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Joshua Tree National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Joshua Tree National Park, California: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No entry reservation.
Fees and passes
$30 per private vehicle (7 days). Passes must be printed or saved on your phone before you arrive.
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Many campgrounds are reserved on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Campgrounds on Recreation.gov (9)
| Campground | Sites | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jumbo Rocks Campground | 124 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Indian Cove Campground | 114 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Black Rock Campground | 99 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Cottonwood Campground (CA) | 62 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Ryan Campground | 37 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Black Rock Equestrian Campground | 21 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Indian Cove Group | 13 | Group | Book ↗ |
| Sheep Pass Group | 6 | Group | Book ↗ |
| Cottonwood Group | 3 | Group | Book ↗ |
From Recreation.gov's official data (RIDB), November 2026. Campgrounds run by park concessioners and some first-come sites aren't on Recreation.gov, so check the park's camping page too. When can I book?
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Great · 100 | 63°F | 42°F | 0.5 in | – | 10 h 05 m |
| February | Great · 100 | 67°F | 44°F | 0.6 in | – | 10 h 53 m |
| March | Great · 100 | 74°F | 49°F | 0.3 in | – | 11 h 51 m |
| April | Great · 100 | 81°F | 54°F | 0.1 in | – | 12 h 58 m |
| May | Good · 68 | 90°F | 63°F | 0.1 in | – | 13 h 53 m |
| June | Poor · 30 | 99°F | 71°F | 0.0 in | – | 14 h 23 m |
| July | Poor · 12 | 104°F | 77°F | 0.4 in | – | 14 h 11 m |
| August | Poor · 17 | 103°F | 76°F | 0.7 in | – | 13 h 23 m |
| September | Fair · 42 | 96°F | 69°F | 0.3 in | – | 12 h 19 m |
| October | Great · 89 | 85°F | 58°F | 0.1 in | – | 11 h 14 m |
| November | Great · 100 | 72°F | 47°F | 0.2 in | – | 10 h 18 m |
| December | Great · 100 | 62°F | 40°F | 0.6 in | – | 9 h 51 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Twentynine Palms, CA weather station (1,975 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Joshua Tree National Park?
No entry reservation.
How much does it cost to enter Joshua Tree?
$30 per private vehicle (7 days). Passes must be printed or saved on your phone before you arrive. Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at Joshua Tree?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in January to April, October to December. July is warmest (about 104°F) and December has the coldest nights (about 40°F).
Sources: Joshua Tree fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
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