The Mojave Desert in California is home to the fascinating Joshua Tree National Park. This is the only place on the planet where you can see these incredible trees, a gigantic yucca that can reach 12 meters in height.
Although it looks like an interesting visit, the truth is that Joshua Tree Park is in the middle of a desert. This means that temperatures are extreme, and you should read up on the best time to visit Joshua tree.
People who live nearby say that when you approach this area of California by road, it looks like an empty desert in the distance. Little by little, the curved and characteristic forms of the Joshua trees begin to appear before you, inviting you to enjoy them more closely and take an interesting route through this impressive landscape.
If all of this sounds good to you, we will tell you interesting facts so you can be sufficiently informed. What is the cheapest time of the year, what precautions should you take to travel in the summer, and what sorts of excursions can you enjoy if the weather is good? Let’s find out.
What months should I travel to Joshua Tree?
Joshua Tree National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In that sense, you should not worry if you already have some dates in mind because you can indeed visit it whenever you want.
However, that is not to say that any time is a good time to visit Joshua Tree Park. As it usually goes with desserts, summer temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, on winter nights, you can easily live the experience of being at 0 degrees Celsius.
This is why we can say that, quite objectively, the best months to visit the Joshua Tree National Park are March and April, on the one hand, and October and November, on the other. Balanced and sunny temperatures during the day and a pleasant coolness at night to rest well and even go on an hike to enjoy the stars.
You should know that many people only visit the Joshua tree area during the day because it is a two-hour drive from the city of Los Angeles. But if you have the opportunity, we recommend spending the night there as well, as it is possible to have a once-in-a-lifetime view of the Milky Way, especially if it is a clear night. October is the perfect month to do this. However, winter is also great because the nights are longer and you can enjoy the stars.
As for the number of tourists who can also be visiting the Joshua Tree National Park, you should know that the months with fewer people are March and November. More people want to go there in April and May because of the good weather; the same happens in October.
This often translates into an increase in the costs of accommodation in the nearest city, Twentynine Palms. However, if you reserve everything with enough time, you do not have to be inconvenienced by the increase.
And what about September?
Although the best times to enjoy the Joshua Tree National Park are spring and autumn as we’ve already established, it’s also worth noting that at the end of September, there is an event that is very remarkable
This event is the Night Sky Festival, which is normally celebrated in the last ten days of September. The lucky ones who have reserved their entrance to the Natural Observatory of the park’s sky are summoned because, from there, they will be able to have a unique view that only happens at this time of the year.
This is because Joshua Tree Park is one of the few national parks in the country that has what is called a dark sky. Without any light pollution, it is possible to have an unobstructed view of the Milky Way.
The end of September is when the fall season starts to arrive. Therefore, it is a very interesting time to visit this part of California: the best day of the year to enjoy the sky, but with the consequent rise in prices that comes with everyone wanting to go there.
Summer, a complicated time for the Joshua Tree Park
We know that the longest vacation periods for most of us are during the summer and that you may be wondering if it is possible to get to know Joshua Tree National Park at this time.
But we have to tell you the truth, and that is that the desert climate is very hostile during the summer, and the temperatures are too high to enjoy it in the same way.
Of course, the park is open during the months of June, July, and August, and some people decide to go to see it anyway because it is a beautiful place. But you will have to consider many more precautions: for example, routes outside the car are more complicated, and camping is also a bad idea unless you do it very late at night and you wake up early in the morning.
If you still decide to travel during the hotter months, we recommend ensuring you are well-hydrated and have enough water to get you through the day. You should also make sure your car’s air conditioning works well and has enough gasoline.
Remember that high temperatures can be suffocating, and you will have less freedom than during spring or autumn to walk quietly and enjoy the landscape and the skies.
Likewise, if you travel in winter, we recommend dressing warmly and not camping overnight, as temperatures can easily reach 0 degrees Celsius.