Separated by mountains and opposite-but-complementary vibes, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree are a perfect pairing for a getaway that mixes poolside unwinds and high desert adventure. Together, they’re a delightfully disorienting combination of 50s glam and real desert experiences. Bonus: Palm Springs is an under-two-hour drive from LA and has great flight connections from everywhere else so while it may feel a million miles away from everyday life, it’s actually delightfully easy to get to.
I like each destination on its own, but for me, the real magic comes from spending time in both places on the same trip. Even if you just have a long weekend, you can make it work.Â
Palm Springs
If you’re coming by plane or driving from elsewhere in California, Palm Springs is going to be your natural first stop. Palm Springs and its surrounding cities including Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and Indian Wells are all surrounded by dramatic desert but with their golf courses, pools, misted restaurant patios, and air conditioned museums and shops, bring serious oasis cool to a vacation, even in the hottest summer months. And when it’s truly scorching, you can always hop the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which whisks you up 8,500 feet to the cooler wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
Palm Springs has been a go-to destination for Southern Californians since it became a movie location and then a popular Hollywood star retreat in the early twentieth century. I love how everyone-friendly the Palm Springs area is–it’s great for LGBTQ+ travelers, families, art lovers, tennis fanatics, and anyone looking for dry heat and sunshine to soothe their bodies and souls.
Where to Stay
- In Palm Springs: Holiday House is a little boutique hotel with big Palm Springs energy–think midcentury modern architecture, cool design touches and art by big names like David Hockney. Rooms have personal touches like custom textiles and art, and the pool is ringed by chaise lounges and big umbrellas for basking bliss.
- Nearby: The Omni Rancho Las Palmas in nearby Rancho Mirage has everything, including six restaurants, a fantastic golf course, adult pools plus a pretty amazing family-friendly water park, and a spa with more than 50 treratment options.
- Unique and affordable: Retro rules at Orbit In, a nine-room refreshed vintage motel. Its central location makes it easy to walk to the shops and restaurants of Palm Canyon Drive, but maybe you just want to hang by the pool and soak up the sun and the desert and mountain views.
Joshua Tree
About an hour east of Palm Springs sits the town and neighboring national park of Joshua Tree. The town, which hugs both sides of the 29 Palms Highway, is a laid-back mix of vintage shops (the thrifting is top notch here), cafes, art studios and galleries, and cafes and restaurants. Nearby Pioneertown–an Old West movie set that has real shops and restaurants–is home to live-music pilgrimage point Pappy and Harriets.
Whatever you do, don’t skip Joshua Tree National Park. This smaller park is easy to navigate and has a nice mix of quick stops like overlooks, the Cholla Cactus Garden, and cool-and-close-to-the-road spots like Skull Rock. My favorite shorter walks and hikes include Hidden Valley and nearby Wall Street Mill and Wonderland Wash. The latter is a cool example of one of the ruins of an old ranch and mine. To deal with the heat, hike early or late in the day (early is better in my book because it’s cooler).
There’s a cool poster for sale at the visitors centers (there are four visitor centers; checking out any one of them will help you find some great activity options) that says “half the park is after dark” and it’s so true. The national park is an International Dark Night Sky location, and there’s some spectacular stargazing, particularly at Quail Springs, Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, and Ryan Mountain. Bonus: in the desert, many of the animals are nocturnal (because of the heat), so night can be an exciting time for wildlife spotting too.
Where to stay
- Luxe glamping: At AutoCamp Joshua Tree, staying connected to the outdoors doesn’t mean sacrificing creature comforts. The Airstream Trailers that dot the property are kitted out with boutique-hotel-level bathrooms, big beds with luxe linens, and private patios complete with firepits and Adirondack chairs.
- Local living: The 14 vacation rental suites at The Bungalows feel like little houses in the desert. Big picture windows offer Joshua tree views (like views of the actual trees), and since you’re on the property of a retreat center, you get pool and hot tub access along with select classes like soundbaths and yoga.
- Most affordable: Field Station in nearby Yucca City took an existing motel and turned it into hip gathering places for outdoorsy types. Rooms here are big, with plenty of room for groups and tons of storage space for climbing gear, bikes, and everything else you come with. And the pool, outdoor games area, and firepit are the perfect places to make new friends.
Make it a Road Trip
From Los Angeles, the drive is about two hours. From San Francisco, it’s about an eight-hour drive.
