Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree National Park

Crowds and weather by month · California · NPS visitor counts through 2025

The short answer

Mild weather, fewer people: October — 52% as busy as March, about 6,726 visitors a day, average high 85°F (29°C).

Quietest month: July — about 4,337 visitors a day, average high 104°F (very hot).

Busiest month: March — about 12,977 visitors a day.

Best balance of crowds and weather (Oct)Other monthsNumber = visitors per day as % of the busiest month (100)

Joshua Tree month by month

MonthCrowds · visitors/dayHigh / low · precip.
January○ Mild weather, busy Busy65% of peak · 8,409/day63° / 42°F17° / 5°C · 0.5 in · 2 wet days
February○ Mild weather, busy Busy77% of peak · 10,049/day67° / 44°F20° / 7°C · 0.6 in · 2 wet days
March○ Mild weather, busy Peak100% of peak · 12,977/day74° / 49°F23° / 10°C · 0.3 in · 1 wet days
April○ Mild weather, busy Peak88% of peak · 11,413/day81° / 54°F27° / 12°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days
May× Hot Moderate58% of peak · 7,525/day90° / 63°F32° / 17°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days
June× Very hot Moderate42% of peak · 5,387/day99° / 71°F37° / 22°C · 0.0 in · 0 wet days
JulyQuietest× Very hot Quiet33% of peak · 4,337/day104° / 77°F40° / 25°C · 0.4 in · 1 wet days
August× Very hot Quiet35% of peak · 4,516/day103° / 76°F39° / 25°C · 0.7 in · 1 wet days
September× Very hot Moderate39% of peak · 5,048/day96° / 69°F36° / 21°C · 0.3 in · 1 wet days
OctoberBest◎ Mild weather, fewer people Moderate52% of peak · 6,726/day85° / 58°F29° / 14°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days
November○ Mild weather, busy Busy76% of peak · 9,848/day72° / 47°F22° / 8°C · 0.2 in · 0 wet days
December○ Mild weather, busy Busy79% of peak · 10,280/day62° / 40°F17° / 4°C · 0.6 in · 1 wet days

Crowds = visitors per day as % of the busiest month: ●●●●● Peak (85–100) · ●●●●○ Busy (60–84) · ●●●○○ Moderate (35–59) · ●●○○○ Quiet (15–34) · ●○○○○ Very quiet (under 15). ◎ mild weather, fewer people · ○ mild but busy · △ very few visitors (often seasonal closures) · × cold or hot. Wet days = days with at least 0.1 in of rain or melted snow.

Joshua Tree by month

Visitors per year

YearRecreation visits
20152,025,756
20162,505,286
20172,853,619
20182,942,382
20192,988,547
2020pandemic2,399,542
2021pandemic3,064,400
20223,058,294
20233,270,404
20242,991,874
20252,932,644

Where the weather numbers come from

Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station TWENTYNINE PALMS — Twentynine Palms (park headquarters, north entrance), at 1,975 ft (602 m). Higher viewpoints and trails can be much colder and snowier than the station.

Months with very few visitors often have roads, campgrounds or visitor centers closed for the season. Check current conditions on the official Joshua Tree National Park website before you go.

Other parks at their best in October

All parks in October →

How “best” is chosen: the least crowded month with an average high between 55°F and 85°F (13–29°C), skipping months with under 30% of peak visitors because those are often seasonal closures. Crowds compare visitors per day, so short and long months are treated fairly.

Sources. Visitor counts: National Park Service, Visitor Use Statistics (recreation visits, final figures through 2025; typical months use 2022–2025). Weather: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station TWENTYNINE PALMS, USC00049099, 1,975 ft / 602 m). Both are U.S. Government works in the public domain. How we calculate.

Park Months is an independent site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or NOAA.