National Park · California, United States
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is a national park in California, United States, covering 795,156 acres (321,788 ha), established in 1994; it recorded 2,932,644 visits in 2025.
Photo: Jarek Tuszyński via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | California, United States |
| Area | 795,156 acres (321,788 ha) |
| Established | 1994 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 2,932,644 |
| Highest point | Quail Mountain — 1,772 m (5,814 ft) |
| Coordinates | 33.7900° N, 115.9000° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is a US national park located in southeastern California, straddling north-central Riverside County and part of southern San Bernardino County. Named after the endemic Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), found in the park and surrounding areas, Joshua Tree is situated some 130 miles (211 km) east of the city of Los Angeles and roughly 78 mi (125 km) east of the city of San Bernardino. Among some of the closest cities to the park are Indio, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs. Originally declared a national monument in 1936, Joshua Tree was redesignated as a national park in 1994 when the U.S.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
October to April — mild daytime temperatures; summers are very hot
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Joshua Tree, California |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Palm Springs International Airport |
| Getting there | Named after the endemic Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), found in the park and surrounding areas, Joshua Tree is situated some 130 miles (211 km) east of the city of Los Angeles and roughly 78 mi (125 km) east of the city of San Bernardino. |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|---|
| Lodges | Lodges in Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms |
Famous trails
- Hidden Valley Trail — 1.0 miles (1.6 km) — Easy
- Barker Dam Trail — 1.3 miles (2.1 km) — Easy
Like Joshua Tree National Park? Visit Joshua Tree National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) · Palm Springs, United States · 35.0 miles away
- San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) · San Bernardino, United States · 79.5 miles away
- Ontario International Airport (ONT) · Ontario, United States · 99.2 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in California
Frequently asked questions
Where is Joshua Tree National Park?
Joshua Tree National Park is in California, United States (33.7900° N, 115.9000° W).
When was Joshua Tree National Park established?
Joshua Tree National Park was established in 1994, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Joshua Tree National Park?
Joshua Tree National Park covers 795,156 acres (321,788 ha).
How many people visit Joshua Tree National Park each year?
It recorded 2,932,644 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
What is the highest point in Joshua Tree National Park?
The highest point is Quail Mountain, at 1,772 metres (5,814 ft).
When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park?
October to April — mild daytime temperatures; summers are very hot.
Does Joshua Tree National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Joshua Tree National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Joshua Tree National Park?
The nearest town is Joshua Tree, California. The nearest airport is Palm Springs International Airport. Named after the endemic Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), found in the park and surrounding areas, Joshua Tree is situated some 130 miles (211 km) east of the city of Los Angeles and roughly 78 mi (125 km) east of the city of San Bernardino.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Tree_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/jotr/ — Official park page.