Closest airports
| Airport | City | Drive to the park | Straight-line miles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) | Palm Springs, CA | 54 min (37 mi) | 39 | Large hub |
| Imperial County Airport (IPL) | Imperial, CA | 2 h 45 min (136 mi) | 76 | Regional |
| San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) | San Bernardino, CA | 1 h 40 min (72 mi) | 81 | Large hub |
Drive times run from the airport to Joshua Tree Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.
Regional airports have fewer flights, so compare fares with the larger hub.
Directions from the park service
From I-10, take exit 117 for CA Hwy 62 toward 29 Palms/Yucca Valley. This will allow you to access the West Entrance, the North Entrance, Black Rock, and Indian Cove. Take exit 168 off I-10 to come in at the park's South Entrance.
Hours
Open 24 hours, every day. Joshua Tree National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Visitation increases as temperatures moderate in the fall, peaks during the spring wildflower season, and diminishes during the heat of summer. Some areas of the park are designated for day use only. Visitor centers keep separate hours; please see descriptions.
Visitor centers
- Joshua Tree Visitor Center: Daily, 7:30AM - 5:00PM. Open all year.
- Black Rock Nature Center: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed Closed; Thu Closed; Fri Closed; Sat 9:00AM - 4:00PM; Sun 9:00AM - 4:00PM. The Nature Center is open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8:00-11:00am and 12:00pm-4:00pm. It is closed from 11:00am - 12:00pm. Hours may vary depending on staff availability, especially in the summer. Summer Hours (June 1st): The Nature Center is open Saturdays and Sunday from 9am-4pm and closed Monday through Friday.
- Cottonwood Visitor Center: Daily, 8:30AM - 4:00PM. Open all year.
- [Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center](): Daily, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center is located in Twentynine Palms, California.
Last gas, groceries and EV charging
Places mapped in OpenStreetMap within 19 miles (straight line) of Black Rock Nature Center and Joshua Tree Visitor Center. Fill up before you head deep into the park: most parks have little or no fuel inside.
Gas stations (34 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Fuel extras and hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valero | See map | 0.1 | |
| 76 | See map | 0.2 | diesel |
| Gas station (unnamed) | See map | 3.7 | |
| 76 | 57266 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley | 3.7 |
Grocery stores and supermarkets (11 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| JT Trading Post | See map | 0.1 | |
| Stater Bros. | 58060 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley | 3.7 | Daily 6 am to 11 pm |
| ALDI | See map | 3.7 | |
| Grocery Outlet | See map | 3.8 |
EV charging (8 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Plugs and spaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian | See map | 0.8 | 12 spaces |
| EVgo | See map | 3.7 | CCS, 6 spaces |
| ChargePoint | See map | 3.8 | |
| Tesla Supercharger | 57220 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley | 3.8 | Tesla (NACS), 16 spaces · Open 24 hours |
Opening hours and fuel types are what local mappers have recorded, so call ahead in winter or off season. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.
Getting around
Most parks are best seen by car. Fill up before you enter, since gas inside parks is limited or absent. Parking at popular trailheads fills early in summer.
Sources
- National Park Service Data API: directions, hours and visitor centers (public domain)
- OurAirports: airport list and locations (public domain)
- OSRM drive-time estimates on OpenStreetMap road data (ODbL)
- OpenStreetMap: gas stations, grocery stores and EV chargers (ODbL)
Last checked 1 November 2026.