Joshua Tree National Park
Visited: November 2025
We spent three days at Joshua Tree in mid-November with our two kids. Here's what actually worked, what we'd do differently, and the gear that earned its place in our setup.
🎧 Listen to the Joshua Tree Episode
This 15-minute co-listening episode covers why those rocks stack like that, how anything survives here without water, and the amazing and theatrical founding story of the park.
Download the Coloring Pages
When to Go (and When to Definitely Not Go)
We visited: Mid-November. Perfect.
Best time: October through April. We had 70°F days and 38°F nights. Brought layers, used all of them.
Do not go: May through September unless you enjoy feeling like you're inside an oven. It regularly hits 110°F. This is not hyperbole.
Weekends vs. weekdays: We went on a weekend. Mistake. Parking lots filled by 10am. Go mid-week if you can.
How Long You Need
Minimum: 1 day to see highlights (Barker Dam, Hidden Valley, Cholla Garden, Keys View sunset)
Better: 2-3 days so you're not rushing and can catch a ranger program
We did 3 days and still wanted more time. Your kids will want to climb every boulder formation. Plan accordingly.
What We Did
-
1.3 miles, easy, 30-45 minutes
Actual water in the desert (from a historic dam). Petroglyphs on the rocks if you look carefully—we brought binoculars and they helped. Good rock weathering examples for the geology-obsessed kid.
Real talk: Gets crowded after 9am. We went through 2 liters of water per person on this "easy" trail. Bring more than you think.
-
0.25 miles, 15 minutes, wheelchair accessible
Dense concentration of "jumping" cholla. They don't actually jump but the spines detach if you breathe near them. We kept precision tweezers in our day pack. Used them twice. Worth it.
Go at sunset if you can—the whole garden glows gold. It's legitimately stunning.
Listen: We talk about desert plant adaptations at 26:15 in the episode.
-
1 mile, easy, 30-40 minutes
Surrounded by massive boulders. Kids scrambled on rocks (safely). Historic cattle rustler hideout which made for good storytelling. Parking lot fills early on weekends.
-
0.1 miles from parking, 5-minute stop
Classic photo op. Good example of tafoni weathering (holes in rock from erosion). Crowded. Don't make it a destination, just stop if you're driving past.
-
Paved viewpoint, no hiking
Highest point you can drive to (5,185 ft). Views of Coachella Valley, San Andreas Fault, Salton Sea. You can see the elevation change that creates two different desert ecosystems.
Real talk: Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for parking. Bring jackets—temperature drops fast.
Where we stayed
We rented this place on VRBO about 10 minutes from the park's west entrance. Having a kitchen and real beds after hiking all day made a huge difference, especially with kids.
What worked:
Close to park entrance (15-min drive); close to the 49 Palms Oasis hike (4-min drive)
Full kitchen meant we could do breakfast before heading out
Hot showers after dusty days (not glamorous but it matters)
Kids had space to spread out in the evening
Washer/dryer for the inevitable sandy everything
Cost: About $200/night for 4 nights
Other options:
Camping in the park (Jumbo Rocks or Hidden Valley for boulder formations)
Hotels in Twentynine Palms (5 min from north entrance, more budget options)
Where we ate
-
Dinner, full bar, 5 min from our rental
Classic desert dive bar that serves actual food. We went twice because the kids loved it and the burgers were legitimately good. Pool table in the back, local crowd, exactly what you want after a day in the park.
What we ordered: Burgers, fries, kids' menu basics. About $60 for the four of us.
Real talk: Cash preferred (they take cards but seem happier with cash). Gets loud at night but we went early (6pm) and it was fine.
-
Breakfast/Lunch, Twentynine Palms
We drove 20 minutes for this and it was worth it. Fresh, creative food—not just the standard fare.
What we got: Breakfast burrito with local ingredients, avocado toast (yes, really, in the desert), kids' pancakes. About $55 for four.
Real talk: Small place, limited seating. Absolutely no wait in the early afternoon.
-
Lunch, historic western town, 20 min drive
Pioneertown is a surreal detour—an actual 1940s movie set town that's now... a real town? We stopped for lunch at Red Dog Saloon. Good BBQ, quirky atmosphere, kids were fascinated by the old western storefronts.
What we ordered: BBQ plate, pulled pork sandwich, kids' meals, and the choco-taco (IYKYK). About $65 for four.
Worth the drive? If you want a break from the park and your kids are into the "old west" aesthetic, yes. If not, skip it and stay closer to the park.
What It Cost
Park entrance: $30 (7-day pass)
Airbnb stay at an MCM with a view: $800 ($200/night)
Food: $200 (could've been less if we'd planned better)
Random stuff we forgot: $50
Total: $1350
Worth mentioning: The Annual Parks Pass is $80 and pays for itself after 3 parks. We bought one.
What we packed
What We Wish We'd Known
Cell service: There isn't any in the park. Download everything before entering—maps, podcasts, resources. Our rental had wifi which was clutch for planning each day.
Water reality: We underestimated this on day one. Drink more than feels necessary. The dry air is deceptive.
Cactus spines: They hurt more than you'd think and they're everywhere. Stay on trails. Keep tweezers accessible.
Temperature swings: It was 70°F at 2pm and 40°F by 7pm. Layers aren't optional.
Crowds: Weekends are packed. Mid-week is significantly better. We'd arrive at trailheads by 8:30am to beat the rush.
Stargazing: The night sky here is unreal. Our rental had a deck that was perfect for this. Bring a star chart, look up, prepare to feel small.
Grocery strategy: Stock up before you get to Joshua Tree. The town has limited options. Yucca Valley has a full Stater Bros.
Resources
Official park info:
Final Thoughts
Three days at Joshua Tree in November with kids was exactly right. We saw what we wanted, didn't feel rushed, caught a ranger program, and spent way too much time looking at stars (there's no such thing as too much time looking at stars).
If you're planning this: go mid-week if possible, bring more water than makes sense, pack layers, keep tweezers accessible, and listen to the episode before you go. It'll change what you notice.
