Joshua Tree National Park’s West Entrance from Palm Springs

The West Entrance gives you access from Joshua Tree Village, but it is the park’s busiest entrance. The National Park Service says lines are often shorter at the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms.

The station is a small fee booth on Park Boulevard, five miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard. Just past the entrance station, you’ll find a small parking lot, restrooms, and a drinking-water bottle-filling station.

Joshua Tree National Park is open around the clock. Entrance stations may be unstaffed at night, while the park gates remain open. If the West Entrance booth is closed or no ranger is present, you can continue without showing a pass or paying, unless a special circumstance—such as a weather closure—has closed park roads.

From Interstate 10, take exit 117 for California Highway 62 toward Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley to reach the West Entrance, as the National Park Service directs. From Delos Reyes Palm Springs, the entrance is a day trip by car; its rooms are in Palm Springs.

Don’t rely on GPS directions to navigate to or within the park. Vehicle navigation systems may route you onto backcountry roads with ruts or soft sand that can be impassable.

Public transportation to the park is limited. If you’re considering transit, check Morongo Basin Transit Authority schedules and routes before departure.

At the West Entrance, you can pay the entrance fee or buy a park pass. The station accepts credit and debit cards only; carry a card if you plan to pay there.

If the booth is closed or no ranger is present, you may continue into the park without showing a pass or paying, unless a special circumstance has closed park roads. Conditions can change, so confirm current entry arrangements before you go.

Start by choosing how much of the park you want to cover: the drive between the West Entrance and South Entrance takes approximately one hour and 30 minutes. That drive alone can shape the day, so account for it when deciding where to spend your time; the Palm Springs day-trip planning guide covers routes and timing.

The National Park Service recommends arriving before 8 a.m. to beat crowds and says weekdays are typically less crowded than weekends. Most visitors arrive from October through May, with weekends, holidays, and spring break from March through mid-April among the busiest periods.

For sunset, the National Park Service identifies Cap Rock, Quail Springs, Ryan Mountain, and Indian Cove as popular viewing areas. Keys View is also popular, but may close on busy days because of congestion.

Check current park access, road conditions, and seasonal closures before you leave. The National Park Service closes the 49 Palms Oasis Trail annually from June 1 through September 30 to reduce heat-related incidents on its challenging, unshaded route.

The Joshua Tree Visitor Center is at 6554 Park Boulevard in downtown Joshua Tree, five miles from the West Entrance. Its hours are 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, year-round; it has educational exhibits, a bookstore, visitor resources, restrooms, and parking.

Palm Springs International Airport is about 16 minutes by car from Delos Reyes. The airport-to-Delos Reyes route covers that transfer. Check the official site before you go.