Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Visitor center · Joshua Tree ·

Joshua Tree Visitor Center

Visitor center · Joshua Tree ·

Maps, exhibits, books, souvenirs & info on guided hikes

friendly staff
helpful staff
park information
gift shop
junior ranger program
park maps
clean restrooms
souvenirs
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by Photo Courtesy Philip Falino
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by Corey Jenkins
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by Photo Courtesy Philip Falino
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by Corey Jenkins
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null
Joshua Tree Visitor Center by null

Information

6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252 Get directions

Restroom
Credit card accepted
Debit card accepted
Contactless accepted
Wheelchair accessible entrance

Information

Static Map

6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252 Get directions

+1 760 367 5500
nps.gov
@joshuatreenps
𝕏
@JoshuaTreeNPS

Features

•Restroom
•Credit card accepted
•Debit card accepted
•Contactless accepted
•Wheelchair accessible entrance
•Wheelchair accessible parking lot
•Wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Jan 14, 2026

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2026 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@cntraveler
42,481 Postcards · 5,685 Cities

9 Best Day Trips from Los Angeles | Condé Nast Traveler

"One of the desert gems of America’s parks, Joshua Tree National Park spans nearly 800,000 acres within Southern California’s portion of the Mojave Desert. There’s no wrong way to behold the beauty, whether you’re drawn to rock formations, particular plants, seasonal fauna, or outdoor activities. One sure bet is to head toward the park’s center for a picnic and/or walkabout at mighty Cap Rock, or around Jumbo Rocks where you can check out the giant skeletal Skull Rock. Get acquainted with flora along the Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail, a flat loop through 10 acres of cacti and bushes where something colorful is usually blooming any time of the year. Nature lovers, and especially desert fans, may end up loving Joshua Tree more than any other preserve. If time is tight, the park is fine for a driving tour, though traffic may slow you down during peak summer and holiday weeks. But if you’ve wisely reserved ample time (at least one full day is best), take your pick of activities to engage with the landscape, be it camping (reserve ahead of time), climbing, horseback riding, birding, biking, wildflower viewing, or geology touring." - Maxwell Williams, Krista Simmons

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-day-trips-from-los-angeles
Corey Jenkins
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
@cntraveler
42,481 Postcards · 5,685 Cities

The Best Things to Do in Palm Springs

"One of the desert gems of America’s parks, Joshua Tree National Park spans nearly 800,000 acres within Southern California’s portion of the Mojave Desert. There’s no wrong way to behold the beauty, whether you’re drawn to rock formations, particular plants, seasonal fauna, or outdoor activities. One sure bet is to head toward the park’s center for a picnic and/or walkabout at mighty Cap Rock, or around Jumbo Rocks where you can check out the giant skeletal Skull Rock. Get acquainted with flora along the Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail, a flat loop through 10 acres of cacti and bushes where something colorful is usually blooming any time of the year. Nature lovers, and especially desert fans, may end up loving Joshua Tree more than any other preserve. If time is tight, the park is fine for a driving tour, though traffic may slow you down during peak summer and holiday weeks. But if you’ve wisely reserved ample time (at least one full day is best), take your pick of activities to engage with the landscape, be it camping (reserve ahead of time), climbing, horseback riding, birding, biking, wildflower viewing, or geology touring." - Kelsy Chauvin

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-things-to-do-in-palm-springs
Corey Jenkins
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
@goop
4,111 Postcards · 173 Cities

"Just 45 minutes from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree is at its most majestic at night, when the sky glitters with stars and all you can hear are the yelps of resident hyenas (weirdly romantic). At almost 800,000 acres, the stunning terrain should be experienced by everyone at least once. This geologically unique intersection of the Mojave and Colorado deserts was granted national park status in 1994 and is home to all manner of intricate ecosystems. You can get a feel for Joshua Tree by driving through but we recommend booking a spot at one of nine designated camping grounds. There are also a ton of hiking trails, bird-watching expeditions, rock-climbing oops, and historic tours on offer."

The Palm Springs Guide
Joshua Tree Visitor Center

Explorer M.

Google
The visitors center for Joshua Tree is located in the town of Joshua Tree. The parking lot is behind the building and can get pretty busy, even on a Thursday morning in December. The visitors center has a small area with information along with rangers present to answer questions, along with a gift shop with the usual souvenirs available to purchase. I got a magnet and token for the park.

Rebecca R.

