CA · Southwest
Joshua Tree National Park
Two deserts collide in one park: the Mojave and Colorado. Joshua Trees like alien sentinels, granite boulder scrambling, and one of the darkest skies within 3 hours of Los Angeles. Rock climbing on 8,000 established routes. Bouldering at Skull Rock at sunrise while the temperature is still bearable.
- 2.5 hours from LAX, the closest true wilderness to Los Angeles
- Darkest sky accessible from LA: Milky Way photography only 150 miles from downtown
- 8,000+ established climbing routes, the best outdoor climbing close to a major city in the US
- Incredible at sunrise and sunset: golden light on orange boulders and Joshua Trees
- Can be done in a weekend from LA with no advance planning for experienced campers
Free camping
BLM High Desert (dispersed camping throughout surrounding area)
Explore the area on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Find more free spots
Get an app like iOverlander to find places to camp on public land for free in the states. Other campers post what's there, how rough the road is and whether a ranger moved them on.
- iOverlander (opens in a new tab)Free. Campsites reported by other travelers, with recent notes on access, signal and rangers.
- Campendium (opens in a new tab)Free to browse. A map of free campsites across the US, much of it on public land, with reviews.
Spots change. Read the newest reports and any posted rules before you set up, and pack out everything you bring in.
When to go
- January
- February: best month
- March: best month
- April
- May
- June: month to skip
- July: month to skip
- August: month to skip
- September
- October: best month
- November: best month
- December
WanderRank Scores
Daily Cost
$15 to $55
per day (food + transit)
Campsites: $25/night
or free on nearby public land
Entry fee: $35
Plus gas for the drive
Recommended Stay
2 to 4
days · easy difficulty
Drive time from your airport
Avoid if
- You're going in summer. Temperatures exceed 110°F and the park advises against hiking after 10am
- You need campsite reservations but haven't booked, and they fill up every spring weekend