Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is an American national park in southeastern California, east of San Bernardino and Los Angeles and north of Palm Springs. It is named after the Joshua trees native to the Mojave Desert. For an all-day outing to a complete change of scenery, consider a trip to Joshua Tree National Park. This is the perfect place to see these delightful trees, as well as some incredible landscapes and a few other added attractions.

From Phoenix, you can reach the south side of the park in a little over three hours, along Interstate 10. Plan on a few hours in the park to stop and see some of the highlights, like Skull Rock, the Cholla Cactus Garden, Keys View, and Hidden Valley. The best option for spending the night, unless you want to camp in Joshua Tree National Park, is to base yourself in nearby Twentynine Palms. Below 3,000 feet, the Colorado Desert encompasses the eastern part of the park and features habitats of creosote bush scrub, ocotillo, desert saltbush, and mixed scrub including yucca and cholla cactus. Some areas of such cactus are dense enough to appear as natural gardens. The lower Coachella Valley is on the southeastern side of the park with sandy soil grasslands and desert dunes.

Distance from Phoenix: 222 miles

Travel time: 3 hours 21 min
Location: Riverside County and San Bernardino County, California, United States
Tripadvisor Rating: 5/5