3 Best Hotels in Joshua Tree National Park, California

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Lodging choices in the Joshua Tree National Park area are limited to a few motels, chain hotels, and a luxury bed-and-breakfast establishment in the gateway towns. In general, most offer few amenities and are modestly priced. Book ahead for the spring wildflower season—reservations may be difficult to obtain then.

For a more extensive range of lodging options, you'll need to head to Palm Springs and the surrounding desert resort communities.

Harmony Motel

$ | 71161 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Twentynine Palms, CA, 92277, USA

In the late 1980s, while working on and taking photos for the now legendary album, The Joshua Tree, the rock band U2 found itself holed up at this circa-1952 roadside motel atop a hill overlooking town and beneath the national park’s jagged peaks. If you want luxury, look elsewhere; though some rooms offer kitchenettes, all have a hodgepodge of furnishings and basic bathrooms and amenities. But if you seek a storied stay, this fits the bill. You can even recreate one of the photos that made the final liner notes: the hotel sign that serendipitously features musical notes is still standing.

Pros

  • Cactus gardens and nature trail
  • Outdoor pool and hot tub
  • A mile from 49 Palms Oasis trail

Cons

  • Small property that books quickly
  • Dated decor
  • On a busy highway
71161 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Twentynine Palms, CA, 92277, USA
760-367–3351
hotel Details
8 units
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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The Bungalows

$$$$ | 59700 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, CA, 92252, USA

Amid serene desert on a far corner of the 152-acre Joshua Tree Retreat Center, this adults-only property has three painstakingly restored mid-century-modern buildings containing suites that offer the architectural panache of Palm Springs (patterned masonry, breeze blocks, angular lines, slanted roofs, giant windows) and mod-cons like keyless entry, Parachute linens, and water filtered by reverse osmosis. Each unit has its own kitchen, patio, books, games, and binoculars, but outdoor communal spaces with bistro light–lit long tables, propane grills, and fire pits give groups places to gather. We recommend starting your day by making French-press coffee to take with you on a walk through the vast grounds, which contain ponds, pools, art installations, a café, a bookstore, energy vortices, and the world's largest assemblage of Frank Lloyd Wright's son's organic architecture. For an extra fee, you can also join official retreat workshops.

Pros

  • Access to hiking trails where you will likely not see anyone else
  • Mellow, high-desert vibe
  • Great place to watch sunrises and sunsets

Cons

  • No TVs
  • No on-site personnel
  • Swimming pools haven't been updated and are hard to find
59700 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, CA, 92252, USA
760-299–5010
hotel Details
14 suites
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

The Joshua Tree Inn

$ | 61259 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, CA, 92252, USA

Like the Harmony Motel in Twentynine Palms, this rustic roadside refuge will forever be a part of rock music lore, though, admittedly, it's tied to a darker moment—singer/guitarist and member of The Byrds Gram Parsons died in Room 8, which, despite its sad history and reports of paranormal activity, is still the most requested room. The inn, also a favorite of John Wayne and Donovan, wears this backstory like a badge of honor, usually playing tunes from Parsons' Grievous Angel album in the lobby, maintaining a memorabilia room, and sometimes hosting tribute concerts. Also like the Harmony, the single-story property seems stuck in time despite periodic updates (including a solar-power conversion). It's far from fancy, with dark cream-and-brown rooms with wood-paneled ceilings and mismatched furniture, so it's better suited to those making a purposeful pilgrimage than to those who seek pampering.

Pros

  • Complimentary tea, coffee, and granola bars
  • All units have personal back patios
  • Guitars to borrow during stay

Cons

  • Rooms don't get much natural light
  • Far from fancy with furnishings in a mishmash of styles
  • Pool can get loud when kids are present
61259 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, CA, 92252, USA
760-366–1188
hotel Details
12 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $

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