Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park Entrance Station

Duration3h - 4h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesGerman, English, French, Spanish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Explore Joshua Tree National Park in your own car with GPS-triggered audio that plays automatically as you drive—even without cell service.

Start from either the West or North Entrance and follow the route at your own pace, stopping whenever you like for hikes, photos, scenic viewpoints, or a break. Along the way, discover iconic sights including Hidden Valley, Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, and more. Hear about the park’s history, landscape, wildlife, and unique desert environment.

Your purchase also includes our Joshua Tree Area Guide, featuring recommendations for restaurants, hikes, art, and other places worth exploring in Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Pioneertown.

- Explore Joshua Tree independently in your own vehicle
- GPS-triggered narration plays automatically along the route
- Works offline after the tour is downloaded
- Pause anytime for hikes, photos, meals, or scenic stops
- One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle
- Includes a bonus Joshua Tree Local Area Guide

What's included

Lifetime Tour Access Once Unlocked
Start from Either the West or North Park Entrance
Offline Tour Access After Download
Bonus Joshua Tree Area Guide — Restaurants, Hikes, Art & More
Interactive Route Map and Stop Information
GPS-Triggered Audio Tour in the Drives & Detours App
One Purchase Covers Everyone in Your Vehicle

Food & Drink

What to expect

Joshua Tree National Park
Pass by

Explore Joshua Tree National Park on a self-guided driving tour through its two distinct desert ecosystems. GPS-triggered audio plays automatically as you drive, with stops at scenic overlooks, rock formations, historic sites, and optional hiking trails along the way.
Quail Springs Trail
20m

Quail Springs is a trailhead and picnic area. It's a great place to get out and walk around, explore some boulders, and take some pictures. An optional hike can take you to a nearby homestead site with rock carvings.
Hidden Valley
1h

The Hidden Valley Trail is a relatively easy one-mile loop that circles a secluded valley surrounded by towering rock formations. It’s a particularly scenic hike, especially given how short and level it is.
Barker Dam Trail
1h

Take a short loop hike to a natural tank that was artificially fortified by ranchers in the early 1900’s to collect rain and runoff for livestock. On the way back, keep your eyes out for some petroglyphs and rock art.
Wall Street Mill
Pass by

Optional hike from the Barker Dam area to visit the Wall Street Mill, which processed ore that was extracted from nearby mines. Also along the way are the Wonderland Ranch homestead ruins.
Keys View
15m

Stop at this scenic overlook that provides a sweeping panorama of the Coachella Valley. On a clear day, you can see for miles, from the Salton Sea to the south, to Mount San Jacinto which towers above Palm Springs at an elevation of 10,830 feet.
Ryan Ranch Homestead Site
Pass by

Take a short hike (optional) to this old homestead site of a wealthy rancher turned mine operator.
Hall of Horrors
15m

Get out and explore a mini slot canyon tucked into the boulders!
Ryan Mountain
Pass by

Optional but challenging hike to the top of Ryan Mountain. Because of its central location within the park, the views from the top can be stunning.
Skull Rock
15m

Located right along the road, Skull Rock is a natural rock formation and popular photo spot.
Split Rock
Pass by

Another optional loop hike that gets a little less traffic than some of the other sites in the park.
Arch Rock Nature Trail
Pass by

Relatively easy and popular hike that lets you visit 2 natural rock formations on one hike, Arch Rock and Heart Rock.
Cholla Cactus Garden
15m

Get a taste of Joshua Tree's lower desert ecosystem, the Colorado Desert. You'll be surrounded by fuzzy-looking Teddy Bear Cholla, but you don't want to touch them!
Boy Scout Trail
Pass by

Boy Scout Trail provides hiking access to Indian Cove as well as Willow Hole, which is an oasis tucked into the Wonderland of Rocks area. The rock formations and unique landscape can make this a mesmerizing place to hike, especially at the right time of day.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Option 2: The audio tour will start automatically after entering Joshua Tree National Park through the North Entrance Station.

Meeting point

Option 1: The audio tour will start automatically after entering Joshua Tree National Park through the West Entrance Station.

End point

Option 2: The audio tour will start automatically after entering Joshua Tree National Park through the North Entrance Station.

End point

Option 1: The audio tour will start automatically after entering Joshua Tree National Park through the West Entrance Station.

Additional information

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Works entirely offline once downloaded—no cell service required
GPS-triggered audio plays automatically as you approach featured locations
Start from either the West or North park entrance and follow the route shown in the app
All suggested hikes are optional; the driving tour takes approximately 3–4 hours without extended stops or hikes
Includes a bonus Joshua Tree Area Guide with recommendations for restaurants, hikes, art, roadside attractions, and more
Once unlocked, you retain lifetime access to the tour
One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle
Download the Drives & Detours app and your tour before arriving at the park
Bring a fully charged phone or car charger
Pause anytime for hiking, sightseeing, photos, food, or scenic stops
This is a private self-guided experience in your own vehicle; no live guide is included

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

3.7 (3)