Visiting Joshua Tree: Best Guide for Any Budget
When I start dreaming of my next trip or planning out my budget for the upcoming year(s), it can be hard to gauge how much you will need to spend on a location you’ve never visited before. When visiting Joshua Tree you can feel confident knowing it is possible for every budget and comfort level.
My first disclaimer is that travel pricing fluctuates constantly, so these prices truly are estimates and a way for you to get a feel for what accommodation and activity options are available. Prices changed on me even as I researched and created this post, so take it with a grain of salt!
My second disclaimer is I have broken costs down into their travel comfort levels: Bargain, Mid-Range, and Luxury/Unique Experience. These are all determined based on my personal opinion and I urge you to personally research each property and activity suggested below to ensure it meets your expectations.
The third disclaimer is the one I make in every post. By clicking my links and making purchases, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ok! Let’s get started!
Scenario:
- Family of 5 (2 adults, three children)
- Weekend in Joshua Tree, CA (Dec 2023/Jan 2024)
- Drove personal vehicle (did not fly)
- All accommodations rated at a minimum 7/10 or 3/5 by previous guests
Getting to Joshua Tree:
Driving to Joshua Tree
Located in the high desert of Southern California, Joshua Tree is an easy day trip from other popular California destinations like Anaheim (2 hours), Los Angeles (2 hours), and San Diego (2.5 hours). One full day is probably plenty of time for most families, so if it’s on your bucket list think about combining it with other Southern California sites. Driving from Las Vegas, you can reach Joshua Tree in under 4 hours, and traveling from Phoenix will take you roughly 4.5 hours.
Flying to Joshua Tree
If flying to the area, you have plenty of airports to choose from. The closest is Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) which is less than an hour away. Ontario International Airport (ONT) is 1.5 hours, John Wayne/Santa Ana International (SNA) clocks in at 2 hours, and Los Angeles International (LAX) is about 2.5 hours away.
When choosing where to fly consider the following:
- Cost – LAX will most likely be the least expensive, but will require longer travel time and gas in a car.
- Location – Palm Springs will be an easy access point, but offers fewer flight options and will probably cost more.
- Finding Deals – My suggestion would be to track all the above airports via Google Flights and see if you can snag any deals.
Visiting Joshua Tree on a Budget
This is for the travelers who care more about getting out into the park and less about where they are resting for the night. These accommodations and activities will cover the basics, but may not be to everyone’s preferences.
Camping in Joshua Tree
If you’re willing to rough it, camping will be the cheapest base price for accommodations. However, if you are flying to California or don’t have access to sufficient camping gear and will need to purchase, camping will not be the cheapest option.
Jumbo Rocks Campground
Cost: $40 for 2 nights
Date Selected: January 24-26
Location: Well placed in the heart of the park. Very close to Skull Rock Trail/Discovery Trail
Details: No water or RV hookups, vault toilets only
Notes:
- The sites can be close together and not all will accommodate XL tents. Check out recreation.gov for site-specific information.
- Other campgrounds within the park include Cottonwood Campground, Indian Cove, and Black Rock. Before booking a site, make sure to research where in the park the site is located and what amenities are available.
Bargain Budget Hotels and Accommodations Near Joshua Tree
The hotels I selected would not typically be in the price point I consider budget, but they were the best options for the price, location, and dates. The least expensive hotels that were still available did not meet my standards for recommendation, but do know there are a few less expensive options available!
I suggest starting a search with Booking.com to give you a feeling of what is available, read ratings, and have a map to get an idea of the locations you want to stay in. My biggest warning when using this (and often other) accommodation search engine is that the prices listed are base prices. With hotels, it usually isn’t too much more money – usually taxes and possibly a resort fee. But with vacation homes and apartments, the final price is usually quite a bit more. Just a heads up so you get your heart broken after finding what you thought was a screaming deal, and then feeling out there is an additional $150 cleaning fee. Ouch.
The prices I listed below were the current prices including taxes and fees at the time of my search, and may require a free site membership to receive the lowest price. For reference, I was looking at dates about 3.5-5 months out.
SureStay Plus by Best Western Yucca Valley
Cost: $417 for 2 nights
Date Selected: Dec 1-3, 2023
Location: Yucca Valley, about 15 minutes to Visitor Center
Details:
- 2 Kings, 1 Sofa Sleeper
Notes:
- Includes continental breakfast
- Pool and hot tub (seasonal, outdoor)
Cost: $393 for 2 nights
Date Selected: Dec 1-3, 2023
Details:
- Vacation Home
- 1 King, 1 Queen, 1 Sofa Sleeper
- Kitchen
Notes:
Shared outdoor patio with fire pit
Bargain Budget Activity Options
If you’re trying to spend the least amount possible, stick to the entry fee and find entertainment at Visitor Centers, hiking, and exploring. I did include one other activity suggestion that has a minimal fee.
Required:
National Park Entrance Fee: $30
Notes:
- This pass is per vehicle and is good for 7 days.
- An annual National Parks Pass is $80, so if you are considering several visits to fee-charging sites, consider getting an annual pass.
- Fourth-grade students are able to get a free National Parks Pass good from Sep 1- Aug 31 of their 4th grade year.
Optional:
Joshua Tree National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour: $13.49
This is a great idea if you are unfamiliar with the park and would like a pre-made itinerary. It has several predetermined stops with short audio descriptions. You can plot it out on a map ahead of time, check out which hikes or activities you want to participate in, and then let the audio tour give you information you may not have found on your own! There is a bonus Palm Springs tour included, although several of the recommended stops require additional admission fees.
Total Expected Costs (Hotel + Activities): $70- $430.50
Visiting Joshua Tree with a Mid-Range Budget
This is for those who have a healthy travel budget and want some extra comforts and/or conveniences, but still are watching their wallet.
Mid-Range Hotels and Accommodations Near Joshua Tree
Now that we are traveling with young kids, we often find ourselves booking accommodations in this range. We prefer lodging with a few more comforts like kitchenettes and/or breakfast included in the cost.
Cost: $532 for 2 nights
Dates: January 5-7, 2024
Location: Palm Springs, about 50 minutes to Visitor Center
Details:
- 2 Level Suite with 2 bedrooms, 1 King, 1 Queen
- Full kitchen
Notes:
- Includes continental breakfast
- Heated outdoor pool and hot tub
Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms-Joshua Tree National Park
Cost: $577 for 2 nights
Dates: Dec 1-3, 2023
Location: Twentynine Palms, about 15 minutes to Visitor Center
Details:
- 2 Queens and a sofa sleeper
- Mini fridge
Notes:
- Includes continental breakfast
- Coin-op laundry
- Outdoor pool
Cozy Rustic Home minutes to Joshua Tree
Cost: $586 for 2 nights
Dates: Dec 1-3, 2023
Location: Joshua Tree, about 5 minutes to Visitor Center
Details:
- Vacation home with kitchen
- 1 King, 1 Queen, and a sofa bed
Notes:
- Neighborhood playground nearby
- Patio with shade umbrellas, chairs, and “cowboy pool”
Mid-Range Budget Activities in Joshua Tree
I’m going to assume you will visit the park and pay the $30 per vehicle entrance fee mentioned in the previous section. For a little added fun, consider purchasing the following:
Cat’s Meow Joshua Tree Adventurer Hidden Valley Scavenger Hunt: $33
This is a phone-based activity that your group can purchase to make your exploration of Hidden Valley a little more engaging.
Total Expected Costs (Hotel + Activities): $562- $639
Visiting Joshua Tree on a Luxury Budget
Want another disclaimer? I’m not a luxury traveler. So the suggestions I make here are places and activities I would consider if my budget was very flexible.
