📷 Photo by Vladimir Haltakov on UnsplashJoshua Tree National Park
Twentynine Palms, CA
Two deserts meet among granite boulders and spiky yuccas. The skies here are some of the darkest in Southern California.
Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California covers about 800,000 acres (3,200 sq km) and sits where two deserts meet: the higher, cooler Mojave Desert and the lower, drier Colorado Desert (below about 3,000 feet/910 m). The area became a national monument in 1936 and a national park in 1994. The granite formations, made of quartz monzonite, are popular with rock climbers, and the Joshua trees are tree-sized yuccas. In 2017 the park was designated an International Dark Sky Park.
On the south side, Keys View looks out over the Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea, and the San Andreas Fault. Entrances are near Joshua Tree Village and Twentynine Palms in the north and at Cottonwood Spring in the south. Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons; in summer daytime highs often top 100°F (38°C), and winter nights can freeze.
- Nearest town
- Twentynine Palms, CA
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 33.8734, -115.9010
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually February–May and October–December. Still fine, with some compromises, in January, June and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Photo by Nate Kadlac on UnsplashJumbo Rocks Campground
© Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Salton Sea State Recreation Area
© No machine-readable author provided. Miskatonic assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY 2.5Fonts Point
© stevelyon · CC BY-SA 2.0Amboy Crater
Campsites nearby
- White Tank CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Joshua Tree National Park
- Cottonwood CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Joshua Tree National ParkTentsCaravansDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
- Desert ShoresMotorhome stopover23 mi from Joshua Tree National ParkMotorhomes
- Outdoor Resort IndioMotorhome stopover24 mi from Joshua Tree National ParkMotorhomes
- Motorcoach Country ClubMotorhome stopover24 mi from Joshua Tree National ParkMotorhomes
- Thousand Trails Palm Springs RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover25 mi from Joshua Tree National ParkCaravansMotorhomes
All campsites in California · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Joshua Tree National Park?
Joshua Tree National Park is in Twentynine Palms, CA, at GPS 33.8734, -115.9010. It is about 10 mi from Cottonwood Spring.
Can you camp near Joshua Tree National Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is White Tank Campground, about 10 mi away; within 25 mi there are 18 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Joshua Tree National Park?
Joshua Tree National Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Desert art and strange sculpture.
What is there to see near Joshua Tree National Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Jumbo Rocks Campground (12 mi), Salton Sea State Recreation Area (25 mi), Fonts Point (46 mi) and Amboy Crater (47 mi).
When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park?
The most pleasant months are usually February–May and October–December. Still fine, with some compromises, in January, June and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)