Palm Springs and Joshua Tree NP: Car Travel

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Car Travel

The desert resort communities occupy a 20-mi stretch between Interstate 10, to the east, and Palm Canyon Drive (Highway 111), to the west. The area is about a two-hour drive east of Los Angeles and a three-hour drive northeast of San Diego. It can take twice as long to make the trip from Los Angeles to the desert on winter weekends because of heavy traffic. From Los Angeles take the San Bernardino Freeway (Interstate 10) east to Highway 111. From San Diego Interstate 15 heading north connects with the Pomona Freeway (Highway 60), leading to the San Bernardino Freeway (Interstate 10) east. If you're coming from the Riverside area, you can also take Highway 74 (Palms to Pines Highway), a winding mountainous route, east.

To reach Borrego Springs from Los Angeles, take Interstate 10 east past the desert resorts area to Highway 86 south, and follow it to the Borrego Salton Seaway (Highway S22). Drive west on S22 to Borrego Springs. You can reach the Borrego area from San Diego via Interstate 8 to Highway 79 through Cuyamaca State Park. This will take you to Highway 78 in Julian, which you follow east to Yaqui Pass Road (S3) into Borrego Springs.

The Imperial Valley lies south of S22 on Highway 86. Salton Sea attractions are on the south and east sides of the sea. El Centro is about a two-hour drive east of San Diego via Interstate 8.