Weekend Getaway: From Palm Springs to Joshua Tree
Craving a break from the daily grind and below-zero temps? I’ve got your winter cure — a weekend getaway to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree is SURE to elevate your vibe!!
Palm Springs is a desert oasis with lush palm trees, cool breezes, high-end restaurants, and luxe accommodations. It’s a fantastic place to recharge your batteries while sipping Aperol Spritz poolside. Once you’ve scratched the itch to do absolutely nothing (no shame, it’s needed every so often!), head to nearby Joshua Tree National Park, where you can get back to nature and break in those new sneakers.
Palm Springs and Joshua Tree are an ideal pairing because they’re close to each other and close to Los Angeles! Palm Springs is roughly ~2 hours from LA, and Joshua Tree is less than an hour from there! If you’re not an LA native and considering a longer-term exploration of this state, I’d HIGHLY recommend checking out the California coast! You can easily add on some or all of my Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary to this visit to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree! Or, if you’re looking to head further east and see more of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, check out this Ultimate Southwest Road Trip Itinerary, which is featured on The Blonde Abroad’s blog! There’s no limit to things to do in this area of the U.S… the dry heat, delicious tacos, and rich Native American and Mexican culture cannot be BEAT!
If you’re like me and a trip from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree is on your road trip bucket list, it’s time to cross it off! Check out my weekend getaway guide below!
The perfect LA getaway, from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree!
Weekend Highlights:
Visit Palm Springs, California
Explore Joshua Tree, California
PLUS, don’t miss these must-see California road trip pit stops!
Visit Palm Springs, California
Ahh, Palm Springs. Old Hollywood glamour, windmill-clad sunsets in the San Jacinto mountains, and luxe pools filled with colorful floaties. Palm Springs is known for its arid landscape, chic architecture, and upscale restaurant scene. If you’re planning to head to Joshua Tree National Park, why not layer in a visit to Palm Springs? It’s the perfect way to offset your outdoorsy National Park visit.
Top Things to See and Do in Palm Springs:
Downtown Palm Springs — Like Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, downtown Palm Springs’ Walk of Stars honors local legends with golden stars on the sidewalk. Honorees include past presidents like John F. Kennedy, movie stars like Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, civic leaders, and literary figures. The downtown area along Palm Canyon Drive is also home to bustling restaurants and shops. Feeling hungry? Check out Tac/Quila for upscale tacos, Rooster and the Pig for chic Vietnamese, Azucar for a trendy dinner, and Elmer’s Restaurant for a morning-after diner dishing up GIANT german pancakes, breakfast skillets, and the like!
Hike above Coachella Valley — Last time I was on the South Lykken trail, I saw a couple of herds of bighorn sheep! This is a 7.3-mile out-and-back trail that starts very steep but levels off once you reach higher elevation (and that’s where the wildlife is)! Looking for something a little more moderate? The Tahquitz Canyon trail in Indian Canyons is a super popular 1.9-mile scenic loop with a waterfall; just be aware that it can get crowded, and there’s an entry fee!
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — Take in ALL the valley views from above.
Lounge at the pool — One of the quintessential reasons people escape to Palm Springs is to get a little R&R! Some hotels with notable pool scenes include the affordable and mighty colorful Saguaro Palm Springs, the Ace Hotel & Swim Club’s boho hipster oasis, and the 5-star boutique Parker Palm Springs!
Explore Joshua Tree, California
You could spend days exploring the beautiful landscape of Joshua Tree National Park, but it’s also small enough for a day trip. Whether you’re into hiking, climbing, camping, or just cruising around the desert abyss, there’s something for all sorts of nature lovers! Here are some must-see stops in the park.
Top Things to See and Do in Joshua Tree:
Hidden Valley — Hoping to camp inside Joshua Tree National Park? Try to get a reservation in Hidden Valley! Just be aware that it’s a social campsite that draws a crowd! Hidden Valley is also home to a short trail and a world-renowned spot for rock climbing and bouldering!
Skull Rock — One of the most instagrammable locations in the park, this unique rock resembles a giant human skull when looked at from a certain angle! If rock formations are on your agenda, you should also visit Arch Rock while in the park; it reminds me of my road trip through Moab, Utah, to see Arches National Park!
Cottonwood Spring oasis — A palm tree oasis in the middle of the desert! Great spot for various hikes around old gold mines and a quiet campsite.
Hike the Ryan Mountain trail — Experienced hiker? This moderate ~3-mile out-and-back hike is a bit of a climb to reach the top, but rewards you with spectacular panoramic views of the entire park!
Cholla Cactus Garden — Often referred to as “jumping cactus,” these cacti are no joke! Their arms break off incredibly easily and seem to (painfully) stick to *everything*! Nonetheless, their gradient colors and ethereal aesthetic make them truly beautiful. Just beware!
Other National Park activities — Joshua Tree National Park offers 253 miles of horseback riding trails, mountain biking trails and was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Park, meaning it’s an ideal place for stargazing!
Grab lunch in nearby towns — Hungry? There are plenty of lunch and dinner options in the towns of Joshua Tree, TwentyNine Palms, Yucca Valley, or Pioneertown. Natural Sisters Cafe, just outside the park’s north entrance, is a popular spot for healthy grab-and-go options! If you’re looking for the rustic type of dive bar that you’d expect to find in this neck of the woods, head to Joshua Tree Saloon. OR, check out the oh-so-eclectic Palms Restaurant!
Sleeping options near Joshua Tree National Park — While there are several budget-friendly hotels near Joshua Tree, one of your BEST accommodation options is to choose an Airbnb! There’s no shortage of highly stylized open-air homes complete with backyard pools, hammocks, old-school record players, and trendy AF boho aesthetics! Need to be convinced? Some AWESOME homes that I’ve found in the area include this bright 2-bedroom with backyard, this minimalistic architectural gem, this eclectic ranch, and this boho chic home plus hot tub! As a solo traveler, I absolutely LOVED my stay in this this 1970’s Silverstreak Airstream in nearby Desert Hot Springs, California; I definitely recommend snagging it if it’s available! Do you feel like you can never find adorable Airbnb’s like these? Be sure to check out my 5 essential tips on how to score the PERFECT Airbnb!!
Nearby California Road Trip Pit Stops!
Here are some other fun things to explore from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree!
Pioneertown — While this is not a TRUE historic town, this place is still a MUST-SEE! Pioneertown was established in 1946 as a movie set made to resemble an 1870’s wild west frontier town. It’s a fun, kitschy way to spend a couple of hours after visiting Joshua Tree National Park. Stroll down Mane street (yup, that’s how it’s spelled!), catch a gun show re-enactment, or grab lunch at the infamous Pappy and Harriet’s (where the legendary Paul McCartney once played)!
Cabazon Dinosaurs — Just two enormous fake dinosaurs named Dinny the Dinosaur and Mr. Rex. These guys are located right off freeway 10 and make for a quintessential Palm Springs Instagram post!
Windmills farms — You can’t visit the Palm Springs area and NOT see a windmill! Thousands of windmills sit in the gusty pass between the San Bernardino mountain range to the north and the San Jacinto mountains to the south. These are some of the oldest windmills in the U.S., and you can even take a tour to learn more about this renewable form of energy!
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Time to cross Palm Springs and Joshua Tree off your road trip buck list!!
