If you only have one day to spend in one of the most famous and beautiful places in California – Joshua Tree – you’ll want to maximize the time you have. Joshua Tree National Park is the main attraction but we made a few stops before exploring the park. This post will highlight the must-see stops, landmarks, hikes, and attractions that you can get to in one day.
SEE RELATED POST: HOW TO SPEND 2 DAYS IN PALM SPRINGS
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Disclaimer: I am not a big ‘hiker’, or much of a nature-person, so the trails and attractions I ventured to inside the park were moreso ~advanced walks~.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s explore!
Booking your flights through Expedia is the way to go!
ABOUT JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Joshua Tree National Park is famous for its unique and breathtaking rock formations, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and well…Joshua Trees. You’ve probably seen photos of the stunning desert landscapes, and if you have the chance to visit to this unique and enchanting place, be prepared to be stunned by its beauty! The entire park takes up approximately 800,000 acres and is a little over a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles, and about a 50-minute drive from Palm Springs.
My friends and I visited Joshua Tree for one day in December. That being said, weather will vary throughout the year, so make sure to research what to expect. Your packing list and expectations will change based on the time of year you’re there.
Pro tip: strategically plan out your bathroom breaks – there are vault toilets near most popular trailheads.
Entrance Fees
We rented a car, and paid $30 total to enter the park.
Other options listed below:
| Private Vehicle | Year-round | $30.00 |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | Year-round | $25.00 |
| Per Person | Year-round | $15.00 |
| Annual Park Pass | $55.00 |
Transportation
The best way to get around is undoubtedly by car. We rented a Jeep (somewhat for aesthetics and fun 🤭). If you’re like us and only here for one day, you can definitely get away with any type of sedan/car/vehicle.
If you really want to step up your game, there are Hummer Tours available. Or, if you don’t feel like driving get a driving tour. There are also luxury, private tour options where you’ll receive a personal photographer for the day – this would be perfect for an engagement!
WHAT TO BRING
If you are planning to do more advanced hikes, you’ll definitely want to pack accordingly. [External blog post on What to Pack for Joshua Tree]. It was about 60°F and sunny the day while we were here. As mentioned, as a non avid hiker, here is what I brought along with me:
- Water bottle
- Extra water
- Electrolyte packs
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Portable charger
- Fanny pack and/or backpack
- Walking/hiking shoes
- Extra socks
- Light jacket or sweatshirt
- Athletic long sleeve t-shirt
- Hat
- Snacks
- First Aid Kit
JOSHUA TREE ITINERARY
COFFEE RUN
We got a pretty late start to the day and stopped to get coffee at Joshua Tree Coffee Company around 11AM. It was worth it to get the necessary caffeine!
We also quickly stopped in The Dez Fine Food & Provisions for a delicious pastry.
PIONEERTOWN
Our first stop was to Pioneertown! This cute little western-themed town is full of character. There are motels, restaurants, and shops around that you can explore. It truly feels like you took a time machine back to the wild, wild, west.
We walked around Mane Street which is truly a picturesque scene from an old western film.
Notable shops on Mane Street: XēBA BOTáNICA and Soap n Goats.
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
We got to the park around 1PM. Of course, the views really took us aback the moment we entered. There really is nothing like it!
Pro tip: DO NOT TOUCH the Joshua Trees!
Link to the official park map here
Pro tip: Download and/or print the park map before you arrive! Cell service can be spotty or nonexistent.
Park Boulevard Stop One
We were eager beavers and pulled over along Park Blvd pretty soon into our day-long drive. Here we got out to look at the trees, climbed on top of a big boulder and to the top of a rock formation.
Hidden Valley Nature Trailhead
We kept on driving until we reached Hidden Valley Nature Trailhead around 2PM. The National Park Service describes this trail as, “an easy one mile loop through Hidden Valley on a dirt and rock trail.”
This was a mostly flat walk and we climbed up and in between this double rock formation.
Skull Rock
Next stop was Skull Rock around 3PM. There is a Skull Rock Trail that you can hike through. However, we just stopped to take a photo of the formation and headed along our merry way.
Park Boulevard Stop Two
Around 3:30PM we made another quick stop along our the drive to take some photos. It was a nice, open area where we could just goof around and hang out for a bit.
Arch Rock Trailhead
We continued on until we reached Arch Rock Trailhead which we arrived to around 4PM. Located just by the Twin Tanks Parking Lot is this iconic and popular arched rock. We snapped some pics of the arched rock, climbed to the top of it, and walked around the surrounding area.
White Tank Campground
Just steps away from Arch Rock is the White Tank Campground area where we freely roamed various hiking trails and paths. This area was full of jumbo rocks and “immense granite boulders.” This was a fun area to explore and as cliché as it sounds, the views were amazing.
By 4:30PM the sun started to go down and we were getting tired. We headed back to our car and began to make our way out of the park. We didn’t miss the gorgeous sunset, though! No wonder they are considered to be world-famous, it truly was incredible! On this day, the sun set around 4:45 PM.
DINNER IN JOSHUA TREE
We ended our day at Joshua Tree Saloon & Grill for dinner. There was a short wait, but it was reasonably priced and definitely had the quintessential old, western charm. There were darts, a pool table, and a menu full of steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and more. According to their website, they’re open 365 days a year!
ENJOY!
Joshua Tree is a really cool place and even if you’re not into nature (like me, 🫣) it is still worth it to go. We didn’t do any super intense hikes or climbs but we were able to see so many highlights in just one day!
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SAVEABLE MAP
All the stops I mentioned are located on this saveable Google map! Make sure to save this post and download the offline map before you go, in case you don’t have cell service while in the park!