Google
Great place to get the rundown on the trails and other sites in Joshua tree. Theres a little museum with information and a gift shop that sells cute little Knick knacks. Parking is in the back, bathrooms are outside. Chris was nice with the information he provided us.

Mariano R.

Google
The people working at the Joshua tree visitor center were all very friendly and very helpful. Our Daughters took part in the junior ranger program and the ranger that helped them was very nice! Joshua tree was a very nice national park, but we went mid June and it was very hot! Would definitely go back when it’s a little bit cooler outside!

ambika S.

Google
We loved visiting the park, though we picked an extremely hot day! Luckily, you can easily drive through and stop at the key viewpoints. Just be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen—it’s easy to get dehydrated. There are also several short hikes around a mile long if you’re up for a walk!

Peggy F.

Google
Fun and informative. The employee at the counter showed us how to upload the nation parks app to the cloud so we could find tails and info off line! No wifi in the park. Great souvenirs to pick up. Amazing food to go shop attached to the center! Loved it!

Jessica C.

Google
Such a gorgeous place! So many great views. You can definitely let loose and be adventurous with climbing rocks. Our trip was super spontaneous, so we weren't fully prepared as far as bringing snacks and food. They do have restrooms here and there. Definitely well kept. We went during November, plenty of sun but not hot. I'd say it be safe to bring a light sweater

Utsav Sinha (.

Google
Physically far away from the park. Really small visitor center but has all the souvenir collection. No auditorium/mini screen sections informing about the park. Instead, we have park rangers giving out pamphlets and sitting on booths answering the same set of questions to every visitor - "what should we do today". Out of cottonwood, this and Black Rock, I liked Black Rock visitor center the most. Uncrowded and has the souvenirs.

Heidi B.

Google
There are a lot of cool things to see in Joshua Tree. Two or three days at tops are all you really need to spend there, it is indeed a desert. Make sure to check out the back country and some of the cool places they recommend on the map at the Visitors Center. STARGAZING
google avatar

Yoandra V.

Yelp
I loved this visitor center!! This visitor center comes with a log where you can check in with who you are and why you are visiting the park. There is also a park ranger present who provides information regarding camping, hiking, do's and don'ts and upcoming tours that they provide. They also have a mini exhibit of the kinds of things you'll find at the park like trees, creatures and flora. There is also a gift shop where the funds go directly back to the park. I purchased some patches and postcards. From the park ranger: - note the sunset and sunrise times, so you won't get lost after dark - bring food/water and adjust clothing to reflect the weather - if its summer do not do hiking after 9am unless you are adapted to extremely hot weather. - because my family and I are novice hikers, I am only limited to the easy hikes (I recommend baker dam trail - has a bit of everything) - check the NPS app so you are up to date on any trail closures, and ranger events Have lots of fun!
google avatar

Richard N.

Yelp
If you're close to Palm Springs, CA do yourself a huge favor and seek out this National Park! Always wanted to come here and the opportunity presented itself this last California trip! We planned for a dusk entrance so we ate at the Joshua Tree Saloon before we drove to Geology Tour Rd. We checked prior at the visitor center what's the place to see the stars from best? The Ranger said Geological Tour Road so that's what we mapped and drove too. In October it was cool in the evening, so bring a sweatshirt or light jacket. Highly recommend the star gazing! I hear many go for the sunsets! We did dusk it was excellent on our clear night 10/14/2023! Make your own memories and iPhones will capture amazing pictures on a 3 second aperture setting capturing the star light. Just keep your phone steady. Great time!
google avatar

Tim R.

Yelp
Another wonderful National Park. Beautiful drive through the park and excellent visitor centers. Got our Park Passport stamped!
google avatar

Quintin E.

Yelp
The Joshua Tree Visitor Center (west) is the place to be especially during a beautiful time of year like Spring. The crowd was in non stop flow when we stopped in. You get a museum like exhibit display of what to expect and can receive some great information, pamphlets and pay entrance fees as well as explore their bookstore/gift shop, partake in the cafe and use the restroom if needed. Some of the other visitor center also have water/water refill stations and picnic tables. The east visitor center in Twentynine Palms has EV charging, but both have relatively spacious lots for parking. I know there's a south center as well (Cottonwood Visitors Center), but it doesn't have an exact address (you can find it off Pinto Rd in Twentynine Palms off the I-10). The service at this center is pretty personable, but the gift shop is very limited if you're hoping to bring something back for someone. I did buy some magnets and postcards I'll give out throughout the year. Love that you can purchase a pass for the year or even lifetime if you're a veteran, senior or in the military. Students under a certain age (4th grade level) can receive a free pass for the year and teens and children 15 or younger get in for free. There are various tiers and perks that do make it worth the fees plus EIGHTY percent goes to helping persevere the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park.
google avatar

Destiney S.

