Joshua Tree Music Festival is committed to “radical inclusion” and fun for all ages — Photo courtesy of Amandala Photography
Most people visit Joshua Tree, California, to explore the otherworldly desert terrain of nearby Joshua Tree National Park. Still, a growing number of music lovers are tuning into this dusty Mojave desert town in Southern California for the Joshua Tree Music Festival, voted the Best Music Festival in the nation by USA TODAY 10Best readers.
Held twice a year in May and October, the Joshua Tree Music Festival consists of four days of global music, a world market, art installations, and all types of experiential workshops offered within a family-inclusive environment. It takes place on the Joshua Tree Lake Campground, a privately owned, 40-acre venue with campsites, hot showers, and RV hook-ups.
Joshua Tree Music Festival founder Barnett English hangs with his daughter, Lola, at the music festival — Photo courtesy of Julia Del Rio
Music festival founder Barnett English describes the inaugural festival, first held in 2003, as happening “accidentally on purpose.” He first visited Joshua Tree in 2002 and fell in love with the Mojave Desert community. While in conversation with the owners of Joshua Tree Lake Campground, English noted the property would make an excellent location for a music festival. The owners agreed with English and said he should make it happen. Not one to shy away from a challenge, English did that six months later, making Joshua Tree his home.
With 38 festivals under his belt, English and the Joshua Tree Music Festival have become staples within the Joshua Tree community. We asked English to share his favorite Joshua Tree spots for those visiting the area for the first or 15th time. The following are his top picks.
Favorite place for breakfast: JT Country Kitchen
JT Country Kitchen has been serving up home cooking since 1977 — Photo courtesy of Jardine Libaire
“JT Country Kitchen is the longest continually running restaurant in Joshua Tree. Old-school vibe, new school yumminess,” says English. “Owned and operated by delightful, music-loving folks. I go for the straight-up, tried-and-true Country Breakfast: eggs over easy with bacon, hash browns, and sourdough toast.”
Favorite place for lunch or dinner: Más o Menos
From espresso and pastries to cocktails, light bites and live music, Más o Menos has you covered — Photo courtesy of Lauren Moore
“Más o Menos is relatively new to Joshua Tree, but my fave place in town to hang out and meet up with friends,” he says. “Más o Menos is all about creating a warm, inviting space for folks to hang. Community-centric. Local musicians performing regularly. Rotating specials. Lovely personnel. The mocktails there are fantabulous. I go for the Eternal Optimist: ginger beer, lime, mint, and bitters.”
Favorite place to get coffee: Joshua Tree Coffee Company
Fill up in the morning at Joshua Tree Coffee Company — Photo courtesy of Katelynn Taylor
“Newly expanded to caffeinate all the Joshua Tree National Park visitors, Joshua Tree Coffee Company has a coffee shop up front, and they do their roasting on-site,” he says. “When I’m not sippin’ on yerba mate, I’ll go for a super-duper dry quad shot cappuccino.”
Favorite place to hike: Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is the star of Joshua Tree — Photo courtesy of Daniel J Nevares / iStock Via Getty Images
“Joshua Tree National Park is why we are all here, and it is truly outrageous. It’s a park that folks of all fitness levels can enjoy, as you can drive through and pull over at so many different trailheads,” says English.
“My favorite is Rattlesnake Canyon in the spring! Walking and bouldering uphill with a stream and pools of water. It’s accessible via the less-crowded Indian Cove entrance and is visible from the Joshua Tree Music Festival site.”
Vote Now: Best National Park Lodge (10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024)
Must-see cool place: Integratron
Twenty miles north of Joshua Tree in Landers, experience “a fusion of art, science, and magic” — Photo courtesy of The Integratron LLC
“The one and only Integratron! The history is positively wild. And the family that own and operate it are some of the finest folks I’ve ever known,” he says. “They host people in the dome for sound baths. You will be transported!”
Where to stay: Joshua Tree National Park and Joshua Tree Inn
Joshua Tree Inn, located 5 miles from Joshua Tree National Park, is a desert oasis — Photo courtesy of Diane Cornett
“It’s hard to beat camping in Joshua Tree National Park! More stars than cars. An otherworldly landscape,” English says. “For the non-campers, Joshua Tree Inn is the cozy place with the best pool in the area.”
Joshua Tree weather: Best time to visit
If you’re a fan of blue-sky days, you’ll get plenty of those in Joshua Tree year-round. Spring and fall are the most popular times to visit, with daytime temperatures hovering in the 70s and 80s. Springtime offers a little extra pizazz when the desert floor comes alive with native cactus blooms.
Summer temperatures can feel relentless, reaching the triple digits, but the desert air cools as soon as the sun sets, and the starry skies will leave you starry-eyed. Joshua Tree National Park is open year-round; if you visit in the wintertime, you’ll find average high temperatures in the 60s, dipping into the 30s at night.
How to get to Joshua Tree
The quickest way to get to Joshua Tree is to fly into Palm Springs International Airport, which is less than an hour’s drive. Other major airports include Los Angeles International Airport to the west and San Diego International Airport to the south. Travel time from Los Angeles can vary wildly from 2.5 hours to five hours, depending on traffic leaving the city. San Diego is about a 3.5-hour drive from Joshua Tree.
