The Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree National Park
The best time to visit Joshua Tree is in early spring or late fall because of the cooler temperatures during those seasons. The winter months are also some of the best months to visit, as the colder temperatures are quite relieving to the SoCal heat.
Summer in Joshua Tree is typically the worst time to visit because of the extreme temperatures from June to September.
We have had the chance to visit Joshua Tree 4 or 5 different times. The park is most well-known for its iconic Joshua Trees, but you can find hundreds of miles of hiking, gardens, bouldering, and stargazing opportunities during your visit. We think it’s a hidden gem of the parks system and we 100% recommend visiting!
From avoiding crowds, to camping spots, to trends in weather, this post will tell you the absolute best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park!
Weather in Joshua Tree by Month
Weather conditions can vary within the park, but we used this visual to breakdown the historical average temperature in Joshua Tree by month:
As you can see, the hottest months fall between June and September, with average highs consistently above 90 degrees.
The coolest months fall between late December and late February, with average highs in the mid-50s to upper-60s. If you are worried about weather, early spring might be your ideal time.
For a more detailed breakdown, we created this helpful table for you to see the average temperature and precipitation in Joshua Tree month-by month:
Joshua Tree Temperature by Month
The best time to go to the park based on temperature would be between December and April. The highs hover between the upper 50s and mid 70s. Every trip we’ve taken has been in the spring, which we think is the best time of year to visit.
| Temperature | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 59° | 63° | 70° | 77° | 85° | 94° | 99° | 97° | 91° | 80° | 67° | 59° |
| Avg. | 47° | 50° | 57° | 63° | 71° | 81° | 86° | 85° | 78° | 67° | 54° | 46° |
| Low | 37° | 41° | 46° | 51° | 59° | 67° | 73° | 72° | 65° | 54° | 43° | 36° |
Average Rainfall in Joshua Tree by Month
Summer in Joshua Tree receives nearly zero inches of rain, unfortunately! Winter is the wettest season in Joshua Tree, averaging about an inch of rainfall. Rain will probably not be a deciding factor in when you want to visit.
Here is a detailed table of the average rainfall in Joshua Tree by month.
| Month | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. Rainfall | 0.9″ | 1.0″ | 0.6″ | 0.2″ | 0.1″ | 0.0″ | 0.0″ | 0.4″ | 0.3″ | 0.2″ | 0.3″ | 0.7″ |
Busiest Months to Travel to Joshua Tree
For the last 30 years, over 1 million visitors per year have visited this park. In 2022, the NPS reported over 3 million visitors! It’s consistently in the top 10 most-visited parks in the United States!
In 2022 , Joshua Tree’s most-visited months were:
- March: 431,849 visitors
- April: 358,701 visitors
- December: 325,698 visitors
With so many visitors during peak season, finding a day to visit the park will be slightly more challenging. You simply may have a harder time finding a place to park or you might experience more crowded hikes.
During the busy season, a great time to visit the park is in the early morning – before 8am if possible. Or consider getting there in the late afternoon – some time around 3 or 4pm. These are the times when not too many people have arrived and people are packing up their things for the day. You can also get around the crowds by visiting mid-week!
Best Time to Avoid Crowds at Joshua Tree
If you are looking to avoid crowds, one of the best seasons to visit is the summer.
And while this might feel a bit unconventional, it’s not surprising.
Most parks in the US see their peak seasons from June to September, but Joshua Tree experiences the exact opposite.
In 2022, Joshua Tree’s least visited months were:
- July: 149,070 visitors
- August: 135,137 visitors
- September: 150,533 visitors
If you are planning to visit during this time, please know you will likely face the most extreme heat of the entire year. The average temperature in July is over 100 degrees! So although it is a fantastic time to visit in order to avoid crowds, Joshua Tree in the summer is very hot.
You can beat the hot summer months by getting to the park early. You can get a few hours of hiking and exploring inside the park before the heat moves in.
Additionally, the desert tends to experience cool and refreshing evenings, even in the summer. The average low between June and September hovers between 65 and 73 degrees. It’s still very warm, but a significant difference from the heat of the day.
Joshua Tree Visitors by Month: Full Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of the average number of visitors by month in Joshua Tree. This is from 2022. As you can see, crowds peak between December and April. There are far less visitors during the primary part of summer.
| 2022 | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitors | 277,128 | 302,834 | 431,849 | 358,701 | 228,627 | 159,177 | 149,070 | 135,137 | 150,533 | 222,629 | 316,911 | 325,698 |
Tips for a Great Trip to Joshua Tree
As you look for the best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park, we’ve put together a few tips from our experience there! From the best hikes to the best time to stargaze, let’s start planning your must-do activities.
