Joshua Tree National Park: the best time to visit, by the numbers
Month-by-month crowds (official NPS counts) and weather (NOAA 1991–2020 normals)
Joshua Tree National Park draws about 3 million recreation visits in a typical year (2016–2025 median). March is the peak month (about 405,000 visits); July is the quietest (about 139,000) — a 3-to-1 spread between busiest and quietest.
Pick a month
| Month | Typical visits | Crowds | High / Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 259,925 | busy | 63°F / 42°F | 0.5 in |
| February | 287,039 | busy | 67°F / 44°F | 0.6 in |
| March | 404,626 | busiest stretch | 74°F / 49°F | 0.3 in |
| April | 351,253 | busiest stretch | 81°F / 54°F | 0.1 in |
| May | 239,057 | moderate | 90°F / 63°F | 0.1 in |
| June | 165,391 | moderate | 99°F / 71°F | 0.0 in |
| July | 139,315 | quiet | 104°F / 77°F | 0.4 in |
| August | 142,177 | moderate | 103°F / 76°F | 0.7 in |
| September | 157,241 | moderate | 96°F / 69°F | 0.3 in |
| October | 221,930 | moderate | 85°F / 58°F | 0.1 in |
| November | 304,711 | busy | 72°F / 47°F | 0.2 in |
| December | 314,587 | busy | 62°F / 40°F | 0.6 in |