Joshua Tree National Park has three entrance stations, including a North Entrance in Twentynine Palms, so the town offers a direct starting point for planning a visit.
El Rancho Dolores at JT National Park is a three-star hotel in Twentynine Palms; from town, you can plan around the entrance that suits your route, check current conditions and bring the supplies the park lacks.
- Park location: The North Entrance is in Twentynine Palms.
- Opening pattern: Open daily
- Entrance basics: Reservations are not required; entrance fees apply.
- Planning note: The park has no services such as food, fuel or water in its interior.
Choosing a Joshua Tree National Park entrance
From Twentynine Palms, the North Entrance is the in-town entrance and can be one of the fastest choices during busy periods.
Joshua Tree has three entrances. The North Entrance is three miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Utah Trail. The West Entrance is five miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard. The South Entrance is near Cottonwood Spring, along Interstate 10, 25 miles east of Indio.
For a start in Twentynine Palms, the North Entrance provides access from town. The West and South entrances serve different approaches to the park, so choose based on the direction of travel and the area planned for a visit. The North Entrance’s location and role during busy periods are covered in this guide to using the park’s north entrance.
Reservations aren’t required to enter. Entrance fees are $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle and $15 per person; the annual park pass costs $55. If a fee booth is closed, visitors may be asked to show a pass or pay on the way out. Fees can change, so check the official site before you go.
What to see in the park’s northern area
The northern area is the part of Joshua Tree National Park approached directly from Twentynine Palms.
The park’s physical address is 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, California 92277-3597. The Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center is at 6533 Freedom Way in downtown Twentynine Palms, outside the park. It has exhibits, flush toilets, a water-bottle filling station, a bookstore and electric-vehicle charging stations. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For a focused day in the park, plan a route and stops before leaving town. A one-day Joshua Tree National Park itinerary from Twentynine Palms can help organize a visit around that starting point.
Planning a route through the park
Plan a route before entering Joshua Tree National Park, and don’t rely on GPS to guide the drive.
Navigation systems may direct drivers onto backcountry roads with ruts or soft sand, where conditions can make roads impassable. Use official park guidance to plan destinations rather than treating a GPS route as reliable within the park.
Cell-phone reception is very limited, and public Wi-Fi is unavailable throughout most of the park. The NPS advises downloading its app because third-party hiking apps may provide inaccurate trail and safety information. Save needed information before reception drops.
For a broader visit that includes town, a guide to central Twentynine Palms can help with planning time outside the park.
Checking park conditions before leaving
Check the current conditions page before setting out, because closures, alerts, air quality and weather can affect plans.
Weather can change quickly and vary considerably from one part of the park to another. Check conditions again if plans depend on a particular road or area, and adjust the route if an alert affects it.
Visitation rises as temperatures moderate in fall, peaks during the spring wildflower season and declines during summer heat. Weekends from October through May can be crowded; spring break, especially from March to mid-April, is another busy period. Factor those patterns into timing.
On hot days, avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day, take shade breaks and carry plenty of water. Summer heat poses a serious safety risk. Pets aren’t allowed on park trails; they must stay leashed and within 100 feet of a road.
Facilities, water and food planning
Bring food, water and supplies because the park interior has no services.
There are no gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels or water available inside the park. Take care of fuel and food needs before entering, and carry enough water for the planned visit. The visitor center in downtown Twentynine Palms has a water-bottle filling station and flush toilets, but those facilities aren’t available throughout the park.
Before leaving town, make sure supplies and needed information are available offline. With limited reception and no public Wi-Fi across most of the park, advance planning matters for navigation and safety.
FAQs
Is Joshua Tree National Park open year-round?
Open daily. Yes. The park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. Some areas are designated for day use only.
Do you need a reservation to enter Joshua Tree National Park?
No reservation is required to enter. Entrance fees apply, and a closed fee booth may mean visitors are asked to show a pass or pay on the way out.
Can you bring a dog on park trails?
No. Pets aren’t allowed on park trails. They must be leashed and remain within 100 feet of a road.
Does the park have cell service and Wi-Fi?
Cell-phone reception is very limited, and public Wi-Fi isn’t available throughout most of the park. Download useful park information before a visit.