Palm Springs to Joshua Tree Day Trip Itinerary
Originally published April 2023
Joshua Tree National Park is just about a one-hour drive from Palm Springs, which makes for an ideal day trip, or even just a half-day trip if you leave early enough!
During our week in Palm Springs, we spent a half-day in Joshua Tree and I was surprised by how much we were able to pack in!
Joshua Tree has stunning rock formations, sprawling desert views, and otherworldly landscapes. The surrounding area offers a variety of activities and attractions, including outdoor art, cool shops, and delicious restaurants.
We left Desert Hot Springs (just north of Palm Springs) around 6:30am to get a super early start and beat any crowds.
If you have time, there are plenty of other hikes and sights to see, but the itinerary below outlines the best route for an efficient trip where you can see the highlights in less than a day without any major hikes.
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Know Before You Go
Respect the land: This land was originally populated by the Pinto culture, then later the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, and Serrano people. As always, stay on paths, don’t take or leave anything, and follow all posted signs.
Pass cost: $30 for a private vehicle (good for 7 days).
I recommend getting an America the Beautiful annual pass, which gets you into all National Parks for free. If you’re planning to visit at least three National Parks (not state parks) in one year, then you’ll save by buying the pass!
No service: You likely won’t have service while in the park, so be sure to download your maps ahead of time.
What to Pack for a Joshua Tree Day Trip
Water bottle: Owala (my favorite!!)
Layers of clothing: Top | Biker Shorts | Jacket
Walking/hiking shoes: Trail Shoes
Comfortable, anti-theft Backpack
Camera: Canon R5 (professional) | Canon Rebel T7 (beginner)
Sun protection: sunscreen | sunglasses | hat
How to Get to Joshua Tree National Park
If you’re driving from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree, drive north on Indian Canyon Drive, then turn right onto CA-62 E. You’ll continue on CA-62 E until you reach the Utah Trail, where you turn right and drive straight into the park!
Stop at the North Entrance to pay the fee or show your annual pass. If you’re really early, the entrance may not be staffed yet and you can drive through without paying. You will need to pay or show your pass as you exit, though!
There is also a West Entrance, but for this itinerary, we will enter through the North Entrance and exit through the West Entrance to make a nice loop.
Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park
There are a ton of different things to do in the park, but since we were just here for a day trip from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree, this list is definitely not exhaustive.
Follow the order of these stops for a smooth, easy, and fun day of exploring.
Arch Rock Hike
Start your day with a hike to Arch Rock. This hike is about one mile in total (out and back). At the end of the hike is an incredible arch rock! Who knew Joshua Tree NP had one of these? Not me!
You can climb up to the arch with a bit of rock climbing, which wasn’t too bad. The rocks are pretty rough, so be careful of brushing up against the rocks with your skin or clothes.
Shop my outfit: Crop Top | Biker Shorts | Shoes
How to Get to Arch Rock
Park in the Twin Tanks parking lot and head out on the Arch Rock Nature Trail. This trail will take you across the street toward White Tank Campground, where the original trailhead used to be. Continue on the trail, following signs for Arch Rock.
Note: You can no longer park at White Tank to access this trail — you must park at Twin Tanks.
Skull Rock
The next stop is the one I was most looking forward to: the famous Skull Rock! This is a massive rock that has hollowed spaces caused by water erosion over thousands of years that make it look like a giant skull.
How to Get to Skull Rock
Parking for this spot is roadside. You’ll see cars parked as you drive up to the area.
To get to Skull Rock, park on the side of the road, cross the street, and take a few steps from the road, and skull rock will be right there. It’s really easy to reach and doesn’t require any hiking.
Hall of Horrors
We passed this stop and it caught my eye, but we didn’t stop as we weren’t sure what it entailed. After looking it up later, I wish we had stopped here!
The Hall of Horrors is a pretty easy loop trail with Joshua Trees and clumps of boulders. If you want to hike the slot canyons that give this hike its name, it will make it a more moderate hike. The guide on Earth Trekkers is really useful if you’re planning to hike Hall of Horrors!
How to Get To hall of Horrors
The trailhead for this has a parking lot with vault toilets. From Skull Rock, you’ll continue west on Park Blvd. and look for signs for Hall of Horrors on the right-hand side.
Barker Dam Trail
This short 1.1-mile loop will take you on a nice, flat path with boulders and Joshua Trees to the historic Barker Dam. There is also a shortcut if you just want to visit the petroglyphs, which is what we did! When you come to the first fork in the trail, go left to see the petroglyphs and skip the Barker Dam.
How to Get There
Continue west on Park Blvd. after your stop at Hall of Horrors. You’ll come to Barker Dam Rd. on the right, which will lead you to the parking lot! There are vault toilets at this lot as well.
Things to do Near Joshua Tree (Twentynine Palms)
The city just outside of Joshua Tree National Park is called Twentynine Palms. Even if you don’t plan to visit the National Park, it’s with a day trip from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree just to explore Twentynine Palms.
It’s a quaint downtown with cafes and shops along the side of the highway. Twentynine Palms has a really artsy, small-town vibe and I had fun exploring around it.
Art Queen
Look for the Art Queen sign—in the style of the Dairy Queen logo—and walk through the cool little alleyway. You’ll come upon a courtyard filled with artsy things and installations, along with the Art Queen store by artist Shari Elf.