Yelp
Sooo busy!!! Try to avoid peak hours at this visitor center. It also has a small-ish parking lot but you can park on the street. It has a nice area of exhibits and a small gift shop. I don't know why but all the gift shops here for Joshua Tree are real limited on items. Lost of other NP gift shops have lots of items for their park but JT is very neglected. Kinda disappointed but I came mostly to get my passbook stamped and participate in the Junior Ranger program. (If you're an adult and don't have kids, I still recommend participating. It's really fun!)
google avatar

Kimberley K.

Yelp
Joshua Tree Visitor Center is an untapped resource for adventurers (ME) and thrill seekers (NOT ME) alike. This center provides a wealth of knowledge, resources, and experiences that cater to anyone looking to explore the unique landscape of Joshua Tree National Park. As soon as I set foot inside, I was greeted by knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff who provided guidance on the best hiking trails, rock climbing spots, and camping options in the area. This is exact what I was looking for. As a single women going on hikes alone, I prefer to walk on well mapped out trails where I can be sure to find other humans. The rangers and guides were able to also adjust my hike for level of difficulty and length of time. This center also offers a range of educational programs and exhibits that provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the park's ecology, geology, and history. One of the center's biggest draws is its extensive collection of climbing guides and maps. The park is known for its world-class rock climbing opportunities, and the center is the perfect place to start for those looking to tackle the park's challenging routes.
google avatar

Brianna L.

Yelp
Pros: * Good amount of parking * Good variety of souvenirs and knickknacks * Bathrooms in cultural center * Friendly and helpful staff Cons: *N/A Extra: * You can buy your annual pass here * They have stamps available for your passport
google avatar

Jennifer N.

Yelp
I've visited a decent amount of NP visitor centers and this one was by far the worst. I had entered the park at the Cottonwood entrance earlier that day and drove out of the park in via the western Joshua Tree exit. The visitor center itself is located about 4 miles outside the park. After an awe inspiring day, I was looking forward to the visitor center on my way outside the park. I always enjoy them at other National parks and usually impressed with the park information, plant and wildlife info, knowledgeable rangers and unique gift shop. None of that was here. In fact, not a ranger in site-it was staffed by some disinterested teenagers and the exhibits were small and disappointing. I realize that there is so much more to the park but after having some pretty amazing NP visitor center experiences, this really fell flat. It was small, dingy and kind of depressing. Cottonwood was a much nicer visitor center. Skip this unless you're wanting to grab a map. I saw there is a newer visitor center in Twentynine Palms, but it's a bit out of the way when leaving the park and trying to head back to Palm Springs like we were. Joshua Tree is an amazing, special place and it deserves a better visitor center at its busiest entrance.
google avatar

Manish C.

Yelp
For a National Park like Joshua Tree, it's visitor center is very lacking compared to others within the jurisdiction of the National Park Service (NPS). It's as if no effort was put in to enhance the visitor experience. It's small with limited exhibits, a tiny ranger station, and a gift shop. There is no introductory film, which I feel is essential to a National Parks visit experience...even more obscure historic sites and national monuments within NPS jurisdiction have films and/or a more robust variety of exhibits. I visited Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona a few days later and despite being virtually unheard of as an attraction, it had a film and better exhibits/signage, and seemed more ready to accommodate visitors. I also stopped by the Twentynine Palms Visitor Center about 10 miles down the road, which was more modern, larger, and history-oriented, but didn't really introduce you to the national park, and also lacked a film despite being more spacious than the visitor center in the town of Joshua Tree. I'm glad other reviewers have pointed out the shortcomings of the visitor center experience, as they are generally the first impression that tourists and visitors get to NPS sites. While my review is in no reflection of Joshua Tree National Park itself, the visitor center experience definitely ranks near the bottom of the many I've been to. As a side note, if you don't have the time to venture into the national park, you can view plenty of trees within the town of Joshua Tree itself.
google avatar

Courtenay O.

