Joshua Tree National Park is a truly unique place. This makes it magical, but also a challenge from a planning perspective. A family visit to Joshua Tree National Park had been at the top of our list for years. But every time I started to plan the trip, I felt a little lost. Unlike many of California’s National Parks, there didn’t seem to be a clear highlight route or obvious starting points.
But after a close friend visited and reported an otherworldly landscape that you could imagine dinosaurs tromping through, we decided to just give it a go. And we are so glad we did. Not only did we love discovering a different type of California landscape, we found so many opportunities for family adventure.
Below we share all of our favorite finds and the adventures that top the list for our next visit.
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Joshua Tree with Kids: Getting Started
First things, first: we’ll start with Joshua Tree National Park itself. Later on we’ll share even more things to do in the surrounding area, and some good options for your home base.
Know Before You Go
With few in-park services, be prepared before visiting Joshua Tree National Park. The following are helpful tips for planning.
When to Visit
The best times to visit Joshua Tree are spring and fall, when temperatures generally range between 70 and 85°F (21-29°C) during the day with lows around 50°F (10°C) at night.
Winter is also not so bad, but be prepared for cold evenings. Highs are usually around 60°F (15°C), but it can drop to below freezing at night.
We visited in February, which was overall comfortable despite the occasional drizzle. Unfortunately the cloudy skies meant missing out on a stargazing adventure we had booked. Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park. Fall is the best time to go for stargazing.
Joshua Tree in the summer is hot, hot, hot. Daytime temps are commonly around 100°F (38°C). Unless you plan to spend most of your time in a swimming pool, skip Joshua Tree in the summer.
Check the park’s official Current Conditions page for an accurate forecast and other alerts that visitors should know.
Entrance Fees and Passes
The standard entrance fee for a private vehicle is $30 per car. Once you buy your pass, it’s good for 7 days. If you like to plan in advance, buy your pass online here.
If your group includes seniors, a 4th grade student, active military, veterans, gold star families, or visitors with a permanent disability, you might be eligible for free or discounted admission through the America the Beautiful pass.
What to Bring
There are no gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, or lodging other than camping in Joshua Tree National Park. Bring in all the food, water, and supplies that you’ll need.
Cell phone reception is also limited in the park. Don’t plan on searching once you arrive. Know your main plans and bring a map to stay oriented.
What to Do in Joshua Tree National Park with Kids
1. First Stop: The Visitor Center
There are four Visitor Centers throughout Joshua Tree National Park. Three are located near the northwest border, and the Cottonwood Visitor Center is located near the southern entrance.
The most popular visitor center is located in the town of Joshua Tree near the park’s West Entrance. This is a great place to check in with rangers about your plans and get key advice and updates.
The rangers we met were great about including kids in the planning process, and gave us an important reality check about the time it would take to complete some of our planned hikes.
We returned here at the end of our trip to claim the boys’ Junior Ranger badges and buy some souvenirs.
Here’s the locations of all four centers:
- Joshua Tree Visitor Center, Downtown Joshua Tree near the park’s West Entrance
- Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, Twentynine Palms near the park’s North Entrance
- Black Rock Nature Center, Black Rock Campground
- Cottonwood Visitor Center, Pinto Basin Road
Junior Ranger Programs
The Junior Ranger program is a must-do when visiting any National Park with kids. The program booklets serve as a kid-friendly introduction to the park, and remind young visitors of their role in preserving and caring for all aspects of the park through activities like drawing, writing, observing, and attending educational programs.
At Joshua Tree, Junior Ranger booklets are available at the park visitor centers. You can also ask park rangers if they have booklets at the main park entrance stations.
In addition to the traditional Junior Ranger program, Joshua Tree also participates in the Junior Ranger Night Sky Explorer Program.
2. Take a Hike (or a Scramble)
Many of the kid-friendly hikes at Joshua Tree National Park don’t feel like the traditional “walk up a big mountain to a vista point” sort of hikes that we normally experience in California’s National Parks. They are interactive, meandering, and tempt you with plenty of opportunities to climb and play. There was no questioning if we were there yet on these mini hikes, as the destination and journey are one and the same.
