Day Trips from Palm Springs: Routes, Timing and Practical Checks

Choose between a national park, a zoo and gardens, or a roadside dinosaur attraction, then plan around each place’s route and opening details.

Joshua Tree has several entrances and park-wide practical considerations, making it the option that calls for the most preparation. The Living Desert has defined seasonal hours, while Cabazon Dinosaurs offers a more focused visit with admission paid at the door.

If you are comparing the three as drives from the motel, the supplied estimates put them about 30 to 55 minutes away. Delos Reyes rooms in Palm Springs are an option for your trip.

Start by deciding whether you want a park outing or a visit with set hours. Then check the route and admission requirements for that destination; Joshua Tree, in particular, has multiple entrances and no services in its interior.

Joshua Tree National Park is open around the clock year-round, and its West Entrance is in the town of Joshua Tree.

From Interstate 10, take exit 117 for CA Highway 62 to reach the West Entrance, North Entrance, Black Rock, and Indian Cove. The West Entrance is the park’s busiest, and the National Park Service says the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms or the South Entrance off Interstate 10 may be faster during busy periods.

If you are planning around the western side of the park, read more about how the West Entrance works from Palm Springs.

Allow for substantial driving inside the park if you plan to cross it: the West Entrance to the North Entrance takes approximately 45 minutes, and the West Entrance to the South Entrance takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The National Park Service says the West Entrance often has long lines and suggests arriving before 8 a.m. to beat crowds during busy periods.

No advance reservation is required to enter, but you need to buy or show an entrance pass. The standard pass costs $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person; the annual park pass costs $55.

The park has no gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, or water sources in its interior, so bring food, water, and supplies.

The 49 Palms Oasis Trail closes every year from June 1 through September 30. Seasonal campground, visitor-center, and fire-restriction information can also affect plans, so check the National Park Service’s official site before you go.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is in Palm Desert at 47900 Portola Avenue, with daily hours that shift between its cooler and warmer seasons.

From Highway 111, turn south on Portola Avenue and continue 1.5 miles. The schedule runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily between October 1 and May 31, with last admission at 4 p.m.

From June 1 through September 30, it is open daily from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with last admission at 12:30 p.m. It closes on December 25. For more detail on planning the visit, see what to know about a day at The Living Desert.

The facility is cashless, except for retail outlets operated by a third party. Reverse ATMs are available to convert cash into prepaid debit cards. An accompanying aid receives complimentary daytime admission when assisting a guest with a sight or hearing impairment.

Cabazon Dinosaurs is at 50770 Seminole Drive in Cabazon, and its grounds feature more than 100 dinosaur figures.

The attraction describes a dinosaur walk, a dinosaur dig, and a fossil and gemstone panning sluice among its activities. Admission is $15 for adults ages 13–55, $13 for children ages 3–12, and $11 for seniors and military visitors; tickets are available only at the door.

For a closer look at the stop and its route, read how to make Cabazon Dinosaurs a road-trip stop.

In summer, hours are 9 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Pets must be leashed and carried inside exhibits.

The three options differ most in the way you plan the day: Joshua Tree requires attention to entrances and supplies, while the other two have set attraction hours.

Joshua Tree suits a park visit where the route through the park matters as much as reaching an entrance. The Living Desert has seasonal opening hours and a final-admission cutoff, so check the clock before setting off. Cabazon Dinosaurs sells admission at the door, with summer hours varying by weekday and weekend.

For a simpler comparison, decide first whether a full park day or a scheduled attraction visit fits your plans. Then confirm the applicable opening hours, admission details and any seasonal restrictions with the relevant operator.

Before leaving Palm Springs, confirm the details that can change: attraction hours, admission, park conditions and entrance access.

For Joshua Tree, check the National Park Service’s seasonal information and pack food, water and supplies before entering the park. For The Living Desert and Cabazon Dinosaurs, confirm the current hours and ticket details with each attraction. Check the official site before you go.

Do you need a reservation for Joshua Tree National Park?

No advance reservation is required to enter the park, but you need to buy or show an entrance pass.

Which Joshua Tree entrance may be faster during busy periods?

The National Park Service says the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms or the South Entrance off Interstate 10 may be faster than the busy West Entrance during busy periods.

Is The Living Desert open all day year-round?

No. Its daily hours change by season, and it closes on December 25. Last admission is earlier than closing time.

Can you buy Cabazon Dinosaurs tickets in advance?

Tickets are available only at the door.