Page last updated: 13 May 2025
How many people visit Joshua Tree National Park each year?
Around 3 million people visit Joshua Tree National Park each year.
Annual visits:
- 2,991,874 visitors in 2024, down 8.5% from 2023.
- 3,270,404 in 2023, up 6.9% from 3,058,294 in 2022.
- 2,988,547 in 2019 (pre-pandemic). The lowest recent visitation was 2,399,542 in 2020 (because of the pandemic).
How much do visitors spend at Joshua Tree National Park each year?
Visitor spending varies each year, with people spending:
- $185.82 million in 2023, up 8.7% from $171.01 million in 2022
- $171.01 million in 2022, up slightly from $169.73 million in 2021
- $121.86 million in 2020, down from $149.95 million in 2019
Number of Visitors at Joshua Tree National Park in 2025
- From January to March of 2025, more than 988,880 people visited Joshua Tree National Park.
How many tourists visited Joshua Tree National Park in 2025?
| Month | Recreational Visit |
| Jan | 278.10 K |
| Feb | 298.79 K |
| Mar | 411.99 K |
How many people visited Joshua Tree National Park in 2024?
- In 2024, there were 2,991,874 visitors (an 8.5% decrease from 2023) at Joshua Tree National Park.
How much did visitors spend in Joshua Tree National Park in 2023?
- Visitors to Joshua Tree National Park spent $185.82 million in 2023. Visitor spending is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
How many people visit Joshua Tree National Park per day?
- 8,400 people visit Joshua Tree National Park daily (based on 2024 data).
How much does it cost to visit Joshua Tree National Park?
The 2024 entry fees for Joshua Tree National Park were as follows:
- $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days)
- $15 per person (walk-in or bicycle, valid for 7 days)
- $25 per motorcycle (valid for 7 days)
- $55 for an annual park pass
How much time should visitors spend in Joshua Tree National Park?
Depending on their reasons for coming, visitors are recommended to spend 1 to 3 days in Joshua Tree National Park.
Day Trips:
- 65% of visitors spend less than 1 full day
- Common activities: short hikes, scenic drives and photography
2 to 3 Day Visits:
- 30% of visitors stay more than 2 days, allowing exploration of the Mojave and Colorado desert ecosystems
- Common activities: long hikes, rock climbing and stargazing
When is Joshua Tree National Park’s peak season?
Because of the milder weather, the peak season at Joshua Tree National Park is spring, autumn and early winter.
- The busiest months are March and April. Spring sees 350,000-400,000 visitors monthly.
- A secondary peak is from October to December. Fall and early winter sees 200,000-300,000 visitors.
When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park?
- The best time to visit is October to April when the weather is good for hiking, rock climbing and camping. Spring is the most popular because of wildflowers.
How popular is Joshua Tree National Park?
- Joshua Tree National Park is one of the top 15 most visited national parks in the US.
- The park is also a UNESCO Dark Sky Park so it’s a must visit for astronomy enthusiasts.
Why do people visit Joshua Tree National Park?
Visitors come to Joshua Tree for hiking, rock climbing, photography and stargazing. It also features:
- Hidden Valley – beautiful rock formations.
- Keys View – viewpoint of the Coachella Valley.
- Cholla Cactus Garden – dense cholla cacti.
- Arch Rock – photography spot with its natural rock arch.
- Barker Dam – water reservoir featuring desert wildlife.
Camping Statistics for Joshua Tree National Park in 2024
In 2024, Joshua Tree National Park recorded the following overnight visitors:
- Tent Camping: 194,460 campers
- RV Camping: 111,470 campers
- Backcountry Camping: 16,600 campers
- Miscellaneous Camping (Others): 71,820 campers
What are the most common causes of visitor deaths in Joshua Tree National Park?
From 2007 to August 2024, there were 31 deaths in Joshua Tree. The most common causes were:
- Environmental exposure – 7 deaths
- Falls – 7 deaths
- Undetermined causes – 5 deaths
- Medical emergencies during physical activity – 4 deaths
- Suicide – 3 deaths
- Homicide – 2 deaths
- Motor vehicle crashes – 2 deaths
- Medical emergencies not during physical activity – 1 death
Safety tips while visiting Joshua Tree National Park
Some safety tips visitors should keep in mind include:
- Drinking water to avoid dehydration
- Wearing sun protection like hats, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Staying on trails to avoid getting lost
- Being watchful of wildlife especially snakes and other desert animals
- Preparing for desert temperature changes which vary greatly during the day and night
- Having a hiking/climbing buddy and wearing safety gear
National Park (NP) Tourism Statistics
References
NPS: National Park Visitation Statistics