View takes you through some stunning scenery with flat plains filled with endless Joshua Trees in every which direction.  Roll your windows down and enjoy the views! 

It’ll take about 20-minutes to get out to Key’s View from the center of Joshua Tree, or about 40-minutes coming from lunch in 29 Palms. Make sure to account for the time it takes to get out there!

Sunset Options: Airbnb or Barker Dam

After you finish up the hikes for the day, you’ll want to set yourself up for sunset in Joshua Tree. The sunsets here are some of the best I’ve ever seen! If you you want a relaxed evening, head back to your accomodations, or you can stay in the park for sunset, too.

Option 1: Airbnb sunset (relaxed option)
Our Airbnb had an incredible view, so we wanted to head back to watch the sunset at our place. We stopped by the Walmart outside of the park to big up all the fixings for a burger night, and booked it back to the house for golden hour.

Option 2: Barker Dam (inside the park)
If you want to stay in the park, I’d suggest heading to Barker’s Dam for sunset – at the end of the 1.1-mile trail, you’ll find a ton of big rocks that are worth the climb up to get a beautiful view of the entire valley. When staying in the park for sunset, make sure to pack a headlamp for your way out.

Truthfully, anywhere you end up for golden hour & sunset in this area is going to be breathtaking. There’s something about the hazy glow against the rocks that makes this place so special.

Stargazing in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is an official International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best stargazing destinations in the U.S.

At 3,000–6,000 feet elevation and far from city light pollution, the night sky here is incredible — and on clear nights, you can often see the Milky Way. It’s so dreamy to be able to see everything in the sky, especially coming from LA where the stars aren’t very visible.

Download an app like Night Sky, one of my go-to’s, for insights on what stars, planets, and constellations you’re seeing.

Day 2: More Hikes & scenic Stops

Start your morning early if possible — sunrise in the desert is SO worth it. But if you’d prefer to get a bit more R&R, grab coffee from Joshua Tree Coffee or breakfast at Crossroads Café in 29 Palms before heading in.

49 Palms Oasis (2-hours)

Start your morning off at 49 Palms Oasis for one of my favorite hikes in the entire park.  The 3-mile trail hikes up over & down a large mountain before you descend into a hidden oasis filled with, you guessed it, 49 palms. 

The trail is located at its own entrance off 29 Palms Highway, as a standalone part of the park.  Since it’s one of the highest elevation hikes in the park, you’ll want to knock this out before the heat of the day settles in.

Depending on your morning start time, after this hike, it’ll likely be around 11:30/12PM, which is prime time for the main entrance. Save yourself some time and enter back into the park via the North entrance.

Skull Rock & Split Rock (1-Hour)

Skull Rock is one of the most iconic photo ops in all of Joshua Tree. You’ve probably seen this one before on social media! The formation of the rock looks eerily like a huge skull. It’s located just off the road, where you’ll notice tons of cars pulled over on the side to pop over to the location. 

While there is a hike at Skull Rock, I’d recommend just checking it out for a bit, and instead, head just a bit further up the road to Split Rock for a better trail. At just under 2-miles, you’ll do a short loop through some huge boulder formations. 

Hall of Horrors (30-Minutes)

Another short walking trail, Hall of Horrors may seem like just any other trail in the park. But, if you explore deeper into the boulders, you’ll be able to find a few slot canyons for scrambling. They are definitely narrow, so if you choose to go all the way through, make sure you feel comfortable with the climbing needed. 

Or, if you’re like me, you can go check them out and then continue back on the loop :).

Ryan Ranch (45-minutes)

Just down the road from Hall of Horrors, you’ll find the trailhead for one of the more unique trails in the park. As you head down Park Blvd, you’ll see a few parking spots on your left-side, followed by a bathroom. There’s limited parking here, but I’ve always lucked out with a spot!

It’s an easy 1.2 mile hike out to the old adobe house of the Ryan Family, build back in 1898. Surprisingly, the structure is still well intact! It’s a cool glimpse into history as you trek across the relics of their old ranch. 

Cap Rock Nature Trail (30-minutes)

Get back on Park Road heading west, and then just a minute or two up the road turn left onto Keys Road to find the Cap Rock Nature Trail.

It’s just a quick half-mile dirt trail, but it packs a lot of beauty. Perfect for a little afternoon casual stroll after a lot of running around. 

Barker Dam (1-hour)

After Cap Rock, head over to Barker Dam if you didn’t catch sunset there last night. It’s one of my favorite places to spend time in the park!

The trail is a 1.1 mile single loop that’s quite flat, and will bring you out to Barker Dam. If you’re in town during a rainy period, you’ll be able to see water. Past the dam, you’ll also find some ancient hieroglyphics carved onto the side of a boulder.

Hidden Valley (45-minutes)

For the last hike of the day, hit up Hidden Valley for a 1-mile loop that’s perfect at golden hour. With massive boulders, and a ton of greenery due to the valley collecting rain water, it’s the more lush part of this desert area. 

Grab Dinner Before the Drive Home

After enjoying golden hour in the park, make the drive back out through the West Entrance as you catch the sun fading into the distance. Joshua Tree Saloon is located just to your right as you turn onto 29 Palms Hwy from Park Blvd. Grab some delish BBQ and wind down before you head back to LA!

looking for more national park itineraries? check out my other posts HERE.

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