Joshua Tree & Palm Springs

Kids climb big boulders in Joshua Tree, then ride a rotating tram up the mountain. Pool time every afternoon.

7.5 hrs drive · 4 days · Best for toddlers to teens · Oct–Apr

Day 1: Drive to Palm Springs

The Hidden Valley loop is only 1 mile, but one family took almost 2 hours because their son kept climbing boulders. Plan for slow going with climbers. Le Long Weekend
Barker Dam has no sign until you reach it, and the water is often low. Some hikers turn back at an empty pond, thinking that's it. Keep going, because the second half of the loop is flat and has rock art. There is a restroom at the lot. Le Long Weekend
One parent carried a 2.5-year-old through the whole Cholla Cactus Garden, because the spines latch on and really hurt. There is a first aid kit at the entrance. Watch for the bee warning sign too. Trips With Tykes
Enter at the west entrance and exit at the south entrance, so the Cholla garden is your last stop on the way to I-10. Buy the park pass at the visitor center to skip the kiosk line, and pick up Junior Ranger booklets there. The park has no food and no cell service. Trips With Tykes
At the top of the Palm Springs Tram it can be up to 40 degrees colder, and the path down from the station gets icy. Bring real shoes and your own sled. Lots fill early and overflow parking runs a shuttle. The Pines cafe sells hot cocoa. Tinybeans LA
Tuesday to Thursday is the quietest time for the Tram. Everyone heads down at sunset, so go up earlier or wait out the rush. The car sways near the third tower, so have nervous kids hold the rail. Cactus Hugs

Joshua Tree costs $30 per car, and the pass is good for 7 days. Get to Hidden Valley early because the lot fills up on weekends.
Tram tickets are $36.95 for adults and $20.95 for kids 3–10. Kids under 2 ride free but need a boarding pass from the ticket booth.
Winter tram hours run from Oct 5, 2026 to May 27, 2027. The first tram goes up at 10am on weekdays and 8am on weekends. The tram closes each September for maintenance.
The top of the tram can be about 40 degrees cooler than town, so bring jackets. At Cholla Garden, keep kids on the path. There is a first aid kit at the entrance for cactus spines.