Plan Your Visit

A sign that says,

Find essential trip planning information here: visitor center hours, entrance fees, an event calendar, where you can take pets, and more.

Joshua Tree National Park map showing the park boundary, <a href= paved and dirt roads, hiking trails, and t" width="" />

Start your planning with a map of the park.

desert landscape with RVs and tents at Cottonwood Campground visible in the distance

Eating & Sleeping

Get information about campgrounds in the park. There are no grocery stores, restaurants, or lodging inside Joshua Tree National Park.

two people sitting atop a rock outcrop with a mountain in the distance

Things to Do

There's so much to do! Get information on nature walks, backpacking trips, stargazing, photography, wildflower viewing, and more.

a couple sitting at a viewpoint at night, looking toward the lights of the Coachella Valley

Places to Go

Find out about park destinations, from must-see spots like Skull Rock or Keys View to quieter areas like Cottonwood Spring and Black Rock.

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What's Open What's Open Learn about current conditions, closures, construction and other relevant info before you arrive.

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Visiting During the Busy Season: Oct-May

The park can be extremely busy on weekends, holidays, and spring break. If visiting during these times, here's our best advice.

A sunsetting over silhouetted mountains.

Visiting in Summer Sweat the small stuff so you can enjoy a summer visit to Joshua Tree.

Ranger smiling towards the camera.

Frequently Asked Questions Find out the answers to the most common questions about visiting the park.

a backpack with water bottles, a hat, and sunglasses

It's all fun and games until.

A safe visit is a fun visit. Extremely hot in the summer. Surprisingly chilly in the winter. Prickly plants. Venomous animals.

Color photo of sunlit cactus in Cholla Cactus Garden.

Accessibility Where to go and what to do while visiting the park with accessibility concerns.

a road winds through the desert landscape

Directions & Transportation

See where Joshua Tree is located in southern California. Find out which park entrance will work best for you.

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Translations Find information in Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

Color photo at first light looking out over the Salton Sea to the south of Joshua Tree.

Nearby Attractions Visit one of the many parks within a day's drive from Joshua Tree.

Be Prepared

Though beautiful, the desert environment can be harsh and unforgiving. Preparedness is critical for your safety. Please remember the following when planning your trip.

There are no gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, or hotels. Bring all your own food, water, and supplies.
There is no water available in the interior of the park.
Cell phone reception is very limited.
The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You are welcome to drive in and out at any time.
Springtime and holidays are the busiest times of the year and the park can be very crowded.
On hot days, avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day, take shade breaks, and carry plenty of water. In the summertime, extreme heat poses a very serious safety risk.

Help Protect the Park

While the rangers help take care of the park, we rely on visitors to be good stewards and help take care of the place for future generations.

While visiting, leave only footprints and take only pictures. Do not take any plants, rocks, or cultural artifacts with you.
Give the wildlife space, and don’t feed them. Secure your food and trash from animals, and don't leave any garbage or food scraps behind.
Be considerate of others. Share the trail and be conscious of your noise level. Flying drones is prohibited.
To protect your pet and the native wildlife, pets are not allowed on the trail.
Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings in campgrounds. Do not use park vegetation, living or dead, for fuel. When finished, completely extinguish your fire.
Please respect the speed limits. They are lower in National Parks to help protect wildlife, like the federally-threatened desert tortoise.
Graffiti is illegal. Please e-mail us to report incidents of graffiti.
Vehicles, street-legal motorbikes, and bicycles must remain on designated roads. They are not allowed on trails or off designated roads. ATVs, UTVs, OHVs, and dirt/motocross bikes are prohibited.
Firearms may be possessed in accordance with California state and federal laws. However, they may not be discharged in the park. Fireworks, traps, bows, BB guns, paintball guns, smoke bombs, and slingshots are not allowed.

Current Conditions

Check out our current conditions webpage for information on closures, alerts, air quality, and the weather forecast. You can also see a live view of the park from the summit of Belle Mountain.

Joshua Tree weather can range from blistering hot to freezing cold and can include gale-force winds, heavy rain, and snow. Knowing the forecast is an important part of preparing for your visit. The weather can change swiftly and dramatically, and can vary greatly depending on your exact location within the park. Remember, your safety is your responsibility.