Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree National Park
The best months to visit Joshua Tree National Park are January, May and October — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. March is the crowd peak (410,905 monthly visits); July is quietest at 33% of peak.
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- Geology Tour Road Temporarily Closed (Park Closure)
- Partial Trail Closure of West Side Loop (Caution)
- Oasis of Mara Trail Partial Closure (Caution)
Monthly crowd curve
Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.
Joshua Tree month by month
| Month | Verdict | Avg visits | % of peak | High / Low | Precip | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Best window | 264,502 | 64% | 66°F / 40°F | 0.8″ | 10.1h |
| February | Peak crowds | 294,966 | 72% | 67°F / 42°F | 0.9″ | 11h |
| March | Peak crowds | 410,905 | 100% | 75°F / 46°F | 0.5″ | 11.9h |
| April | Peak crowds | 363,663 | 89% | 83°F / 51°F | 0.2″ | 13h |
| May | Best window | 253,671 | 62% | 89°F / 58°F | 0.1″ | 13.9h |
| June | Shoulder | 175,980 | 43% | 99°F / 66°F | 0.0″ | 14.4h |
| July | Shoulder | 136,502 | 33% | 103°F / 74°F | 0.3″ | 14.2h |
| August | Shoulder | 140,063 | 34% | 102°F / 75°F | 0.3″ | 13.4h |
| September | Shoulder | 161,892 | 39% | 96°F / 68°F | 0.5″ | 12.4h |
| October | Best window | 209,037 | 51% | 86°F / 56°F | 0.2″ | 11.4h |
| November | Peak crowds | 312,571 | 76% | 74°F / 46°F | 0.3″ | 10.4h |
| December | Peak crowds | 339,772 | 83% | 64°F / 40°F | 0.6″ | 9.9h |
Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station CHIRIACO SUMMIT, CA US (18 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.
How many people visit Joshua Tree each year
Joshua Tree National Park had 2,932,644 recreation visits in 2025, 2% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2023, with 3,270,404. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 3,063,524 visits a year, which makes it the 10th most-visited of the 63 national parks.
| Year | Recreation visits | vs. year before |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,932,644 | −2% |
| 2024 | 2,991,874 | −9% |
| 2023 | 3,270,404 | +7% |
| 2022 | 3,058,294 | 0% |
| 2021 | 3,064,400 | +28% |
| 2020 | 2,399,542 | −20% |
| 2019 | 2,988,547 | +2% |
| 2018 | 2,942,382 | +3% |
| 2017 | 2,853,619 | +14% |
| 2016 | 2,505,286 | +24% |
| 2015 | 2,025,756 | — |
Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.
What to pack for Joshua Tree in January
Computed from January's weather normals — Joshua Tree's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.
- Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 40°F
- Headlamp — only 10.1 hours of daylight in mid-January (compare other options)
- Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Joshua Tree?
January, May and October rank best for Joshua Tree on VisitWhen's computed score — the strongest balance of low crowds (NPS data), comfortable weather (NOAA normals) and daylight.
What is the most crowded month at Joshua Tree?
March: an average of 410,905 recreation visits (NPS, 2021–2025). The quietest is July, at 33% of the March peak.
When is Joshua Tree least crowded with decent conditions?
July. It is the park's quietest month (33% of the March peak, 136,502 average visits) without harsh-season weather.
How many people visit Joshua Tree per year?
Joshua Tree National Park had 2,932,644 recreation visits in 2025, 2% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2023, with 3,270,404. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 3,063,524 visits a year.
What is the weather like at Joshua Tree through the year?
The warmest month is July, with average highs of 103°F. The coldest nights come in December, averaging 40°F. The wettest month is February, with 0.9″ of precipitation. (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, CHIRIACO SUMMIT, CA US station.)
Dive into a month
Comparing parks for the same trip? See how Joshua Tree ranks against all 63 parks in January, May and October.
Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks