Planning a trip to Joshua Tree? Or a special occasion? Well, you’ve come to the right place — with this perfect 5 day Joshua Tree itinerary. Between coronavirus and having twins, our travels have been a lot closer to home in LA these days. But it doesn’t mean we aren’t having any less fun.
Kevin and I always go out big for our birthday. In my family, it’s not just a birthday…It’s a birth MONTH. After surprising Kevin with a mystery picnic through Malibu, we packed up our bags, the kids and the dog for our next big adventure. This 5 day Joshua Tree itinerary covers it all — from the best hikes in Joshua Tree to animal encounters and our pick on the best place to stay. We packed a lot in. However, this itinerary can easily be scaled down if you want to spend more time in a particular spot. Check it out.
5 Day Joshua Tree Itinerary – Day 1 – Driving from LA to Joshua Tree
Make today your road trip adventure — traveling from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree. You’ll meet Wallabies, get in some shopping and enjoy a gorgeous hike. Once in Joshua Tree, you’ll be ready to relax and gaze at the night time stars.
- 9 AM, Depart Los Angeles for Joshua Tree and begin your big road trip adventure. Love animals? Consider stopping at the Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert (2.5 hour drive).
- 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM, Visit Living Desert Zoo.
- It’s open during COVID (yay!). You must make a timed reservation to help keep visitor capacity low.
- Make sure you check out the new Australian Adventures section where you can wander among the cute Wallabies and other Australian animals.
- 2 PM, Arrive at your getaway cabin. We loved our time at Terra Vista in Yucca Valley, just outside Joshua Tree ($220 a night). Check out those sweeping views.
- 3 PM, Depart for Fortynine Palms Oasis hike. Along the way, stop at The Station, a 1949 service station turned into a kitschy shop.
- Need a caffeine boost? Grab some coffee nearby at Joshua Tree Roasters.
- 4-5 PM, Hike Fortynine Palms Oasis. A gorgeous 3.1 mile hike to a hidden oasis in the desert, near the town of Twentynine Palms.
- 6-7 PM, Drive back to Airbnb.
- 7 PM, Relax, make dinner and enjoy your desert cabin. I made some fondue, a special treat I only do while traveling.
Day 2: Hiking Joshua Tree and Enjoying Virtual Experiences
- 8:30-9 AM, Enjoy breakfast. Then depart for Joshua Tree National Park.
- 10-11 AM, Hike Wall Street Mill hike.
- This easy 2.8 mile hike will take you to a historic mill used to refine gold ore after mining. See what’s left of the mill and a nearby ranch, and imagine what life was like more than 100 years ago.
- 11:30 AM – 1 PM, Up for a double hike? Drive less than 5 minute to Ryan Mountain.
- The 3-mile out and back hike takes you straight up the mountain with 1,050 feet of elevation gain. You’ll feel the burn, that’s for sure. We recommend this on a cooler day as it’s all exposed.
- 1-4 PM, Relax at Airbnb and enjoy the relaxation on the front porch.
- 4-5 PM, Join in the fun with True Vs False – A Funny Historical Game, a virtual Airbnb Experience.
- This is not your standard historical experience. This is an interactive game with the greatest philosopher of all times: Socrates (an actor from Greece). You’ll learn amazing facts, bizarre stories, kinky stuff from ancient Greece. And some made up BS. Can you spot the true and the false stories?
- $15 per person.
- 6:30 PM, BBQ time, enjoy some time grilling dinner and sipping some wine.
- 8 PM, Relax and watch an old-school movie like Ghostbusters.
Day 3: Exploring Palm Springs, Playing With Llamas And More
If staying in Yucca Valley, just outside Joshua Tree, you’re a quick 30 minute drive to Palm Springs. We recommend making the easy trek to mix things up and enjoy all the midcentury-modern architecture and shopping along Palm Canyon Drive.
- 7 AM, Wake up (I know, so early! But you have a morning bike tour ahead of the heat of the day).
- 7:45 AM, Depart for Palm Springs.
- 8:30-10:30 AM, Join a biking tour through Palm Springs to see its famed midcentury-modern architecture.
- The 2 hour biking tour will trace the architecturally and historically significant residential neighborhoods in South Palm Springs. During the tour, you’ll see great examples of designer homes and celebrity homes. $50 per person.
- 11:30-12:30 PM, Enjoy a Mexican lunch al fresco at Las Casuelas in downtown Palm Springs.
- 1 PM, Depart Palm Springs for Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, an easy detour back to your Joshua Tree accommodations.
- 1:30-2:30 PM, Visit Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
- This easy-access desert oasis offers the chance to explore a diverse landscape and see a lot of desert critters up close. Set between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park, trails run throughout with boardwalk paths crossing over streams and marsh habitats. Along the way, you may easily spot a variety of rabbits, kangaroo rats, coyote, mule deer, and possibly even bobcats and bighorn sheep.
- Insider tip: pick up the “critter tic tac toe” board game. It’s fun for the little ones (and even adults) where you can cross off all the animals you spot along the trail.
- 4-5:30 PM, Hang out at Airbnb, refresh for the evening activity with llamas (that will get you dirty anyway!).
- 6-7 PM, Feed llamas at a nearby llama farm — a program called ‘Touched By A Llama‘
- Here you’ll learn all about llamas and feed them before putting them to bed.
- 8-9 PM, After feeding the llamas, go get dinner for yourselves. Grab an outdoor table at the always hopping Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown.
- 9:30 PM – on; Relax at home and enjoy the hot tub under the stars.
Day 4: Hiking In Joshua Tree, Channeling Aliens And Eating Your Way Through a Virtual Cheese Course
- 8:30 AM, Depart for Joshua Tree National Park to do a hike through The Maze Loop, located at the front of the park.
- 9-11 AM, Hike The Maze Loop in Joshua Tree National Park.
- This is a mostly flat 4.7 mile trail. Don’t worry — trail markers make this trail less confusing than it sounds, but you’ll still have to watch your surroundings to stay on track. The “Maze” weaves throughout miles of granite jumbles, Joshua trees, cactus gardens, and fields of desert wildflowers.
- 12-1 PM, Enjoy outdoor lunch at Joshua Tree Saloon. This lively spot is perfect with its shaded tables and delicious lunch options. We recommend the filling black bean quesadilla.
- 1:15-1:45 PM, Shopping and exploration time! You’re just a quick and easy walk from the saloon to some of Joshua Tree’s more unique spots. Be sure to check out the ‘World Famous Crochet Museum,’ perhaps the smallest museum in the world, too! And wander the many shops nearby making your way towards The Station.
- 1:45-2:30 PM, Drive to Giant Rock, near Landers, Calif. **Very important, only attempt driving here with a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
- What is Giant Rock? That was exactly what my husband wanted to know. This remote spot is believed to be the largest free standing boulder in the world. But that’s not all. It was also a gathering spot for UFO conferences and spiritualists. At one point, an eccentric desert dweller even lived UNDER the rock.
- Today, you’ll find the rock covered with graffiti and a pretty random assortment of people visiting — from bikers to hikers and everything in between. Just remember, bring plenty of water and that 4 wheel drive.
- 2:30 PM, Drive to Pioneertown (45 minutes from Giant Rock).
- 3:15-4:30 PM, Wander the streets of Pioneertown, once the backdrop of some of Hollywood’s most famous Western movies. Now, you’ll find a random assortment of shops and restaurants located all along “Mane” Street.
- 5:00 – 6:30 PM, Take a virtual class from the comfort of your accommodations. We have a list of places here — from wine tasting to pottery classes.
- For this trip, we enjoyed a Cheese Board Class with Caputo’s Market out of Salt Lake City where we learned expert presentation, pairings and how to serve each item. $100 total.
- 10 PM, Relax at your Airbnb in the desert. Or do what we did, and wrap up that jigsaw puzzle.
Day 5: Wrapping Up Your 5 Day Joshua Tree Itinerary
- 9 AM, Head over to Sky Village Swap Meet in Yucca Valley.
- The Sky Drive In Theater turns into a very unusual outdoor market/swap meet every weekend. Though you’ll begin to wonder what’s more entertaining — the items for sale or the people watching! Be sure to keep an eye out for the giant chicken statue and the hidden Crystal Cave by local artist Bob Carr.
- 11 AM -12 PM, Wander around Joshua Tree Farmer’s Market if it’s a Saturday. You’ll find fresh vegetables and locally made products you can bring home like the coffee beans from Joshua Tree Roasters.
- 12-1 PM, Grab some brunch at an outdoor table at Crossroads Cafe. We devoured the chilaquiles.
- 2 PM, Sad times. It’s time to go. But what an incredible trip. If you follow this itinerary, you’ve certainly maximized your time!
- On the way back home, stop at Desierto Alto in Yucca Valley to find some incredible organic, all natural wines.
- If you like cookies (who doesn’t), you’ll want to stop at Cookie Corner in Redlands. This is a fun spot to break up the drive back home. And besides, it’s a good excuse to get some fresh baked cookies — where 1 cookie can easily be shared among 4 people.
Looking for other travel ideas in LA? Be sure to check out our full coverage for your next LA adventure. Have a few extra days out in the desert? Consider spending a full day exploring the wild west film set of Pioneertown. Or venturing into Palm Springs to see where Elvis went on his honeymoon hideaway.