Yelp
A sign on the door instructed visitors to use one of four port a potties outside. They had not been inspected since 11-28-21. They had no toilet paper. I called the 888 # to report the deficiencies. Then my family and I went inside to purchase souvenirs. The cashier apologized, and said we could have used the restrooms inside. I told her we follow directions & had already used the ones outside. This was a nice little visitor center - aside from the "restroom debacle" we encountered. Rangers answered questions for visitors and junior rangers. Displays and maps were readily available. Souvenirs were nice (got my pin, ornament, and postcards). Tee shirts were pricey ($30-$50 for the ones we liked and did not buy). Next door we purchased sandwiches & a salad & a canned drink. They were good and moderately priced. Cashiers inside this snack bar were as sweet and efficient as those in the Visitors' Center.
google avatar

Travis T.

Yelp
Before you head down the road to the West Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, make a quick stop at this visitor center. It's on the way and offers a lot of information about the park itself. There are rangers on hand to answer any questions you may have and paper maps for you to grab. There is also a gift shop if you want any keepsakes to take home. The visitor center is open every day and serves as a main gateway into the park.
google avatar

John D.

Yelp
Potent Portables One of three Visitor's Centers (VC) for the massive Joshua Tree National Park and the one you'll most likely be accessing if you're coming in thru Joshua Tree. This has to be the least impressive VC we've ever visited, as it's small, cramped and is housed in what appears to be a portable of some sort?? Def wasn't a good first impression of Joshua Tree National Park. The Good: *A few informational displays about the park. *Pay your entrance fee to the park or purchase an annual pass here. *Restrooms *Small gift shop *Wi-Fi *National Park Passport stamp *Several places to eat, get gas and a large non-NPS run gift shop located just a short walk/drive surrounding it. The Meh: *Def one of the smallest VCs we've visited at a National Park. *Not actually located in the Park, but a few miles outside the park. The Ugly: *The Restroom situation is sorta strange... They have a sign saying "No Restrooms due to Covid" on the door which leads you to the port-o-potties in the parking lot, but when you go inside there's actual bathrooms that are open and operational. So not sure if they're purposely misleading or just too lazy to take down the signage?? TLDR: Cramped and very not impressive VC. Go to the Oasis VC just a few miles east in Twentynine Palms instead.
google avatar

Victor H.

Yelp
Its clean, organized, with some tour and tables that explain history, activities, and provide info to tourists interested into checking out Joshua Tree National Park. The shop is quite nice with lots of variety of items for sale. It also has a great coffee shop for drinks and snacks. Outside the Visitor Center there are maps and info on hiking trails + length + time for hiking. I'd say its a pretty awesome visitor center : )
google avatar

Susan S.

Yelp
Was really pretty they had all these cool boulders , we were on a time crunch and had only a day , I would love to come back and explore the area .
google avatar

Ivy S.

Yelp
There are two visitors centers for Joshua Tree. One at the East entrance and one at the West entrance. This review will encapsulate both because we visited both. My family, loves a visitor center. Cant get enough of them! Just a heads up. If you are trying to earn your JR Ranger badge you have to fill out the pamphlet from the visitor center and then turn it in to a real Park Ranger and they review the pamphlet for accuracy. Its serious business and we take our ranger status seriously. Once approved you must, must, take the JR Ranger Oath. The East side visitor center has what is known as the Oasis Mara. Its real life desert oasis. Its been used for lots of years by lots of different societies as a water access point. There is no real grounds keeping happening so there truly isn't much to see except for a massive amount of palm tree leaves. We purchased all of our lovely shirts, Joshua tree seeds, magnets, key chains, lip gloss and other Joshua Tree National Park tchotchkes at the East side visitors center. Joshua Tree has great T-shirts. Once your at the West entrance we were able to complete our JR Ranger pamphlets and get our new little Joshua Tree Jr Ranger Badges. This by far is one of the hardest pamphlets yet. We earned this one. We truly did. This location is the busiest. So many people start from this side and go into the park. I guess we went backwards and I would recommend this option. Don't skip the Visitor Center(s).

Zac F.

Yelp
This place is great! Not only did I find some excellent souvenirs, but I was extremely grateful for all the help I received. Elaine Harris was a total star for me. She took the time to answer my questions, which was great, but she also showed me how to Utilize the National Parks app for my phone. Elaine let me know that I could download trail maps and even be able to get directions offline!! Wow. I'm thankful for the excellent experience visiting both the Joshua Tree Visitor Center and the National Park
google avatar

Bridget W.

