How to Enjoy Joshua Tree in the Age of the Pandemic

After road tripping around California, I can happily say that you can still enjoy Joshua Tree, safely, soundly, and respectfully during this pandemic.

Road trips have become all the rage in the United States this year, as most are too afraid to fly and/or not able to fly internationally. This means that campsites are flooded with people, and national parks have a new influx in crowds. Not all are responding to the pandemic in the same way, but Joshua Tree National Park is doing things right.

While most Americans are relying on road trips to stay sane and travel “safely,” you still need to exercise precautions. You can still get sick outdoors. Most people have the same idea as you, so your trip to nature will be filled with tons of people. The facilities have been used by many, and cleaning might not be very regular. The gas stations, restaurants and towns you pass through can be risky, and more importantly, you could easily spread the virus. It’s important that if you’re hitting the road, you’re doing so in the most responsible and respectful way possible.

This is why I was so impressed with Joshua Tree National Park. This was not my first time going here, but I was so happy to see that they are taking the pandemic seriously. This is my ideal destination because it is not only massive, but the 1,235 mile park has a lot of open space to roam. Since it’s the desert, you really don’t have anything blocking your path.

If you live in California or nearby, this would be my top recommendation for a safe, respectful getaway. Here’s what you need to know to enjoy Joshua Tree during the pandemic:

Campgrounds Are Operating At Half Capacity So Book Ahead

We were pleased to find that unlike every campground we had been to, Joshua Tree was not packing them full. They are operating at 50% capacity and there was so many space between us and the next person. We booked just over a month ahead of time, and the campground was marked as full upon arriving. You can easily book your campsite here ahead of time, and I would definitely recommend doing so.

Pick a Campground that Suits Your Needs

There are 500 campsites in Joshua Tree, with 9 different campgrounds in the park, and even more nearby. That means you have a lot of options. The Joshua Tree website does a great job at breaking down each campsite, with pictures, wifi ratings, facility overviews and locations. This is super helpful so you can plan the best campsite for you, with the ideal location and amount of space.

We stayed in Black Rock Campground, which I highly recommend. It’s one of the only facilities with service, and drinking water. Plus, the campsites were so spacious, you didn’t even notice the person next to you. Ensure that you’re picking a spot that is comfortable for you, and to your needs.

Bring Your Own Food

This is crucial to minimize risk, and to also enhance your experience. Joshua Tree National Park is nearby several towns, but most of these places are not going to have outdoor dining and options are limited. You should bring your own food and water for your trip.

We had a small camping stove and a kettle, and life was good. While there was drinking water available, we brought a thing of water and we didn’t really need to touch any of the facilities.

Utilize the Entrance Fee

It costs $30 per car to get into Joshua Tree National Park. Camping does not waive the entrance fee. The pass, however, is good for 7 days. We did not realize that, and would have planned a longer trip if so.

If you can take a few days, do it! That way you have more time at your site, out in nature, and you aren’t in a rush to see everything in the park in one day. This will allow you to embark on the less crowded, longer hiking trails, and see the peak spots outside of peak hours.

Explore Mindfully

This goes hand in hand with the above. We didn’t start exploring until 9 am, and by that time, the line to get in the park was pretty long. We definitely encountered several people at each location, but once we started walking it was easy to stay far away from each other. If you have time though, and you are strategic about it, Joshua Tree is so massive you can easily explore with almost no one sight.

I would recommend doing the most popular destinations early in the morning during the winter season to avoid contact. During hot days, however, most people won’t go late afternoon. This might be a bit difficult in the heat, but could be worthwhile to have the place to yourself. Lastly, if you see a big crowd, go to another spot and come back later to explore that one.

Wear a Mask

I’ve noticed most people in the U.S. think that it’s okay to not wear a mask in nature. It’s not. You can still get sick passing people on a hiking trail, like you can passing people on the sidewalk. Wear your mask. Don’t be that person.

Plan Your Sanitizing

We brought body wipes, clorox wipes, hand sanitizer and soap. It was easy to wipe off at our car. They don’t appear to have showers at most campgrounds we went to, here included, so you’ll need to have a backup plan. We brought extra water so we could truly wash our hands (with soap that’s environmentally friendly) and our feet, outside of the wash rooms. It helped limit our contact and kept us fresh.

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