The following were some of our favorite “hiking” experiences, plus a few that would top the list of a future visit.
The Hidden Valley Nature Trail (1 mile loop)
To be completely honest, I was planning on skipping this trail. Luckily a park ranger at the visitor center convinced us otherwise.
I’d read that the Hidden Valley Nature Trail was one of the most popular in the park, which I initially read as overly crowded. But, while going on a popular trail may mean dealing with some crowds, it’s usually popular for a reason.
Trails like the Hidden Valley Nature Trail reveal park highlights and histories that introduce visitors to incredible natural features.
Once used by cattle thieves looking to hide their living loot, today the trail offers families a chance to learn about the park’s famous natural features while ogling the brave climbers atop the surrounding hills.
We loved exploring this trail, and thought it made a great introduction to the park.
Skull Rock (1.7 mile loop…or just rock scramble and wander!)
Though Skull Rock itself is the biggest draw to this popular area, the real fun begins after snapping your obligatory photo of the skull shaped rock formation.
The Skull Rock Nature Trail is a 1.7 mile loop starting at the roadside. We lost the trail at some point and just had fun exploring and scrambling throughout this area.
Wandering around loosely defined “hikes” isn’t a common experience for us. It’s areas like these that set Joshua Tree apart from other California parks.
Discovery Trail (0.7 mile loop)
The Joshua Tree Discovery Trail is across the street from Skull Rock. Designed by local students, this trail offers a kids’ perspective on the park’s unique features.
The trail is an easy 0.8 mile loop with interpretive signs, binocular stations, and a short spur trail that leads to Face Rock, which looks like a profile embedded in the side of a cliff.
Combine the Discovery Trail with Skull Rock for an experience that incorporates educational facts,interesting rock formations, and the opportunity for a little adventurous scrambling.
We spent more time than planned wandering around Skull Rock, so we ended up skipping the Discovery Trail. I didn’t realize that the trail was designed by kids until later. In retrospect, I would have started here and then followed with our Skull Rock scramble.
Barker Dam (1.1 mile loop)
Another popular and family-friendly hike is along the Barker Dam trail. This trail offers a glimpse of the park’s human history alongside a broad view of the park’s flora and fauna. This man-made oasis sustains thriving plant life which in turn makes it an ideal place to glimpse birds, reptiles, and if you’re lucky, even desert bighorn sheep.
The dam is often dry in the warmer months, but after a rain in the winter or spring, you may be able to see the water reflecting the area’s beautiful surroundings.
In addition to offering a peek into the park’s ranching history, the southern end of the trail also has large boulders with ancient petroglyphs thought to date back 2,000 years or more. Those that fresher were likely touched-up when movies were filmed here in the 50s.
Arch Rock / Heart Rock (1.4 mile out and back)
Two more of the park’s Insta-worthy rock formations are along the Arch Rock trail.
To reach the 30-foot long natural arch known as Arch Rock, you’ll walk straight from the trailhead for 0.6 miles before coming to a loop. It’s easiest to spot the arch when walking the loop counter-clockwise.
An unmarked spur trail from the Arch Rock Trail leads to Heart Rock, a naturally formed boulder that looks like – you guessed it – a 12 foot tall heart.
Cholla Cactus Garden
At the southern end of the park, the trailhead to the Cholla Cactus Garden is located about 20 miles north of the Cottonwood Visitor Center. The trail is an easy 0.25 mile stroll along Pinto Basin Road that leads through a dense patch of teddy bear cholla cactus.
Though the walk itself may be easy, you’ll want to make sure to stay clear of the cholla cacti themselves. Their pines jump and latch on to shoes, clothes, and/or skin as a means of dispersal. An interesting, albeit painful, lesson on plant reproduction!
The trail isn’t easily accessible from the main part of the park. Time your visit with the last hour of sunlight. The cacti glow in the golden light. Spring blooms in early spring are also a highlight.