Yelp
As far as National Park Visitor's Centers go, this one is actually worth checking out. Some of the friendliest park rangers I've ever met work here and are jumping at the chance to give you a free map, answer questions, and give you their excellent recommendations on things to see at Joshua Tree (and the best places to park). I also liked the gigantic billboard of hiking trails with descriptions they had right out front the building. It's also worth noting that the merchandise for sale to benefit the park is surprisingly a step above the norm. I also liked how the Visitor Center is actually outside the park itself, which made visiting a breeze.
google avatar

Jeff L.

Yelp
The JT Visitor Center is a great way to start any trip into Joshua Tree. It's fairly small, so you can go through it in a half hour or less, depending on how much time you want to spend looking at the various exhibits. The Visitor Center is staffed with several park rangers or employees that can help guide your journey through the National Park. Especially if you've never been, it's a great place to start and consult them on what the most popular areas to visit within the park may be. Finally, there is a gift shop attached, and who doesn't love a good gift shop?!? The kids were really excited about this. Again, it is small and they carry the normal type things you would expect to see at a National Park gift shop. I bought a trucker style hat for $20 and it was perfect to ward off the sun from my face in the park! This is a must visit for anyone that is going to Joshua Tree National Park!
google avatar

Allie P.

Yelp
I really enjoyed my visit to the JT Visitor Center. Its small, but it's awesome. The staff is was friendly and informative. There's a cool stamp you can use to mark that you've been there on whatever paper document you have. Once you go through the informative section, there's the cool gift shop portion! Cool JT t-shirts, animal things, and to this very day, I regret not purchasing those things along with the seeds of a Joshua Tree to see if it would really do anything (though it does take many many years for the trees to actually get to the size we see in the desert). Did you know that sloths used to carry the seeds of the JT around where they'd drop here n' there and thus more trees would grow?
google avatar

Angelique R.

Yelp
The Joshua Tree Visitor center is a nice place to stop and get some park info, a snack, souvenir, or use the inside restrooms. There is a small museum and gift shop. There is also another gift shop across the street. It was super hot so make sure you drink a lot of water and if you decide to continue on to the Joshua Tree National Park it's about a 15 min drive down Park Blvd and $30.00 per car for a 7 day pass.
google avatar

Andrea D.

Yelp
We love visiting the National Parks and I hate to write this review, but this has been bugging me. We visited the Visitor Center after Memorial Day weekend. There were 2 rangers sitting across the room from each other and they were chatting. We were patiently waiting for them to finish their chat so one of them could help us out. Once they stopped, we asked which hikes she recommended and she basically highlighted all of the trails on the map without explaining what is special about each of them, except that it was a short hike easy for kids. The ranger gave my 3 year old a Junior guide book and told us that once we were done exploring, we could come back and get a badge. After she finished helping us out, they couldn't wait and immediately jumped back into their conversation (like we interrupted them) while we were still standing in front of her and didn't even get the chance the move. My 3 year old found some of the plants and wildlife in the book during our hikes and we took pictures of them. After a few hikes, we returned and my husband brought her to get the junior badge. The ranger flipped through the book and saw nothing was filled out. She asked how old our daughter was and he told her that she is 3. The ranger responded and said nothing was filled out so they couldn't give her a badge. I'm a little puzzled on the expectation for a 3 year old to write sentences and fill out the book when she can't even write? If the expectation was for us (the parents) to fill it out maybe she should've told us, but I also feel that it also defeats the purpose. So my daughter left sad and disappointed. From all the National Park visitors centers we've been to we've always had great experiences with the park rangers, and I really wish we had a better experience here. We left here very unimpressed and disappointed. A star because their bathrooms are clean and this is the lowest rating I can give.
google avatar

Tina H.

Yelp
The visitor center is full of great information! Rangers are super friendly and very informative. They give you the whole run down and the best hiking tails to visit. Joshua tree is a must see! Such beautiful scenery and amazing photo opportunities. My fam and I love coming here!
google avatar

Jeffrey H.

