Joshua Tree National Park

Spring and fall are the most comfortable, with average highs around 85F and cooler nights. Summer days run over 100F and winter nights drop below freezing, so March through May and October through November hit the sweet spot for temperature, though spring is also the most crowded stretch.

Leashed dogs are allowed in campgrounds, within 100 feet of roads and parking, and on the paved Oasis of Mara Trail only. They are prohibited on all other trails and in the backcountry, and the park warns against bringing pets during the deadly summer heat. Leashes must be six feet or shorter.

Hikers point to the Stubbe Springs Loop, the Desert Queen Mine Trail's northern loop, and the Boy Scout Trail past its four-mile marker as some of the least-traveled routes in the park. These sit in remote areas far from the main entrances and campgrounds, so they require longer drives and confident navigation. Treat them as reported favorites rather than official recommendations.

Joshua Tree draws roughly 3 million visitors a year and is busiest from October through May, peaking in March and mid-April. Weekends and holidays are the most packed, and lines at the West Entrance are longest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Arriving before 8 a.m. or entering through the North or South entrance helps you skip the worst of it.

The park has two fully paved, wheelchair-accessible trails: the Oasis of Mara Trail near Park Headquarters and the Lower Keys View overlook, which has minimal elevation gain and accessible parking. The Joshua Tree and Cottonwood visitor centers are also accessible with adapted restrooms and van-accessible parking. Note that many other trails have deep sand, and the park does not run a shuttle.

Yes, the park has around 479 sites split between reservation campgrounds like Black Rock, Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Jumbo Rocks, and Ryan, plus first-come, first-served sites at Hidden Valley, Belle, and White Tank. Reservation sites cost $30 to $35 a night and first-come sites run $25. Several campgrounds, including Indian Cove and Jumbo Rocks, have no water, so plan to pack your own.

Park only in designated spots or on graded shoulders, and expect popular lots like Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, Keys View, and Split Rock to close once full during peak season. These lots often fill before 9 or 10 a.m. from September through May. When they're full, park outside the boundary in Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree, or Yucca Valley and carpool in, since there is no overflow parking inside.

Entry is $30 per private vehicle, good for seven days. Motorcycles are $25 and anyone entering on foot or bike pays $15 per person, while a $55 annual pass covers the park for a year.