Art Queen has all kinds of upcycled clothing and posters, magnets, pins, and more with her art.
World Famous Crochet Museum
Right next to Art Queen is the World Famous Crochet Museum created by the owner of Art Queen. It’s just so cute, and you can even go inside!
There’s really only space for one or two people at a time, but there was no one there when we went on a weekday morning. You may have a bit of a line on a busy weekend.
Shop my outfit: Crop Top | Biker Shorts | Shoes
The Station
While The Station was closed when we went, I’m adding it to this list because it’s supposed to be a great spot!
It’s an old gas station that has been converted into a high-quality gift shop with unique items, cool beverages, and treats.
Muffler Man
Outside The Station stands one of the famous Muffler Men. They have a long and interesting history, but the very short version is that these Muffler Men were made to attract customers to retail stores back in the 60s and 70s.
The first one was a Paul Bunyan statue holding an axe, which still stands in Flagstaff, AZ today.
I did some research for this post and ended up reading the full interview with the creator. It was fascinating and I highly recommend taking a look. We’ve had one of these Muffler Men statues in my hometown for years and I never knew its history!
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum
Down a dirt road away from the main strip is an otherworldly area filled with art installations made from found objects/trash.
This outdoor museum is completely free (donations via Venmo welcome) and all the art was made by Noah Purifoy (1917-2004). His creations are so unique, and in their desert setting, are a bit eerie.
Tip: If you walk to the back of the outdoor museum, you can spot the famous orange “spaceship” Airbnb!
Pioneertown
On your way back to Palm Springs, make sure to stop in Pioneertown! It’s a real-life town built in 1946 for use in hundreds of movies and TV shows with cowboy/western settings.
There are actually people who live here (so be respectful), as well as local shops and restaurants.
Walk around, take some photos, grab a bite to eat, and head back home. You could probably spend a couple of hours here if you stop to eat, but otherwise, it was about a 20-minute stop for us.
This tidbit from Wikipedia about Pioneertown made me laugh: “On January 18, 2019, the Kidz Bop Kids used Pioneertown as the set for their music video for the cover of Lil Nas X's song, Old Town Road. “
Where to Eat in Joshua Tree
There are a few restaurants along the main street in Joshua Tree. They all get pretty good reviews, so you can’t really go wrong!
After the drive from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree and a few hours exploring the park, you’ll probably work up quite the appetite like we did.
The Natural Sisters Cafe
We picked The Natural Sisters because it sounded the best for what we were in the mood for. It was still about 10am since we started our day so early in the park, so I was looking for brunch foods!
I got the egg sandwich and it was incredible! The food is all vegetarian, but you can get many of the items made vegan upon request. They also had gluten-free meal options and baked goods.
Crossroads Cafe
Next to The Natural Sisters, just across the crosswalk, is Crossroads Cafe. This is another well-rated restaurant and was recommended in a couple of different blogs I read.
It has some more classic diner dishes with their own spin. They do have some vegan and vegetarian options as well!
Where To Stay in Palm Springs
If you’re doing a Palm Springs to Joshua Tree day trip, you’re likely planning to stay in Palm Springs!
Note: Palm Springs is a very seasonal destination and most things are more budget-friendly in the hot summer months and go up in price during the cooler months.
These are a few of the highest-rated, most iconic places to stay in Palm Springs!
Luxury:
The Portrait House: Stay in a quintessential Palm Springs mid-century modern three-bedroom/two-bathroom home with a pool and hot tub.
Mid-range:
Hotel California: Is there a better name for a hotel? Hotel California is a well-known place to stay in Palm Springs with a Spanish-style facade and rustic-yet-modern interiors.
The Saguaro Palm Springs: This hotel is famous for its rainbow exterior and rooms that look out to the central pool. They offer a free transfer service to both downtown Palm Springs and the airport, so no need to worry about car rentals or rideshares.
Budget:
Inn at Palm Springs: A colorful, simple inn with free bikes to ride during your stay, a pool to cool off in, and breakfast.
Bonus:
Twin Palms Resort: This is a resort specifically for gay men! Palm Springs is a haven for the LGBTQIA2+ community and there are a few hotels and resorts that cater just to gay men. If that’s you — this one gets stellar reviews!!
Where to Stay in Joshua Tree
Turn your day trip into a mini one-night getaway to experience one of the things Joshua Tree does best: unique and eccentric rentals. These are some of the coolest and highest-rated places to stay in Joshua Tree!
Luxury:
Cosmic Rabbit: This is an absolutely gorgeous three-bedroom home with a hot tub and private pool — great for families.
Dome on the Range: Large, three-bedroom house with a unique dome on the property for a cool hangout spot with cushions, pillows, and a small table.
Mid-range:
Eclectic Joshua Tree: A beautiful, fully-equipped three-bedroom home with artsy decor, cement floors, and large windows.
Artistic Getaway at Joshua Tree: Fun and colorful three-bedroom home with a hot tub, murals, and large outdoor space.
Budget:
Shastala Joshua Tree: This two-bedroom home is small, but cozy and even includes a rental car!
The Castle House Estates: Choose from unique castle-like towers, a three-bedroom bungalow, a container home, or glamping tents!
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