Yelp
My friends and I came here to buy the annual pass for US National Parks for $80, but they were sold out of them here. However, we were still able to get them at the entrance. The staff was super friendly. We got a free map of the park, which was invaluable, as there's absolutely no signal within the park. We also got some cute magnets and postcards as souvenirs. They also sold cute desert themed stuff animals and t-shirts. Prices were fair - a magnet was $4.50 and a postcard was $0.50-$3.00. This is a nice pit stop before entering the park. They have a quick grab-and-go cafe next door to refill your stomach. They also have a no-brand gas station across the street to refill your gas. Regardless, just come here for a free map!
google avatar

Jo S.

Yelp
The Visitor Center is a must stop before you start your visit through Joshua Tree Park! You can pay the $30 fee here, get that map, you'll need it! Also, get the latest updates before you start exploring. There are some souvenirs you can grab now or upon exiting. Small visitor center, but it leads your way to the great desert paradise that Joshua Tree Park is, so enjoy your visit!
google avatar

Theresa Renee W.

Yelp
The staff was highly helpful with info on flyers and a map given after you pay for day or for year. I choose the year to take advantage of a great deal as if you visit 3 times it pays for itself. $30.00 per car one visit $80.00 for year folks in vechile 4 is covered Since buying pass I have been here 3 times already it is so worth it. Bathrooms are available and spotless. The staff is helpful and friendly as can be. There is so much about this national oark to explore.
google avatar

Shayla B.

Yelp
This visitor center is a great first stop if you're visiting Joshua Tree National Park for the very first time. The rangers are super informative and will help you map out your hikes and/or explorations by the amount of time that you have to spend. I had a little over 5 hours to spend that day, and the ranger who assisted me organized the perfect spots to visit from first to last. Most of the stops that she suggested were ones that I had already researched ahead of time and was already planning on visiting once I got to the park. I was able to stop at Hidden Valley, Keys View, Skull Rock, Arch Rock, the Cholla Cactus Gardens, and Ryan Mountain all within the allotted time. The ranger actually suggested a few more stops if I had time, but I think I covered a good amount of ground during the short time that I was there. I really wanted to hike Ryan Mountain but the ranger suggested against it. It's a short hike but is considered strenuous and not recommended in the high heat. She said that if I had started at 6:30 am that it would have been better. It was a little past 8 am and I thought that I'd still take my chances. However, after perusing the park for a few hours, it got really hot and I knew that I wouldn't have the time or the will do complete the hike. But hey, there's always next time...?! I'm really grateful for the information that I received from the ranger that I spoke with. I can't remember her name, but she was so cheery at 8 am in the morning and seemed even more excited than I was to explore the park. How about them apples? I finally purchased an American the Beautiful Pass here (not sure why it took me so long?) and I used it to enter into the park. The standard vehicle entrance fee is $30 and can be paid right at the visitor's center. The fee is good for 7 days in the park. The center is also stocked with tons of souvenirs, professional maps, and reading material about the park. They'll give you a map when you go inside. The restrooms were nice and clean and parking was aplenty at that time of the morning. I feel like if I hadn't stopped here first, I probably wouldn't have been able to hit all of the spots that I wanted to. This is an excellent visitor's center and I'd definitely recommend that you visit before entering the park to map out your plans, especially if it's your first time visiting.
google avatar

Gail U.

Yelp
Clean restrooms to your right ss soon as you rnter plus National Park stamp station. Souvenirs of all sorts, post cards, music cds, pins, bags, hats, stuffed animals and more. Nice to be in ac as ouyside in June is scorching hot furing daylight hours.
google avatar

Tony H.

Yelp
The Joshua Tree visitor center is a great spot to get information about the park before entering. They have free maps, and the rangers offer lots of suggestion on spots within the park to check out. There's also a gift shop to buy souvenirs and you can also purchase your park pass $30 for the standard 1 vehicle pass that's good for a week, or $80 for the annual pass that's valid at all 61 national parks and is even valid for national forest areas like near by San Jacinto.
google avatar

Santi M.

Yelp
Employee there was not very friendly. Probably shouldn't be working at the center if they don't want to interact with people. Gift shop was cute though.
google avatar

Lenny I.

Yelp
Beautiful California Park. This park is about 1 1/2 hour north of Palm Springs on California Hwy 62. Absolutely beautiful and peaceful, this park has 2 desert ecosystem meeting, the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Joshua tree park offers many camping sites, ranger site seeing tours and amazing rock climbing, for camping make sure to book early and online, don't expect coming to the park to find a spot, this park is highly popular mostly because of the jumbo rocks around. Jumbo Rocks and pegmatites around the park make a perfect spot for free climbers and rope climbers, beautiful to walk around also at the many trails around the park. Wild life is fully present here so bring your camera for some amazing shots. There is entrance fee also (30.00 per vehicle) they will provide you with a park map and a 7 day pass to enjoy the park. Please visit their website for more info; https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
google avatar

Sarina K.