3. Sight See from Keys View (Vista Point)
If you like panoramic vistas, you’ll want to make time to drive out to Keys View. It’s a popular and accessible destination that allows visitors expansive views of the Coachella Valley and even an almost birds-eye view of the San Andreas fault.
4. Have an Adventure: Try Rock Climbing
When we go to National Parks as a family, we always make time to enjoy scenic drives and a hike or two. But I also like to plan at least one adventure that pushes us out of our comfort zones while connecting with a park’s unique features.
For Joshua Tree National Park, our big family adventure was rock climbing. Joshua Tree is a world-class climbing destination known for its traditional crack, slab, and steep face climbing. There are more than 8,000 climbing routes for all ability levels and 2,000 known boulder problems. Soon after you enter the park you’re likely to spot climbers playing on the perimeters of well-known trails.
I enjoy gym climbing, and was excited to finally give climbing in the great outdoors a try. Even though the kids were less than thrilled with the idea at first – these two are not adventure junkies! – they gradually embraced the challenge.
Preparing to Climb as a Family
If you are new to the sport, or if your kids are nervous like ours were, try climbing as a family at an indoor climbing gym near home. We took the boys’ to 2-3 indoor climbing sessions which helped them get familiar with the equipment and basic techniques.
Hire a Climbing Guide
Given that we were all new to outdoor climbing, we never considered climbing on our own.
We booked a half-day tour with Cliffhanger Guides, noting their experience with newbies and families. All tours are private, and the experience is adapted to your skill-levels and interests. Bug was VERY nervous, so I knew that a group tour would be a good fit for us.
Our guide had several ideas for beginner routes. She was incredibly patient and got us all up the cliffs… even when that meant climbing bit by bit alongside Bug. It wasn’t easy for any of us, but we all gained confidence and felt good about our attempts.
After lunch, we were given the option of checking out some nearby talus caves. We decided to take the opportunity to check out another aspect of Joshua Tree that we hadn’t considered. This was cool, but more challenging than I imagined. It turns out that I’m a big chicken when not attached to a rope or harness! But the boys had an amazing time, and we got to adventure together as a family. Good memories were made.
Other well-reviewed options for climbing guides are Stone Adventures and Mojave Guides.
5. Explore the Night Sky
Another feature that makes Joshua Tree unique are its night skies. With some of the darkest and driest (ie clearest) nights in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park has been designated an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). With so many of us living in urban and suburban settings filled with light pollution, this offers many visitors a chance to admire the Milky Way for the first time in their lives.
Book a Dark Sky Tour
One of the activities that the kids and I were most excited about was our night sky tour. I always ask for the boys’ input when planning trips, and agreed to splurge on this experience which offered two hours of star-gazing in Hidden Valley.
Unfortunately, our tour was canceled due to rare rainy and cloudy weather. But this experience is still high on our list for a future visit.
Popular stargazing tours are offered through Addicted2Wonder and Stargazing Joshua Tree.
Designated Stargazing Areas and Roadside Pullouts
While I was happy to book a tour, once we were in the park I noticed that there was plenty of signage marking designated stargazing areas. They are in the parking lots of Quail Springs, Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, and Ryan Mountain.
There are also roadside pullouts on Pinto Basin Road between the Cholla Cactus Garden and Cottonwood Visitor Center. This area has the least amount of traffic and the darkest skies.
If you’re there on a clear night, stop by and enjoy the show. Even if you don’t have your own telescope, you may find others in the parking lots willing to share.
Stay within 20 feet of your vehicle when stargazing.
Sky’s the Limit and Ranger Programs
For more night sky programming, check out Sky’s the Limit Observatory and Nature Center. This organization is an official Joshua Tree partner and hosts monthly night sky programs and the area’s annual Night Sky Festival. At $20 per vehicle, the monthly programs are a great bargain but advance planning is required.
Rangers also offer evening programs about Joshua Tree’s night sky, though the park’s program calendar is generally not the most reliable source. For the most updated schedule, ask the rangers at the visitor centers or entry booths.
