Palm Springs to Joshua Tree Day Trip Itinerary
Published April 2023 | Updated Jan. 2026
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 a visit to 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 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 all the highlights in less than a day without any major hikes.
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.
Entrance cost: $30 for a private vehicle (good for 7 days).
I recommend getting an America the Beautiful pass if you’re planning to visit three or more national parks in one year. You can visit as many national parks around the U.S. (not state parks) as you want for one year, starting the day you purchase the pass.
No service: You likely won’t have service while in the park, so be sure to download your maps on the Google Maps app ahead of time.
What to Pack for a Joshua Tree Day Trip
Owala water bottle: It’s important to stay hydrated in the dry desert, especially on hot days. Owala is my favorite brand of water bottle.
Layers of clothing: Temperatures in the desert can change rapidly as the sun comes up/goes down. Wear layers that you can easily take on and off.
Trail Shoes: With rocks and dirt trails, wearing trail shoes makes traversing the park much easier.
Backpack: I bring this backpack with me on all my day trips. It holds a surprising amount for a small backpack!
Camera: A phone will suffice for taking photos, but I always take photos with my Canon R5 when visiting a place as beautiful as Joshua Tree.
Sunscreen: There’s almost no shade in Joshua Tree, so be sure to wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and any other sun protection you need.
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 is a wide variety of things to do in the park, but since we were just here for a day trip from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree, this is not an exhaustive list of every activity and sight.
Follow these stops in this order for a smooth, easy, and fun day of exploring!
Arch Rock Hike
Start your day with a short and easy 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! I had no idea Joshua Tree had an arch like this — I assumed only Utah National Parks had these.
You can climb up to the arch with a bit of rock climbing, which isn’t too difficult with trail shoes. The rocks are rough, so be careful of brushing up against the rocks with your skin or clothes. I tore a tiny hole in my shorts.
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 cannot 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-out spaces caused by thousands of years of water erosion, which makes it look like a giant skull.
How to Get to Skull Rock: Parking for this spot is roadside. You’ll see cars parked along the road as you drive up to the area.
To get to Skull Rock, park on the side of the road, cross the street, and start walking. Skull Rock can be seen just a few steps from the roadside. It’s really easy to reach and doesn’t require any hiking.
Hall of Horrors
The name of this stop caught my eye as we drove past it, but we didn’t stop. After looking it up later, I wish we had stopped!
The Hall of Horrors is an easy loop trail (less than one mile) with Joshua Trees and clumps of boulders. If you want to hike the slot canyons that give this hike its name, it becomes a more moderate hike.
The guide on Earth Trekkers is useful if you’re planning to hike the Hall of Horrors.
How to Get to Hall of Horrors: The trailhead for Hall of Horrors has a parking lot with vault toilets. From Skull Rock, 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 see the petroglyphs and skip the Barker Dam — that’s 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 to Barker Dam Trail: 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 in this lot as well.
Joshua Tree Guided Tours
If you don’t want to plan out an itinerary or drive around yourself, there are some popular tours that get stellar reviews!
Scenic Tour: Enjoy a stress-free day trip to Joshua Tree from Palm Springs in this small-group tour focused on the most beautiful parts of the park.
Open Air Hummer Adventure: For a more exciting way to explore the park, ride in a military Hummer deep into Joshua Tree with a national park guide.
Sightseeing Adventure Tour: Explore the park on a four-hour guided tour with a driver, tour guide, and opportunities to get out and walk around.
Things to do Near Joshua Tree (Twentynine Palms)
The city just outside of Joshua Tree National Park is called Twentynine Palms (also written as 29 Palms). Even if you don’t plan to visit the National Park, it’s worth 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 we had fun exploring 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, Shari Elf. 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 need to wait in line on a busy weekend.
The Station
While The Station was closed when we went, I’m adding it to this list because it’s an awesome spot. Once an old gas station, The Station is now a high-quality gift shop with unique items, cold beverages, and treats.
Even if it’s closed (on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), you can still visit to check out the old gas pumps and exterior of the building.
Muffler Man
Outside The Station stands one of the famous Muffler Men. They have a long and interesting history, but the short version is that these Muffler Men were created in the 60s and 70s to attract customers to retail stores.
The first Muffler Man was a Paul Bunyan statue holding an axe, which still stands in Flagstaff, Arizona, today.
While Googling about the Muffler Men, I came across a full interview with the creator. It’s a fascinating story, and I highly recommend reading it if these giant statues interest you.
One of the Muffler Men statues has been in my hometown of Livermore for years, and I never knew its history before reading that interview.
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 to visit (donations via Venmo are welcome). All the art was made by Noah Purifoy (1917-2004). His creations are unique, eccentric, and, in their desert setting, a bit eerie.
Tip: If you walk to the back of the outdoor museum, you can spot the famous orange “spaceship” glamping site.
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 shops and restaurants, as well as homes — people actually live here! Be considerate as you explore the town. I’m sure the locals deal with lots of loud and disrespectful people, so don’t be one of them.
If you like to send letters from unusual places, there’s even a Post Office in town.
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.
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! There are all kinds of fun, unique hotels that range from eccentric to ultra-luxury.
Note: Palm Springs is a very seasonal destination. During the hot summer months (low season), prices are much lower.
These are a few of the highest-rated, most iconic places to stay in Palm Springs!
Terra Palm Springs: Adults-only 5-star hotel with a spa, sauna, 24-hour pool, outdoor fireplace, and sun terrace. Relax in this tranquil desert escape with views of the surrounding mountains.
Casa Palma Hotel & Bungalows: Mediterranean-style accommodations with white plaster exterior, bright rooms, and a large pool and jacuzzi. Stay here for a luxurious desert getaway surrounded by the picturesque mountains and palm trees.
Inn at Palm Springs: A colorful, simple inn with free bikes to ride during your stay, a pool to cool off in, and breakfast.
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!
Sacred Sands: Enjoy a private weekend getaway in the desert at this guest house with an outdoor bathtub and shower (as well as an indoor bathroom). It’s just a mile from the entrance to Joshua Tree NP for a luxury, outdoorsy getaway.
Estrella Perdida: This three-bed/two-bath home offers a comfortable place to relax with sweeping views of the desert close to Joshua Tree NP. It has everything you need for a peaceful weekend getaway from Los Angeles.
The Castle House Estate: Joshua Tree is known for its unique accommodations, and these castle estates are no exception. The property offers multiple options, including tents, castle-like guard towers, a one-bedroom villa, and three-bedroom villas.
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