Luxury Hotels and Accommodations in Joshua Tree
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa
Cost: $801 for 2 nights
Dates: Dec 8-10
Location: Indian Wells, CA – about 1 hour from Visitor Center
Details:
- 2 Queen beds and a sofa bed
- Minifridge
Notes:
- Includes a waterpark (but it will be partly closed winter of 2023)
- Villas are also available, but even pricier
Cost: $1,052 for 2 nights
Dates: Dec 8-10
Location: Joshua Tree Village, 5 minutes to the park entrance
Details:
- Vacation home
- 3 bedrooms (1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Twins)
- Pool and Hot Tub
- Full kitchen
- Patio
Notes:
- May not be luxury, but clean
- $125/ day fee to heat pool (hot tub heating already included)
- May be better for a couples/adults getaway than a family stay
Cost: $1,120 for 2 nights
Dates: Dec 8-10
Location: Joshua Tree, 4 minutes to park entrance
Details:
- Vacation home
- 2 Bedrooms (1 King, 1 Queen)
- Above ground pool is closed Oct-April
Notes:
- Great guest reviews
- The king bedroom is a loft, so noise from the family room may travel up
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Indian Wells
Cost: $1,380 for 2 nights
Dates: Dec 8 – 10
Location: Indian Wells, CA – about 1 hour from Visitor Center
Details:
- 2 Full Beds and a sofa sleeper
Notes:
- Resort pool with a sandy beach
- Outdoor games and fire pits
Luxury Activities in Joshua Tree
Guided tours are a great, but sometimes pricey, way of learning about an area. Consider one or both of these activities to make your trip a little more special.
Beginner Group Rock Climbing – Joshua Tree National Park: $190/person ($950 for a family of five, ages 4+)
Highly rated excursion for those with little to no previous rock climbing experience. A great opportunity to see and experience Joshua Tree in a new and exciting way.
Joshua Tree National Park Offroad Tour: $209/person ($1,045 for a family of 5, ages 5+)
This is a half-day tour that starts in Palm Desert and includes park admission, snacks, and stops at key sites. You will also be transported in a 4×4 vehicle and go off-roading for a portion of the tour. A highly-rated excursion that is certain to give you a unique experience!
Total Expected Costs (Hotel + Activities): $2,000-$2,500
Other Travel Expenses when Visiting Joshua Tree
Gas
To reduce the cost of gas, consider using the Gas Buddy App and Upside App. Gas Buddy will help you find user-updated prices for nearby gas stations, and Upside offers cashback rewards for using specific gas stations. Plan on at least $55 in gas for two days in the Palm Springs/Joshua Tree area. If you are traveling to or from the greater Los Angeles area, you will of course need more gasoline and your cost will increase.
Food
This is a tricky one for me to help you with because we usually eat very frugally on trips and frequent the grocery store and McDonald’s A LOT. Here is a rough estimate I came up with for budgeting purposes for a food budget (meals, snacks, treats, and drinks) at the three price points:
Bargain: $25/person a day
Mid-Range: $40/person a day
Luxury: $100/person a day
Souvenirs
Stop at a Visitor Center and grab a Junior Ranger booklet. Complete the required tasks (vary by age), bring it back, and get sworn in as a Junior Ranger. You will receive a special badge to keep and wear or display. We love working on the booklets and receiving the badge! It’s the perfect, FREE, souvenir.
Joshua Tree Lodging with Points
Traveling on rewards points can be a huge benefit when traveling. While I’m no expert, I used the Chase Sapphire card to help save several hundred dollars on airfare and hotels when we traveled to Europe in May. One of the benefits of this card is that you can transfer points to partner organizations. Hyatt is one of those businesses and seems to give the most bang for your buck when it comes to rewards redemption. My big warning with this is to look early or there may not be rewards rooms available for your dates.
At the time of writing this, you can redeem 40,000 Hyatt points for two nights at Hyatt Palm Springs in a Cabana Suite worth a cash value of $963. Chase Sapphire currently offers 60,000 bonus points for reaching the minimum spend within 3 months. I am not a points expert, but @watchmetravelhack is and can help you get started if you’re interested in travel hacking with points
Bottom Line
As a reminder, these are estimates for a group of 5 people requiring two nights weekend accommodation between December 2023 and January 2024. Please know that I did my due diligence to get decent locations and price estimates, but expenses and availability fluctuate.
Bargain
Accommodations: $40-450
Activities: $30-45
Gas: $55-100
Food: $250
TOTAL: $375-$845
Mid-Range
Accommodations: $530-600
Activities: $30-65
Gas: $55-100
Food: $400
TOTAL: $1,015 – $1,165
Luxury
Accommodations: $800-$1,120
Activities: $950-$1045
Gas: $55-100
Food: $1,000
TOTAL: $2,8050 – $3,265
Joshua Tree National Park is a park for everyone and every budget. There are always ways of saving money and creating an experience just as wonderful as any luxury vacation. So what are you waiting for? Start planning!