6. Joshua Tree Tours
If you’re looking for more fun ways to explore this amazing California National Park, there are all kinds of tours and outfitters to guide your adventure. Here’s a small selection of those that caught my eye for a future visit.
Jeep Tour with Big Wheel Tours
Get away from the crowds on this offroading tour that goes into the backcountry of Joshua Tree National Park. Combine information about the park with a unique adventure on this popular tour. If you’re worried that your kids will get bored driving around this giant park, this may be the crowd pleaser that you were looking for!
Creative Soul’s Hidden Valley Scavenger Hunt
If you’re looking for a way to amp up your walk through Hidden Valley, check out this interactive scavenger hunt. We did something similar for J’s 9th birthday, which resulted in lots of laughter and silliness alongside new information and perspectives. And plenty of fun photo ops.
San Andreas Fault Open Air Jeep Tour
Get an up close and personal look at the San Andreas Fault on this Open Air Jeep adventure! If you have adventurous science nerds in your family like we do, you’ll want to check out this tour that winds through the geological canyons of the San Andreas Fault Zone.
7. Things to Do Outside Joshua Tree National Park
Unlike some of California’s National Parks, the areas surrounding Joshua Tree offer plenty of fun and adventure in their own right. We had an amazing time in and around Palm Springs and still have so much more on our list for our next visit.
Pioneertown
Located about 25 minutes west of Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was founded in 1946 to be a permanent 1880’s Old West movie set that people could enjoy as a real town. The stables, saloons, and jails captured in more than 50 films and television shows actually functioned as ice cream parlors, motels, and bowling alleys when the cameras weren’t rolling.
Today, the biggest draw in addition to the historic facades is Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, which is known for good BBQ and surprisingly big-name live acts. Just know that the restaurant is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. We forgot about this schedule and ended up at The Red Dog Saloon, which wasn’t the most kid-friendly spot on a cold night with the outdoor spaces closed.
All in all, this was a cool spot and worth the quick drive out of town.
Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum
Artsy families will want to make time to stop by this outdoor museum, just about 20 minutes north of Joshua Tree National Park.
Noah Purifoy was a fascinating artist who focused on creating works using found objects and using art as a tool for social change. He moved his practice to the Mojave Desert in the late 80’s and spent the last 15 years of his life making large-scale sculpture across ten acres of desert landscape.
Explore on your own or email the Foundation at noahpurifoyfdn@gmail.com for a tour from docents who knew and worked alongside the artist.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a 45 minute drive from Joshua Tree, and we made the trek back and forth a few times during our visit. With kid-friendly activities like the Aerial Tramway, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, fun downtown restaurants, and escape rooms, there was plenty to keep us coming back.
Cabazon Dinosaurs
One of California’s iconic road trip stops, the Cabazon Dinosaurs are a must-visit in the area. Best known for their cameos in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and The Wizard, my personal favorite, guests are free to wander in the footsteps of Dinny the Dinosaur and Mr. Rex. Visitors can enter Mr. Rex through a small (and pricey) dinosaur park, but there’s a store in Dinny that you can enter for free.
Where to Stay in and around Joshua Tree National Park
Camping
Unlike most California National Parks, Joshua Tree doesn’t have a hotel or lodge. The only places to stay in the park itself are campgrounds. Many of these campgrounds are surrounded by jumbo rocks, which both offer a decent amount of privacy and are sure to keep kids busy whenever it’s time to settle in after a day of exploring.
Of the eight campgrounds in the park, Black Rock, Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Jumbo Rocks, and Ryan require reservations. Black Rock and Cottonwood are the only two campgrounds in the park that have water.
Glamping
Looking for something in between camping and a vacation home? Consider glamping at AutoCamp Joshua Tree where you can spend the night in a fully outfitted Airstream Camper. Just 10 minutes from the Joshua Tree main entrance, you can take advantage of free bikes, a playground, a swimming pool, and community lounge after a day of exploring.
Vacation Rentals
We stayed at this airbnb in Yucca Valley, and it quickly became one of our favorites! We enjoyed morning dips in the hot tub, s’mores around the fire pit in the evening, and even spotting road runners from the living room window! There was more than enough space for the boys to run around and play inside and out. At times it was hard to get them to leave!