Yelp
The volunteer Chris was incredibly helpful! If you are not a seasoned Joshua Tree goer like me, highly recommend stopping at the visitor center before setting out to explore for the weekend. If you want to purchase any Joshua Tree memorabilia, get them from here since the proceeds go to Joshua tree park conservation. If you need to buy a park permit, buy it at any of the entrances into the park. You can also buy it at the end of your day when leaving the park if you came in early. Is there anyone out there that has been wanting to go to Joshua tree for years and finally made it out in 2020? It. Was. The. Year. Some "Mom" Tips: -Carry Sanitizer (duh in 2020) but still, bathrooms don't have soap/water and bring some tissues to keep napkins on hand in case. -Carry lots of water in the car, nowhere has places to really refill throughout the day. -Carry lots of snacks/pack meals to munch on from place to place. When we arrived at the volunteer center Friday evening, we were met by Chris who helped us plan our Saturday and Sunday in Joshua Tree and we was the best. TIPS FROM THE CENTER: *Hidden Valley and Barker Dam have limited parking so lots fill up quickly. Make these your first stops and get there early. * Chris suggested to start our day at Keys View, even though everyone says to come at sunset. Both are beautiful, but the view of the sunrise was peaceful, pure, magic. *Geology Tour - If you have a 4 or all Wheel drive car, enjoy it, but plan to do it in the afternoon to avoid crowds at other park spots. *Skull Rock - Plan to squeeze this anywhere in your day, it's more of a visit and then leave to explore other places so don't stress about crowds here. Plenty of parking along the road. *Arch Rock, (more low key of the spots) it's located at White Tank Campground which isn't really advertised anywhere. Overall, I'm hooked and can't wait to come again to explore the rest of what I couldn't squeeze in this trip, the volunteers here helped plan as much as possible with the time. Thank you guys!
google avatar

Grant C.

Yelp
Small but nice visitors center and gift shop. The exhibits on the Joshua trees and rock formations were very educational. I learned some really cool things about the plants, animals, and rock formations that answered a lot of my questions about the park. I would also recommend buying vehicle access in the gift shop to speed up driving into the park. The gift shop was small and mighty with joshua tree memorabilia. I love the mug I bought!
google avatar

Juan F.

Yelp
If its your first time at Joshua National Park, I highly recommend you stop here like we did. The Visitor Center is a must stop before you start your visit through Joshua Tree Park. There is helpful staff that can answer all your questions and get that map (you'll need it since reception is spotty). There is also a small cafe on the side for a coffee and quick bites.
google avatar

Marcus F.

Yelp
Nice little informative center about the national park. Most people buy park passes here, and perhaps grab some logo merchandise. There are hands on, ranger lead, learning sessions here. When we stopped by there were doing a presentation on local fossils.Overall it's a nice place to check out before entering the park. - You don't have to buy your day pass here, but it will save you about 6 car lengths of line at the main gate as you get directed to use the pass lane. - Very small gift shop, however if you walk across the street to Coyote Corner you'll find a bunch of Park logo merchandise there.
google avatar

James W.

Yelp
Keep our National Parks beautiful everyone!! A gem of a place so close to Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park has a perfect protected ecosystem for these wonder trees named by the Morman people after their prophet.
google avatar

Nick P.

Yelp
The worst visitor center you will ever find yourself at. I do NOT recommend coming here if you plan on visiting Joshua Tree NP. Drive the extra 15 minutes down to the OASIS VISITOR CENTER. They have actual public restrooms there and NOT Porta Potties (ew). You're not going to have to park on a random gravel lot or have to deal with the LONG line getting into Joshua Tree NP. Avoid this visitor center if you can!
google avatar

Ted C.

Yelp
The visitor center is a great friendly gateway to the park as a whole and I don't know what the other entrance looks like but I would come here if you're wondering what to do or what good spots to check out. The ranger and souvenirs are packed on one side and there's a lot of information on the park and its history with some pretty cool exhibits and answers a lot of questions, like 'What is a Joshua Tree and why is it called that?' I asked the ranger for some nice day hike trails because that's the time we had available and he pointed out a few highlights nearby as well as some others further out if we had time. Definitely a wealth of information but for free!
google avatar

Bert G.

