Where to Stay in Joshua Tree, and How to Pick

I own a place in Joshua Tree and I have spent a lot of time in the others, so this list is not pretending to be neutral. What it is, is honest. These are all good, and they are good at different things. The trick with Joshua Tree is working out which trade you want before you book, because the options are further apart than they look on a map.

If you want quiet, dark sky and room to make something

That Desert Space

This is mine, so read it with that in mind. 2.5 fenced acres in the high desert, well back from town lights, with a fully furnished house, a full kitchen, a two person infrared sauna and cactus gardens I planted myself. 15 to 20 minutes from the park entrance and from shops and restaurants.

I built it for artists who need to escape and focus, and that is who it suits: writers on a deadline, painters, photographers, anyone whose real problem is being interrupted. There is no pool and no clubhouse. The point is that there is nobody else here.

It is rated 4.95 on Airbnb. If you want people around, book somewhere further down this page instead, and I mean that.

If you want amenities and other people

AutoCamp Joshua Tree

Airstreams and prefab cabins arranged across one property, with an outdoor pool, a clubhouse, live shows, on site shopping and fast wifi. It is a proper resort and it does that well. If you are travelling with people who want a pool and something happening in the evening, this is the easy answer.

If you want boutique luxury near the west entrance

Sacred Sands

An eco built straw bale property a mile from the west entrance, with three suites, private patios, soaking tubs, outdoor showers and meditation platforms looking out at the Mojave. Design led, expensive, and closer to the park than almost anything else. If the trip is the occasion rather than the base, this is the one.

If you want a middle ground with a pool

Field Station Joshua Tree

In Yucca Valley, with firepits, an outdoor pool and a nature reserve on site. More amenities than a private rental, less resort than AutoCamp, and a reasonable base if you are in and out of the park all day.

If you want to sleep in the park itself

The National Park campgrounds

Jumbo Rocks, Hidden Valley and the others. The cheapest way to do it and the closest you will get to the rocks at sunrise. Most have no water and no hookups, and the good weekends book out months ahead. Bring everything you need.

How to choose

Ask yourself one question: do you want people around, or do you want nobody around? Joshua Tree does both extremely well and does not do them in the same place. Pick the trade first and the property second.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I stay in Joshua Tree for stargazing?

Somewhere set back from town lights. Joshua Tree has some of the darkest skies in California, but a property close to Twentynine Palms or Yucca Valley loses a lot of that. Look for a stay on acreage away from the main roads. That Desert Space sits on 2.5 fenced acres well back from town, which is the main reason people book it.

Is it better to stay inside Joshua Tree National Park or outside it?

Inside means campgrounds, and they are wonderful if you want to sleep in a tent with no water hookups and book months ahead. Outside means a bed, a kitchen and a shower, 15 to 20 minutes from the entrance. Most people are happier outside.

What is the difference between AutoCamp and a private rental in Joshua Tree?

AutoCamp is a resort. Airstreams and cabins arranged on one property with an outdoor pool, a clubhouse, live events and on site shopping. A private rental on its own acreage is the opposite trade: no amenities and no neighbours. Which is better depends entirely on whether you want people around.

Where should I stay in Joshua Tree if I want to work or make something?

Somewhere with space, quiet and a kitchen, and ideally somewhere designed for it. Writers and artists tend to need a table, good light and nobody knocking. That Desert Space was built specifically for that, which is a narrower brief than most desert rentals are trying to meet.

How far in advance should I book a stay in Joshua Tree?

For weekends in spring and autumn, which are the busiest seasons, two to three months. Summer is quieter because it is extremely hot. Winter nights are cold and clear and are the best stargazing of the year.

If quiet is the one you want

You can read more about That Desert Space, or book it directly.

See That Desert Space on Airbnb

The property also hosts artist residencies, a women’s retreat I run each October, and retreats hosted by other people.