Palm Springs and Joshua Tree day trip from San Diego
Plans for one and two days in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree from San Diego, day by day: the palm oases of the Indian Canyons, Albert Frey's Tramway Gas Station, now the visitor centre, the Aerial Tramway up Mount San Jacinto and the Palm Springs Art Museum, then, over two days, Joshua Tree National Park, from Hidden Valley and Barker Dam to Keys View, Skull Rock and the Cholla Cactus Garden, followed by the canyons, the Moorten Botanical Garden and the tramway. Every stop has a typical visit length. For the city itself, see the San Diego page.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Palm Springs and Joshua Tree in 1 day
Day 1
Indian Canyons (Palm Canyon)
Ancestral land of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, with trails into Palm Canyon, one of the largest fan palm oases.
Tramway Gas Station (Palm Springs Visitor Center)
Albert Frey's swooping 1965 gas station, now the visitor centre, a classic of the town's mid-century modern architecture.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Rotating cable cars climb from the desert floor to about 8,500 ft on Mount San Jacinto, with pine forest and trails at the top.
Palm Springs Art Museum
The town's main art museum, with modern and contemporary art, glass, and art and architecture of the desert West.
Palm Springs and Joshua Tree in 2 days
Day 1
Hidden Valley
Easy loop trail through a valley ringed by boulder piles, among Joshua trees, once said to hide cattle rustlers.
Barker Dam
Short loop walk to a small dam built by ranchers to hold rainwater, with rock art nearby and birds when there is water.
Keys View
Viewpoint at about 5,000 ft over the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault and, on clear days, the Salton Sea; good at sunset.
Skull Rock
Granite boulder by the main park road, weathered into hollow eye sockets like a skull; a quick stop with a short trail.
Cholla Cactus Garden
Short boardwalk loop through a dense stand of teddybear cholla, glowing in low light where the Mojave meets the Colorado Desert.
Day 2
Indian Canyons (Palm Canyon)
Ancestral land of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, with trails into Palm Canyon, one of the largest fan palm oases.
Moorten Botanical Garden
Small, family-run desert garden and cactarium in town, with cacti and succulents from deserts around the world.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Rotating cable cars climb from the desert floor to about 8,500 ft on Mount San Jacinto, with pine forest and trails at the top.
Getting there
By car Palm Springs is about two and a half hours from San Diego, usually north on I-15 and east on I-10, or over the mountains on CA-74 by way of Temecula. The west entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, at the town of Joshua Tree, is about an hour north-east of Palm Springs. For the two-day plan, sleep in Palm Springs or near the park, as both days start early.
Staying in San Diego? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree
October to April is the season, with warm, sunny days; spring brings wildflowers in good years, and February to April is the busiest time. From about June to September the heat is extreme, often over 105 F (40 C): hike only at dawn, or spend the day up the tramway. Winter nights are cold in Joshua Tree, and snow sometimes falls on Mount San Jacinto.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Palm Springs and Joshua Tree
- Carry plenty of water in Joshua Tree: there is almost none in the park, phone signal is patchy, and summer heat is dangerous; fill the tank before you go in.
- At the top of the tramway it is often around 30 F (15 C) cooler than the valley: bring a jacket, and in winter expect snow.
- The tramway closes for some days each year for maintenance, and the Indian Canyons keep seasonal hours; check both before you go.
- In the Cholla Cactus Garden stay on the path and wear closed shoes: the spiny segments break off and stick at a touch.
- Book rooms well ahead for Modernism Week in February and the Coachella festival weekends in April, when the whole valley fills up.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Barker Dam: LCGS Russ, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cholla Cactus Garden: Steven Lek, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hidden Valley: Er-nay, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Indian Canyons (Palm Canyon): KhanhLe2003, CC0
- Keys View: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Moorten Botanical Garden: YuriVict, Public domain
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palm Springs Art Museum: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
- Skull Rock: Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain
- Tramway Gas Station (Palm Springs Visitor Center): Bryanb7, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