Yelp
This is a great place to spend some time before entering the Park. We received a very detailed briefing from a park ranger who highlighted certain popular areas on a map, which he gave to us. Excellent service. There are many interesting books and other information about Joshua Tree National Park, as well as the usual (and expected) assortment of coffee mugs, t-shirts, fridge magnets, etc. The visitor's center also has some very well-done displays of local flora and fauna. Be sure to spend some time here on your way to the Park.
google avatar

Stephanie C.

Yelp
It was crazy packed when I went here. Probably because it was the Sunday of a long weekend? The parking lot was full, but people come in and out pretty quickly since this visitor center is pretty small so we didn't really have to wait for a spot to open up despite the lot being full of cars and people. Stop by to get some info if you're not sure what you want to see in the park. There's a map of the park and another newsletter with a guide to trails based on length and location in the park. The rangers can also give you some helpful tips or suggestions based on the current weather and how much time you have. I picked up a magnet here, and also ran across the street (a bit dangerous to jaywalk on) to pick up some more souvenirs. There are clean restrooms inside, which is a plus! They also have the cancellation stamps, if you're a National Park Passport enthusiast like me!
google avatar

Olivia S.

Yelp
The scenic views of the trees & smooth stones are amazing here! My friend & I did the Nature Trail and Ryan Mountain hikes. We also stopped by the cactus garden as well as Skull Rock! Be prepared w/ water & a full tank of gas - things here are pretty spread apart so what looks like a short distance really isn't!
google avatar

Martin L.

Yelp
Great visitor center w accompanying gift shop. Started your Joshua Tree adventure here. Staff is friendly and helpful. Kids even get mini wood badges.
google avatar

Daniel S.

Yelp
Very friendly staff, and frankly, I learned a lot about wildlife and the surrounding Joshua Tree National Park. I highly recommend all folks who have never been here to visit, ask questions, get free maps, and then explore the beautiful horizons.
google avatar

Aileen R.

Yelp
Located at Park Boulevard and the 62. It is a great place to renew you annual national park pass. We did upon entering the visitor center since it was time for a renewal. At the visitor center you will find a paved parking lot for about 20 vehicles. The visitor center opens promptly at 8:00 a.m. since we got there a few minutes before. The visitor center has many souvenirs and trinkets to bring home to love ones or something for yourself. They had many deserts book here which were pretty cool. They had the desert solitaire by Edward Abbey. I would like to read this book someday. The Ranger was also very nice and helpful. Do not forget to pick up a map or if you have any questions to ask the ranger at the visitor center. If you forget the map you will have another opportunity at the park entrance.
google avatar

Joshua C.

Yelp
A small visitors center but with all of the information and supplies you'll need for enjoying a trip into Joshua Tree National Park.

Michael F.

Yelp
Poor guidance and service. The guide was unenthusiastic and not very helpful in the bare essence of her job. Annoyed. Offered nothing. Then we selected merchandise went to check out the kid was bent over the counter scrolling on his phone and in tune with the culture- annoyed that we dare bother him to do his job and let me pay for my merchandise. Shameful
google avatar

Mary Lou S.

Yelp
Great place to stop and get info before heading into the park. There's a little gift shop inside the visitor center and restrooms, too. The staff there is very knowledgeable about the park and can answer your questions about the park. I went ahead and purchased a pass for any national park for $80. It's available to anyone 62 years or older. It was either $20 or $30 for just a day pass for Joshua Tree, so that was a good deal. Plus, when we entered the park, we bypassed the long line and just showed the pass as we drove by.
google avatar

Michael C.

Yelp
We visited the Joshua Tree Visitor Center before spending two days exploring Joshua Tree National Park. We spent about 15 minutes chatting with Ranger Marc, where he assessed our abilities and made a series of recommendations to maximize our epic adventure. He recommended a path of travel, shared his favorite spots, and explained efforts the National Park Service is taking to preserve the park. He also supplied a list of hikes that aren't included in the park guide.
google avatar

Joanna F.

Yelp
This spot offered free maps and info. Very nice staff and clean restrooms! Perfect activity for families during Covid.
google avatar

Joshua W.

Yelp
Typical visitor center. Stickers, shirts, and toys. They have a free learning section as well. Located right before the park itself. Pics are from inside the park.