Where to Stay Near Joshua Tree
There are about 500 campsites available within the park system. If you are planning a time to camp, you can find reservations up to 6 months in advance. Winter is the best time to consider camping at Joshua Tree.
There are also lots of popular places and accommodations just outside of the park. Here are four nearby towns around Joshua Tree:
- Joshua Tree Village: This is a popular spot for visitors, with many vacation rentals, hotels, and campgrounds available. It will take you less than 10 minutes to enter the park from here.
- Twentynine Palms: This city is also located less than 10 minutes from the park entrance. Staying here will give you plenty of time to explore the park while also offering a range of accommodations. We stayed at Cactus Mountain: Desert Views Joshua Tree Retreat (Airbnb) during one of our visits. Good value for money and we would totally consider staying here again!
- Yucca Valley: About 20 minutes outside of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley is another fantastic city near the park. There is a mix of vacation rentals and hotels, as well as easy access to the park’s west entrance.
- Palm Springs: Palm Springs is about an hour from the park, but is a great base to travel to Joshua Tree. This is a popular vacation destination and offers a range of accommodations, from luxury resorts to budget hotels, while also being close enough to enjoy the park.
Top Activities in Joshua Tree
Watch the Sunset or Sunrise at Keys View
Keys View is a popular viewpoint located in the west section of the park, about 40 minutes from the Joshua Tree visitor center. It offers panoramic views of the Coachella Valley, including the Salton Sea, San Andreas Fault, and the city of Palm Springs.
At an elevation of 5,185 feet, it provides a stunning vantage point for watching sunrises and sunsets, as well as stargazing at night. On clear days, visitors can see all the way to Mexico!
The viewpoint is named after the miner William Keys, who had a homestead nearby in the early 20th century. There is a short walk from the parking area to the viewpoint, and the trail is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Go Stargazing at Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree is one of the best places to see the night sky. Because the park is located far from major cities, it has very little light pollution.
It is technically an international dark sky park, which means that you will have a chance to see the Milky Way and other incredible stars in the sky. The best time to see the night sky is during the new moon cycle and on cloudless nights.
Top Three Hikes at Joshua Tree
Ryan Mountain Trail: This hike is a strenuous 3-mile round trip that rewards hikers with stunning panoramic views of the park from the summit. It is considered a challenging hike, but the views make it worth the effort.
Lost Palms Oasis Trail: This 7.2-mile round trip hike takes you through a beautiful desert landscape and ends at a hidden oasis filled with palm trees. It is considered a moderate hike, but it is important to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
Barker Dam Trail: This easy 1.1-mile loop trail is perfect for families or those looking for a shorter hike. The trail takes you to a historic dam built by early cattle ranchers and provides opportunities to see desert wildlife and beautiful rock formations.
Scenic Drives at Joshua Tree
Park Boulevard: This 18-mile drive takes you through some of the most iconic landscapes throughout the park, including massive boulder formations and Skull Rock. Be sure to stop at the Hidden Valley picnic area for a short hike through a secluded canyon.
Geology Tour Road: This 18-mile unpaved road winds through the heart of Joshua Tree’s geologic wonders. Along the way, you’ll see evidence of the park’s volcanic past, including lava flows and cinder cones.
Pinto Basin Road: This 35-mile drive takes you from the high-elevation pinyon-juniper woodlands of the north to the low-elevation bush scrub of the south. Along the way, you’ll pass through the Cottonwood Mountains and see colorful rock formations, a variety of desert plants, and possibly some wildlife.
Visit the Cholla Cactus Garden
The Cholla Cactus Garden is a unique and beautiful area of Joshua Tree. It’s located in the northern part of the park and is home to a dense population of cholla cactus, also known as the “teddy bear” cactus.
The cacti are known for their fuzzy appearance, but they also have barbed spines that can easily attach to clothing or skin.
This is a popular destination for visitors to the park, offering a short and easy loop trail that winds through the cacti. The trail is just under a quarter-mile long and takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. The best time of day to walk this trail would be at sunset!
Plan Your Visit to Joshua Tree National Park!
We have always had a fantastic time in Joshua Tree and we highly recommend visiting. The park is open year-round, so planning exactly when to visit Joshua Tree doesn’t really matter!
And because it’s located so close to Los Angeles, you can easily take a day trip or experience Joshua Tree over a long weekend.
Remember, the most popular times to visit are a bit unconventional – the winter months. The cooler weather makes it an excellent time to visit.
But if you are planning to visit during the height of summer, bring extra water, arrive early, and be aware of heat exhaustion.
There are plenty of accommodations in and outside the park, so getting around the park should be relatively easy.
It’s definitely one of our favorite places to visit. So we hope you get out there and find some time to go to Joshua Tree!
