Getting to Joshua Tree: Airports, Access & Transportation
Joshua Tree isn't served by public transportation, so you'll need a rental car. The closest airport is Palm Springs (PSP), about 37 miles from the South Entrance. From Los Angeles, plan on 2.5 hours of driving. This is a park made for a road trip, and nobody's complaining.
Airports around the park (5)
- Airport Palm Springs International Airport PSP · 39 miles from the park · international Directions ↗
- Airport Imperial County Airport IPL · 76 miles from the park · regional Directions ↗
- Airport San Bernardino International Airport SBD · 81 miles from the park · international Directions ↗
- Airport General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport MXL · 95 miles from the park · international Directions ↗
- Airport Lake Havasu City Airport HII · 96 miles from the park · regional Directions ↗
Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO Where to Fly: Which Airport for Joshua Tree?
The Closest Regional Airport: Palm Springs (PSP)
Palm Springs International Airport is the most convenient option. It's about 37 miles from the park's South Entrance at Cottonwood, a 45-minute drive. Direct international flights are rare, but connections from Los Angeles or Las Vegas work well and don't take long.
Major International Hubs: Los Angeles and Las Vegas
Los Angeles (LAX) is the go-to airport for travelers coming from France. Plan on 137 to 149 miles from the terminal to the West Entrance, or about 2.5 hours of driving. Getting out of Los Angeles can easily add 30 minutes during rush hour. It's also the natural starting point for a Southern California road trip.
Las Vegas (LAS) is a solid alternative if you're continuing on to the parks of Utah or Nevada. The North Entrance is about 193 miles away, a three-hour drive via I-15 and CA-62.
Ontario (ONT), about 62 miles west of the park, is a smaller but convenient airport. It's less congested than LAX and gives you access to the West Entrance in about 1.25 hours.
Getting to Joshua Tree from France: Nonstop or Connecting Flight
No airline offers a nonstop flight from Paris to Palm Springs. The usual route from France is a Paris to Los Angeles flight, about 11 hours with several airlines offering nonstop service, followed by a night in Los Angeles or an immediate rental-car pickup so you can reach the park the next morning.
If your road trip starts in Las Vegas, you'll connect through another airport or, depending on the season, take a nonstop flight from Paris to Las Vegas. From there, take I-15 south to Barstow, then I-40 east and CA-62 toward Twentynine Palms. The drive takes about three hours.
To choose the best time to visit and plan around peak crowds, check our When to Go page. Remember that admission costs $30 per vehicle. The National Parks Fees & Passes page explains entrance fees and the available passes.
By Car: Distances and Drive Times from Gateway Cities
A car is the only practical way to visit Joshua Tree. Here are the key figures from the main starting points:
| City | Approx. distance | Approx. drive time | Recommended entrance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs | 37 miles | 45 min | Cottonwood (South Entrance) |
| Los Angeles | 143 miles | 2.5 hours | West Entrance (Joshua Tree) |
| San Diego | 137 miles | 2.5 hours | West Entrance or Cottonwood |
| Las Vegas | 193 miles | 3 hours | North Entrance (Twentynine Palms) |
| Phoenix | 267 miles | 4 hours | Cottonwood (I-10) |
From I-10, the Los Angeles to Phoenix route, two exits serve the park: Exit 117 to CA-62 for the North and West Entrances, and Exit 168 for the South Entrance at Cottonwood.
Joshua Tree Entrances
The park has five access points, each suited to a different kind of visit.
West Entrance (Joshua Tree): the main gateway for visitors coming from Los Angeles. It leads directly to iconic areas including Hidden Valley, Skull Rock, and Keys View. This is where you'll find most of the traffic, especially on weekends.
North Entrance (Twentynine Palms): ideal if you're coming from Las Vegas or want to reach the Oasis Visitor Center, the park's main visitor center, which is open every day. It's also a good choice for crossing the park from north to south in a day.
South Entrance (Cottonwood): accessible from I-10 via Exit 168, it serves the quieter, less crowded Cottonwood Spring area. Use it if you're arriving from Palm Springs or Phoenix on I-10.
Black Rock and Indian Cove: two secondary access points via CA-62, used primarily for camping, with a separate reservation required. They don't let you cross the park from end to end.
The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Visitor centers have their own hours, so check nps.gov before you leave.
Getting Around Joshua Tree: Driving, Parking, and Speed Limits
Joshua Tree doesn't have an internal shuttle, so you'll still need a car once you're in the park. For details on driving, parking lots, and parking area by area, see the Getting Around Joshua Tree guide.
Download your GPS maps for offline use before entering the park. Cell service is almost nonexistent inside.
Other Options: Tours and Public Transportation
Don't have a rental car? Several local operators offer bus or shared-van tours from Los Angeles or Palm Springs, generally costing $100 to $150 per person. The drawback is real: schedules are fixed and you'll get only four or five hours in the park. That's enough for a quick overview, but not for a serious visit.
Public transportation doesn't serve any park entrance. There's no bus or train service to the access points.
For nearby lodging in Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, or Palm Springs, our Where to Stay page compares options based on your budget and preferred entrance.
In Summary: The Best Route In Based on Your Starting Point
Arriving from Los Angeles? Take I-10 east to Exit 117, then CA-62 north to the West Entrance. It's the most direct route from LAX.
Coming from Las Vegas? Take I-15 south, then I-40 east, followed by CA-62 toward Twentynine Palms, and enter through the North Entrance.
Passing through Palm Springs? The Cottonwood Entrance via I-10 and Exit 168 is the shortest route from downtown. If you'd rather start at Hidden Valley, head north toward CA-62 and enter through the West Entrance.
In every case, fill up in Yucca Valley, Palm Springs, or Twentynine Palms, since there are no gas stations in the park. Bring at least 2 liters of water per person for the day and download your maps for offline use. Our complete Joshua Tree guide brings together everything you need to plan your trip from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airport should I fly into for Joshua Tree?
Palm Springs International (PSP) is the closest airport, about 37 miles from the South Entrance. For more flight options from France, Los Angeles (LAX) remains the go-to choice, 2.5 hours away. Las Vegas (LAS) also makes sense if your itinerary includes the parks of Utah or Nevada.
How do I get to Joshua Tree from France?
Travel from France most often involves a nonstop flight from Paris to Los Angeles, about 11 hours, followed by a rental car. Plan on 2.5 hours of driving from LAX to the park's West Entrance. You can also start via Las Vegas with a connection.
Is there an admission fee for Joshua Tree National Park?
Yes. It's $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person on foot or by bicycle. The park's annual pass costs $55, and the America the Beautiful pass, valid at all federal national parks, costs $80. For entrance fees and annual passes, see the National Parks Fees & Passes page.
Is Joshua Tree worth visiting?
Joshua Tree is one of a kind: two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, meet here, alongside improbable granite formations and night skies ranked among the darkest in California. For a Southern California road trip or a trip starting in Las Vegas, it's a hard stop to skip.
How do I reach the actual Joshua trees?
Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) grow throughout the park's northern half, above about 2,950 feet in elevation. You'll see them along the main road as soon as you enter through the West or North Entrance. For an especially impressive concentration, the Hidden Valley and Queen Valley areas offer dense stands of these tree yuccas. You'll find their exact distribution on our Map page.