Ultimate Guide to Joshua Tree National Park with Kids
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Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most doable national parks to visit with kids.
If you are hoping to spend anywhere from a half day to a full day exploring, you absolutely can, and still feel like you saw some of the best sights and hikes.
This guide walks you through
- When to visit
- What to bring
- Which entrance to use
- A realistic family-friendly route
- Best hikes for kids
Everything here is based on our experience visiting this national park with our four boys.
When to Visit Joshua Tree National Park
The best times to visit Joshua Tree National Park with kids are:
- Spring (March-May)
- Fall (October-November)
Winter can also be a great option. Daytime temperatures are often in the 60s during December, January, and February, though nights can drop below freezing.
Summer is extremely hot, so if you visit then, you’ll need to plan carefully with lots of water, early mornings, and minimal hiking.
How to Get to Joshua Tree National Park (Entrances Explained)
Joshua Tree National Park has three main entrances:
- West Entrance (Joshua Tree town) – main entrance, often the busiest
- North Entrance (Twentynine Palms) – usually less crowded
- South Entrance (Cottonwood) – best for visitors coming from Phoenix
Which entrance you choose depends on:
- Where you’re coming from
- What you want to see inside of the park
- How much driving you want to do
Mom-to-Mom note: We planned a looped route to avoid unnecessary backtracking. That meant entering through the North Entrance (Twentynine Palms) and exiting through the West Entrance, and it worked great!
Driving this loop without stops takes about 40-45 minutes, and the scenery is especially stunning as you descend towards the West Entrance.
This route made Joshua Tree feel completely doable with kids in one day.
What to Bring for a Day in Joshua Tree with Kids
There are no stores or restaurants inside the park.
Be sure to bring:
- Plenty of water (more than you think you will need)
- Snacks and lunch
- Athletic shoes or hiking shoes
- Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses
- Layers (possible cool mornings and warmer afternoons)
- Baby carrier if you have a baby or toddler
- Small first aid kit (scraped knees happen quickly on the rocks)
Mom-to-Mom note: If your kids love climbing like mine do, bandaids are a must. We used ours.
We stayed in Palm Desert, just outside of Palm Springs, and having a comfortable place to come back to after hiking all morning made a big difference for us.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to stay in the area, we loved staying at Marriott Desert Springs Villas II for the space and pools.
Our Family-Friendly Joshua Tree Route
Here’s exactly how we structured our visit.
It was relaxed, realistic, and worked extremely well with kids.
We did Joshua Tree as part of our Palm Springs trip, and this is exactly how I planned the day. I shared our full trip in my 5-day Palm Springs itinerary with kids.
We entered the park through the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms and exited through the West (Main) Entrance, which allowed us to follow a simple loop route without backtracking.
Our Simple Joshua Tree Route with Kids
→North Entrance (Twentynine Palms)
→ Arch Rock
→Skull Rock
→Hall of Horrors
→Keys View
→Exit West (Joshua Tree)
Stop 1: Visitor Center (Before Entering the Park)
We stopped at the Visitor Center to:
- Grab Junior Ranger booklets
- Use the restroom
- Get park info
Good to Know: The Joshua Tree Visitor Center (West) and Oasis Visitor Center (North) are both located about 5 miles outside the park entrances.
Photo Tip: If you want a picture with the Joshua Tree National Park entrance sign, this is a great time to do it. When we entered through the North Entrance, there was no line and we were able to stop quickly for a photo.
Stop 2: Arch Rock
Arch Rock was the perfect first hike.
- 1.2 miles round trip
- Easy trail
- Huge boulders for scrambling
- Beautiful arch rock at the end
You park at Twin Tanks and cross Pinto Basin Road to reach the trailhead (there’s good signage).
The kids excitedly started scrambling up the boulders, which was such a fun way to start the day.
Stop 3: Skull Rock
Skull Rock is a quick roadside stop with limited parking, so getting there earlier is better.
You can:
- Take a quick photo and move on
- Do the 1.7 mile loop hike
- Let the kids climb on the surrounding rocks
Ours wanted to climb so we stayed here a bit to do that!
Stop 4: Hall of Horrors
This area is filled with massive boulders and feels adventurous.
The official trail is short (about 0.6 miles), but finding the actual slot canyon can be confusing.
We didn’t ever find it, but still loved this stop.
The kids loved climbing again, and I loved how different the scenery felt here compared to other stops.
Tip: If you want to find the slot canyon specifically, research the route ahead of time or ask more details while at the Visitor Center.
Stop 5: Keys View
Keys View was one of the biggest “wow” moments of the day.
- 0.2 mile paved path to the viewpoint
- Stroller-friendly
- Views of Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, Mount San Jacinto, Mount San Gorgonio, and the San Andreas Fault
It felt completely different than the rest of the park and absolutely worth the short detour.
After the Park: Junior Ranger Badge
After exiting the West Entrance, we stopped at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center so my oldest could:
- Review his Junior Ranger booklet
- Take the Junior Ranger pledge
- Earn his badge
This was such a meaningful way to end the day.
Our total visit was about 4 hours and it felt perfect.
Best Hikes in Joshua Tree for Kids
If you’re choosing hikes based on kid-friendliness, these are excellent options.
- Arch Rock Nature Trail (1.2 miles) – great rocks + designated parking lot
- Skull Rock (photo stop or 1.7 loop hike) – flexible stop
- Hall of Horrors (0.6 miles) – climbing fun
- Hidden Valley Nature Trail (1 mile) – scenic + educational
- Barker Dam (1.1 miles) – chance to see water, wildlife, and petroglyphs
- Cholla Cactus Garden (0.25 miles) – beautiful but remind kids not to touch
- Keys View (0.2 miles paved) – amazing payoff for little effort
If you’re pairing Joshua Tree with Palm Springs like we did, don’t miss the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It feels completely different from Joshua Tree and was such a fun change of scenery.
Top Tips for Visiting Joshua Tree with Kids
- Plan your route before you arrive
- Bring more water than you think you need
- Pack snacks and meals
- Expect scraped knees if your kids climb
- Pick up Junior Ranger booklets
- Don’t try to do everything in one visit
- Keep your park receipt or pass handy because you may need to show it when exiting
Why Joshua Tree Works so Well for Families
Joshua Tree is one of the most family-friendly national parks we’ve visited.
So many national parks have long hikes, limited kid engagement, and sights spread too far apart.
Joshua Tree is different
The short hikes, endless rock scrambling, flexible pacing, and ability to see a lot in one day make it genuinely doable with kids of all ages.
Joshua Tree just works for our boys. They love climbing, exploring, and feeling like they’re on an adventure instead of just walking a trail.
If your family loves national parks like Joshua Tree, you might also love visiting Arches National Park with Kids.
You can download my complimentary travel itinerary planner to keep your trip details organized in one place.
May you LOVE your adventure. KW
