Joshua Tree National Park covers 795,156 acres in California. It became a national park on October 31, 1994, the 53rd of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 2,932,644 recreation visits in 2025, the 12th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Joshua Tree
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Joshua Tree Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself!
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. 7-day vehicle permit, admitting the passengers of a single, non-commercial vehicle on the day of purchase and for the next six days.
The $80 America the Beautiful pass for U.S. residents covers this fee and everyone in your car. It pays for itself after 3 visits at this price, and it is accepted at every national park.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Joshua Tree: February, April, October and November. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: March, with about 421,921 visits in a typical recent year. That is 3.0 times as many as July.
- Quietest month: July (142,042 visits).
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Joshua Tree, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: ready-made plans for 1 to 3 days
- Things to do: 25 hikes and 23 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 9 campgrounds
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Joshua Tree Visitor Center: Valero, 0.1 miles away. Closest airport Palm Springs International Airport (39 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Hike Cholla Cactus Garden (15 to 30 Minutes): An easy quarter mile hike through a cholla patch along Pinto Basin Road.
- Hike Skull Rock (1 to 2 Hours): A relatively flat, 1.7-mile loop trail. Hike through the large, granite boulder fields around the Jumbo Rocks area, including one near Park Boulevard that closely resembles a Skull.
- Hike Boy Scout Trail (1 to 10 Hours): Explore the Wonderland of Rocks on the Boy Scout Trail.
- Hike Fortynine Palms Oasis (2 to 3 Hours): A difficult three mile hike to a desert oasis.
- Hike Barker Dam Trail (30 to 60 Minutes): Enjoy an easy 1.1 mile hike on the Barker Dam Nature Trail.
Webcams
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
Days are typically clear with less than 25% humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average highs around 85°F (29°C) and average lows around 50°F (10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and not cooling much below 75°F (24°C) at night.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Death Valley (California and Nevada): about 5 h 20 min by car (246 miles)
- Saguaro (Arizona): about 6 h 10 min by car (336 miles)
- Sequoia (California): about 6 h 20 min by car (302 miles)
- Zion (Utah): about 6 h 35 min by car (333 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Joshua Tree National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. 7-day vehicle permit, admitting the passengers of a single, non-commercial vehicle on the day of purchase and for the next six days.
What state is Joshua Tree National Park in?
California.
When did Joshua Tree become a national park?
October 31, 1994.
How many people visit Joshua Tree?
2,932,644 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree?
February, April, October and November. March is the busiest month and July the quietest while the park is fully open.
