National park in California

Joshua Tree National Park Travel Guide

Joshua Tree National Park travel guide: interactive map, live weather, best time to visit, things to do and nearby places.

☀️ 102°F now🕔 4:46 PM local📅 Best: March, April, May, June, September and October

Active alerts for Joshua Tree National Park

⚠️Sun, Aug 23: extreme heat, 103°F (40°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Mon, Aug 24: extreme heat, 102°F (39°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Tue, Aug 25: extreme heat, 104°F (40°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Wed, Aug 26: extreme heat, 104°F (40°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Thu, Aug 27: extreme heat, 104°F (40°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Fri, Aug 28: extreme heat, 105°F (41°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.

Derived from the forecast. No official alert feed is wired for this country yet.

Summary

Joshua Tree National Park is a national park in California. Joshua Tree National Park is a US national park known for desert rock formations and night skies.

Right now it is 102°F (39°C) in Joshua Tree National Park with clear sky. It feels like 94°F. Today runs from 84°F to 103°F. Chance of precipitation is 1%. Sightseeing conditions score 6.8/10 - fair - plan around the weather.

The best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park is March, April, May, June, September and October. The climate is semi-arid. January, July and August tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 100°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 43°F.

The closest major airport is San Diego International Airport (SAN), about 108 mi away. Nearby highlights include Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Coronado Beach, Disneyland Resort and Hollywood Sign.

In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 103°F is 5.6°F above the 98°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 7 AM to 10 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Joshua Tree National Park today at 10/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.

Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.

Map of Joshua Tree National Park

Interactive map with nearby places. Switch between street, terrain and satellite views.

Coordinates: 33°52′24.2″N 115°54′3.6″W (33.8734, -115.901)

Weather in Joshua Tree National Park right now

☀️
102°F
Clear sky · feels like 94°F
Humidity16%
Wind16 mph SSW
Gusts19 mph
UV index3.6 · Moderate
Cloud cover0%
Pressure926 hPa
VisibilityExcellent · 55 mi
Air quality25 · Good
Sunrise6:11 AM
Sunset7:20 PM
Moon🌔 Waxing gibbous · 78%

Wear sunglasses and use SPF 30+ if you are outside for long.

Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 4:46 PM, Aug 23 local time.

⚠️Sun, Aug 23: extreme heat, 103°F (40°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Mon, Aug 24: extreme heat, 102°F (39°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Tue, Aug 25: extreme heat, 104°F (40°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Wed, Aug 26: extreme heat, 104°F (40°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Thu, Aug 27: extreme heat, 104°F (40°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.
⚠️Fri, Aug 28: extreme heat, 105°F (41°C). Hydrate and avoid midday sun.

Weekend outlook

Sunday, Aug 23

☀️ 103° / 84°

Clear sky · 1% rain · wind 16 mph

Saturday, Aug 29

🌤️ 104° / 85°

Mainly clear · 2% rain · wind 20 mph

Quick facts about Joshua Tree National Park

TypeNational park
StateCalifornia
CountryUnited States
ContinentNorth America
Coordinates33°52′24.2″N 115°54′3.6″W (33.8734, -115.901)
Established1994
Known fordesert rock formations and night skies
Local time4:46 PM (UTC-07:00)
Best monthsMarch, April, May, June, September and October
ClimateSemi-arid

Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park

Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Joshua Tree National Park.

Best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park

Go in March, April, May, June, September and October. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.

Hardest months: January, July and August - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.

January★★★★
February★★★★
March★★★★★
April★★★★★
May★★★★★
June★★★★
July★★★★
August★★★★
September★★★★
October★★★★★
November★★★★
December★★★★

What to pack, what to skip

Pack for the next 7 days
  • Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
  • Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
Worth avoiding
  • Avoid long hikes after mid-morning; start at dawn or leave it for a cooler day.
  • If your dates are flexible, avoid January, July and August - historically the least comfortable months here.

Airports near Joshua Tree National Park

Closest airports with IATA codes and distances.

AirportCodeDistanceServes
San Diego International AirportSAN108 miSan Diego
Los Angeles International AirportLAX144 miLos Angeles
Harry Reid International AirportLAS158 miLas Vegas
Phoenix Sky Harbor International AirportPHX226 miPhoenix

Explore Joshua Tree National Park

Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.

Travel Guide for related places

Frequently asked questions

Where is Joshua Tree National Park?

Joshua Tree National Park is a national park in California. Its coordinates are 33.8734, -115.901. It lies in North America.

What is the weather like in Joshua Tree National Park right now?

It is currently 102°F (39°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 16% and wind is 16 mph.

When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park?

March, April, May, June, September and October offer the most comfortable conditions in Joshua Tree National Park, which has a semi-arid climate. January, July and August are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.

What time zone is Joshua Tree National Park in?

Joshua Tree National Park observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 4:46 PM.

What is the nearest airport to Joshua Tree National Park?

The closest airports are San Diego International Airport (SAN), 108 mi away, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 144 mi away and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), 158 mi away.

What are the top things to do in Joshua Tree National Park?

Popular options include Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Coronado Beach, Disneyland Resort, Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica State Beach and Las Vegas Strip.

Related articles

Data sources and methodology

Place dataUSPOTUS Atlas dataset (national-parks) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts.
Map tilesOpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO and Esri.
ElevationOpen-Meteo digital elevation model where the dataset has no value.
MethodScores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown.

Last updated August 23, 2026 at 4:46 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.

Davil Hofile
Written byWriter at USPOTUS

Davil Hofile is a writer at USPOTUS covering breaking news, NFL updates, viral stories, entertainment, pets, and lifestyle. He specializes in transforming complex news into clear, trustworthy, and engaging articles that help readers quickly understand what's happening across the United States. His reporting follows Google's E-E-A-T guidelines, emphasizing accuracy, credible sources, and practical value for readers.

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