JOSHUA TREE CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

JOSHUA TREE CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

Joshua Tree California on a budget! When was the last time you have been through the desert on a horse with no name? Well, unlike the music group America, most of us have not, because we would have named that horse already!!

All jokes aside, traveling to Joshua Tree California on a budget was actually fairly easy and an amazing adventure, all in one! Join us on the journey through the National Park as we discuss traveling to Joshua Tree, California on a budget.

First let’s talk about just how much it has going on in this rather small 800,000 acre National Park. The entrance fee is $25, unless you have an America the Beautiful Pass or other discount cards that can be found in our Travel Resources on a budget menu or at this link: http://romanticdaytrippers.com/. The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your extended enjoyment. Although there are 3 park entrances, there is just 1 visitor center.

The lowest altitude only drops to 1,476 feet, while the highest point sits at just is 5,813. In this arid desert there are 68 self guided tours along 16 miles of trails. If you live in or around San Diego, this is the closest National Park in proximity at just a little over 165 miles away.

SKULL ROCK

As you are traveling to Joshua Tree, California on a budget and enter the park, the first exhibit you come upon is Skull Rock. For this reason, there tends to always be a crowd during the day because it is the first thing you see and it is quite obvious that the rock resembles a skull face! Pro tip: If you want to get good photos without a lot of strangers in your shot, opt to go to this exhibit at night with headlamps.

We choose red to add that extra creepy element to our pictures (see photo below!). It ended up one of the best ways to explore it without other people around and be able to stargaze without light pollution. The lack of lighting, makes for a perfect view of millions of twinkling stars in the night sky. A very romantic end to a fabulous day! Taking some hot cocoa in a thermos, in the chilly desert evening, is not a bad idea.

CAP ROCK

Next up while traveling to Joshua Tree, California on a budget, is Cap Rock. This exhibit is also named correctly, as the boulder does indeed look like a baseball cap! What was even more interesting at this site was the .5 mile hike around the exhibit with beautiful cacti, Joshua Trees and hidden little caves. You are also able to climb up on and around Cap Rock itself and the surrounding boulders, but be careful!

Joshua Tree ranks 15th on the most dangerous National Parks list, not at the top but out of a total 63 it is definitely not to be taken lightly. Rock climbing is offered at several locations and can be organized by a guide, by visiting their website https://www.joshuatreerockclimbing.com/ or at the visitor center, additional fees apply.

KEYS VIEW

Another breathtaking exhibit you won’t want to miss while traveling to Joshua Tree, California on a budget, is Keys View. From this point, after climbing some stairs, you are able to see the Salton Sea, Palm Springs, all of Coachella Valley and on a clear day all the way to Mexico! It is highly recommended to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the magnificent view while dining on a budget.

This is one of the three furthest exhibits from the main park entrance. You are able to drive all the way up to a designated parking lot for this view. It is then just a few steps to the stairways that lead up to the viewpoint. Make sure you take some photos here, it is something you will want to remember for years to come!

ARCH ROCK

Sometimes on fun little journeys, while traveling to Joshua Tree, California on a budget, for example, things do not always go as planned, either good or bad, and you just have to roll with it. This was the case on our way to find the Cholla Cactus Gardens at the other end of the park (which we will discuss later). You pass right by, Arch Rock, another spectacular exhibit, which just happened to be on our list of must sees, but was not on the park map.

Screeching to a halt, we stopped before getting to the Cholla gardens, just in time to catch a spot in the parking lot (which can be a hassle)! It is a little more of a hike to get to this one, at a little over a mile, but you won’t be disappointed. The day time can get very warm, even in December when we went, so make sure to stay hydrated and bring extra water.

On your hike to Arch Rock, the air is very dry, there isn’t any shade and the sun is intense. Best to wear light, moisture wicking clothing, sunscreen and possibly a hat. Once you get to the exhibit you will be greeted by massive boulders with narrow pathways to climb through.

Finally you will come upon an Arch shaped rock shaped and eroded over time by wind, water and sand. Depending on the water levels, there is a small stream that will trickle through and you can see where the water levels have been by the lines on the rocks.

CHOLLA CACTUS GARDENS

This brings us back to the awe-inspiring Cholla Cactus gardens, which s 12 miles from the main park entrance. When traveling to Joshua Tree, California on a budget, this is the exhibit that embodies the park the most. There are 10 acres of the most dangerous, yet mesmerizing plants in the park. Known as the “jumping Cholla”, the cacti itself does not actually jump, but attaches its sharp needles to unknowing passersby and “sting” in defense of the plant.

As dangerous as they are, their beauty will draw you in as you gaze at them in their rows with a mountain range backdrop in all its glory! The needles of the Cholla Cactus seem to just glow in the sunlight, especially right as the sun slips behind the mountains for the day. It is truly a sight to behold, like no other!

You might even see some wedding pictures being taken as we did! We came home to notice on a travel Facebook group someone had posted about getting married there that very same day and we were able to connect with them and share some of our pictures as well!! You never know who you will meet out there!

Cholla Cactus Gardens as well as Arch Rock are exhibits to be seen during the day. The Cholla Cactus Gardens and the hike to the Arch Rock might be too difficult to see at night even with headlamps and would be very unsafe. Make sure to plan wisely for the day trip and know that there is very little to no shade until closer to sunset. The mountains can then provide a little refuge from the glaring sun for these two exhibits.

LODGING IN AND AROUND JOSHUA TREE CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

When staying in and around Joshua Tree, California on a budget, there are many different options. There are tent/RV camping sites in the park, but they do not provide hookups. However, probably one of the coolest and cheapest ways to stay! You wake up at the park, ready to go and skip the lines to get in. Here is a link to some of the cool campgrounds within the park: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm.

The next option would be to find a tent/RV campground outside of the park, still a budget minded option. Due to the convenient locations and amenities, you will pay a little more. Finally, you are able to find some inexpensive hotel/motels in the area, which is the most expensive option at around $60-200 and up as opposed to just $25-45 for tent/RV camping. Wherever you choose, make sure it is near Joshua Tree so you get the most out of your park adventure.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, while traveling to Joshua Tree, California on a budget, plan ahead and be safe. The temperatures during the day can get very hot. Make sure you are prepared for cooler mornings , then right in to scorching heat by 10-11 am. In contrast, the evenings and nights can get quite chilly after the sun goes down. Make sure to pack a jacket and some other light layers, even in the summer and some thin gloves in the winter.

That way you will always be prepared if you plan on exploring the park at night. Plan out at least one night of your vacation to stargaze, it is so beautiful. Unlike in the city where light pollution clouds the sky with little vision of the stars. Be mindful of the moon, as it may impair seeing the millions of stars! Bring a headlamp for easier eye adjustment and navigation.

Most importantly, don’t forget the hot chocolate with marshmallows! Happy Trails! Love, light and positive vibes, friends!!