The Ultimate Joshua Tree Weekend Guide (2025)

Best Eats, Shopping, Coffee, Where to Stay & Explore!

Are you planning a weekend getaway to Joshua Tree, California? Whether you're looking for great food, unique shopping spots, incredible Airbnb stays, or unforgettable outdoor adventures, we've got you covered! After years of exploring and even owning our own Airbnb in Joshua Tree, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to help you plan the perfect trip.

Where is Joshua Tree?

Joshua Tree is located in Southern California, about 2 hours east of Los Angeles, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. This unique landscape offers stunning rock formations, vast open skies, and incredible plant life—including the famous Joshua Trees.

Best Time to Visit

• March - May is the peak & September - October can still be hot but a great time to visit.
• Winter (January - March): You might even catch snowfall in the desert!
• Summer: Can be extremely hot, but still offers unique experiences.

Where to Stay in Joshua Tree

Most visitors stay in Airbnbs, as there are very few hotels in the area. To fully experience the desert landscape, avoid staying in downtown Joshua Tree where houses are closer together.

🏡 Our Recommendation:
Look for Airbnbs on large properties to enjoy peace, quiet, and breathtaking desert views. Our own Seventh Ray House sits on 5 acres—just outside of town—offering a true Joshua Tree experience.

Best Restaurants & Coffee Shops

Whether you’re looking for a quick bite, a cozy café, or a memorable dinner spot, here are our must-visit places.

Breakfast & Coffee

☕ Joshua Tree Coffee Co. – Small but legendary! Grab a bag of beans to take home.
☕ Mas o Menos – Coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night, with a great outdoor patio.
🥞 Crossroads Café – Try the banana bread—it's the best we’ve ever had!
🥐 Luna Sourdough – Organic bakery with delicious homemade bread & gluten-free options.
🥯 The Dez – A quick grab-and-go snack and coffee shop, perfect before heading into the park.

Lunch & Dinner

🍔 Tiny Pony Tavern – Our top lunch spot with amazing burgers, crispy fries, and fun bar vibes.
🍕 Giant Rock Meeting Room – Our fave traditional pizza in the area.
🍣 The Copper Room – Upscale, Asian-fusion dining with a Hollywood history and live music.
🥗 La Cosine – A seasonally changing menu with fantastic brunch & lunch (reservations recommended!).
🍖 Pappy & Harriet’s – A classic roadhouse with BBQ, strong drinks, and legendary live music.
🌮 Red Dog Saloon – One of the oldest and most historic saloons, offering phenomenal tacos & churros.

Best Shopping & Local Finds

Joshua Tree is full of vintage stores, lifestyle boutiques, and eclectic desert finds.

🛍 Best Vintage & Home Stores

• Acme 5 – A mix of apothecary, furniture, and home goods.
• Suki Modern – Western & cowboy-inspired fashion, a must-visit!
• The Station – A quirky gift shop and perfect spot for Instagram photos.
• Joshua Tree Trading Post – A blend of vintage & new treasures.
• Joshua Tree Farmers Market (Saturdays) – Great for organic local produce.

Exploring Joshua Tree National Park

No trip is complete without visiting the national park!

🌵 What to Do in Joshua Tree National Park

• Barker Dam Trail – A short, scenic walk with cave paintings & desert views.
• Ryan Mountain & Hidden Valley Loop – More challenging hikes with stunning landscapes.
• Rock Climbing – One of the world’s best climbing destinations.
• Stargazing – Joshua Tree has some of the darkest skies in the world—perfect for spotting constellations!

🎟 Park Entrance Tip:
There are two entrances—the one in downtown Joshua Tree gets crowded, so try using the 29 Palms entrance instead. A park pass is good for a week, so you can return multiple times during your trip.

Hidden Gem: The Integratron

One of the most unique experiences near Joshua Tree is the Integratron in Landers. This acoustically perfect domewas originally built by George Van Tassel, who claimed he received the design from aliens. Today, it’s used for sound baths, which are an unforgettable meditative experience.
🛑 Tip: Book in advance—sessions sell out fast!

Pioneertown: A Wild West Movie Set

Just 20 minutes from Joshua Tree, Pioneertown was built in the 1940s by Hollywood filmmakers as a movie set for Westerns. Now, it’s a must-visit town with quirky shops, live reenactments, and legendary food spots.

🏜 Must-See Spots in Pioneertown 🐎 Pioneertown General Store – Western-inspired goods & souvenirs.
🛍Xeba Botanica – Handmade soaps, lotions, and perfumes.
🎶 Pappy & Harriet’s – BBQ by day, iconic music venue by night.
🤠 Red Dog Saloon – Restored during the pandemic, best tacos & chiliquiles in town.

Final Tips for Your Joshua Tree Getaway

✅ Book Airbnbs & Sound Baths early—Joshua Tree is popular!
✅ Pack layers—desert temps drop at night.
✅ Fill up on gas before heading into the park—limited stations.
✅ Bring water & snacks—service is spotty, and there aren’t many shops inside the park.
✅ Try a sunrise or sunset hike—the desert colors are unreal!

Welcome to The Seventh Ray House Blog! We’re Kristen and Michael, and after years of escaping to Joshua Tree to unwind, we turned our love for this magical desert into something special—our very own short-term rental, The Seventh Ray House. This guide combines our insider tips with our personal favorite spots for the ultimate Joshua Tree weekend getaway. Whether you’re here to relax, explore, or just escape the city, this blog (and our YouTube video embedded below) has everything you need for an unforgettable visit!

Check out our favorite restaurants