Ozzie and Harriet’s Pool and Putt Putt Copper Compound
This another one is full of fun family-friendly amenities! Gaze out at the views from the hot tub while the kids splash in the pool, and relax at the fire pit after a day of exploring. You’ll never be bored at this lovely home with opportunities to challenge each other with a game of pool, bocce, or putt putt.
Itinerary: Joshua Tree with Kids over a 4-Day Plan
Wondering how to put it all together? Here’s a recommended itinerary for 4-Days in and around Joshua Tree National Park.
Day 1: Arrive and settle into your campsite or vacation rental.
Stop by the Visitor Center at the park’s West End to get a lay of the land and your Junior Ranger books.
Head into Yucca Valley for a celebratory arrival lunch at quirky Giant Rock Meeting Room Pizza Bar. They serve sandwiches too. The Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum also makes for a great stop along the way.
Day 2: Start Exploring
Spend today getting familiar with the park’s highlights. Meander through Hidden Valley then enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the park’s other-worldly scenery. Wander along the Discovery Trail and scramble your way around Skull Rock, then drive up to Keys View to take in the beauty of the Coachella Valley. Allow time to pull over and explore anything that catches your eye along the way.
Head back for an early dinner and some rest time before exploring the wonders of the night sky. Popular stargazing tours are offered through Addicted2Wonder and Stargazing Joshua Tree.
Day 3: Have an Adventure
Get out of your comfort zone with one of Joshua Tree’s most best-known activities: rock climbing. We booked a half-day private tour with Cliffhanger Guides, and would do it again in a heartbeat. If you’re still in the mood for hiking or scrambling after your session, your guide can recommend more off-the-beaten-path spots for your last few hours in the park.
Celebrate your accomplishments with dinner at Pappy and Harriett’s in Pioneertown. Famous for their open-pit Santa Maria BBQ and live music, this is a unique introduction to the area. Note: they are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Day 4: Check out the Surrounding Area
On your last day in the area, head further afield and check out Palm Springs. From the vibrant downtown, to the iconic Aerial Tramway, to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, there’s something here for everyone in the family.
And if you need a place to relax and cool-off after a busy weekend, book a resort day-pass at some of the areas amazing resort pools. I’m looking at you Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort!
Joshua Tree FAQs
When should I not visit Joshua Tree?
Avoid Joshua Tree in the summer when it’s hot, hot, hot. Daytime temperatures are often around 100°F (38°C) or higher. Way too hot for exploring with kids!
Check the park’s official Current Conditions page for an accurate forecast and other alerts that visitors should know.
What should you not miss in Joshua Tree?
Save at least one day for wandering around popular trails like the Hidden Valley Nature Trail and Skull Rock. Exploring the night sky should also top every family’s Joshua Tree itinerary.
And make sure to take photos with the namesake Joshua Trees, of course!
Which is better, Joshua Tree or Death Valley?
This is an impossible question for desert lovers! Death Valley has some excellent lodging options and a well worn trail of highlights that can be explored in a day. If you’re looking for famously surreal landscapes, this is your place.
Joshua Tree appeals to active adventurers, with its world renowned climbing and scrambling.
Both are excellent places to view the night sky.
Check out our guide to Death Valley here.
Road Trip Planning 101
These are our go-to resources when planning a California road trip!
Rent a Car ↗
Compare car rental deals to find the best price with Discover Cars. All fees and taxes are included in your quote.
Book Your Stay ↗
Booking.com is our first – and often last – stop for finding great deals throughout the Golden State.
Cover Your Trip ↗
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Support our National Parks
While writing this article in February 2025, thousands of National Park, Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife employees were fired from permanent positions. Services and programs are likely to be reduced accordingly.
You can support the park during your visit by packing your trash in and out. If you see trash on the ground, pick it up and put it in the trash. Keep a safe distance from wildlife and stay off lands marked “in progress.”
Support Joshua Tree directly by donating to the Joshua Tree National Park Association.
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