Winter
Dec → Feb15 to 17°
nights 2 to 4°
- 2 rainy days · 20 mm
When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree?
- Jan16°fair
- Feb17°recommended
- Mar21°recommended
- Apr25°recommended
- May30°fair
- Jun35°not recommended
- Jul39°not recommended
- Aug38°not recommended
- Sep34°fair
- Oct28°recommended
- Nov21°recommended
- Dec15°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Joshua Tree, month by month
The table of averages, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 3° | 30 mm | 2 d | |
| February | 17° | 4° | 18 mm | 2 d | ✓ |
| March | 21° | 6° | 11 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| April | 25° | 8° | 5 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| May | 30° | 12° | 3 mm | 0 d | |
| June | 35° | 16° | 1 mm | 0 d | |
| July | 39° | 21° | 7 mm | 2 d | |
| August | 38° | 21° | 9 mm | 1 d | |
| September | 34° | 18° | 6 mm | 1 d | |
| October | 28° | 11° | 6 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| November | 21° | 6° | 4 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| December | 15° | 2° | 12 mm | 2 d |
The four seasons in Joshua Tree, in figures
What the 2015-2024 averages (Joshua Tree) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May21 to 30°
nights 6 to 12°
- 1 rainy days · 6 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug35 to 39°
nights 16 to 21°
- 1 rainy days · 6 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov21 to 34°
nights 6 to 18°
- 1 rainy days · 5 mm
Book early for February to April and October to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Joshua Tree, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h25 of daylight, in December 9h53, a difference of 4h32.
10h07Jan
10h55Feb
11h53Mar
13hApr
13h55May
14h25Jun
14h13Jul
13h25Aug
12h20Sep
11h16Oct
10h20Nov
9h53Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Joshua Tree" (34.15°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Joshua Tree, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days |
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: January, February, March, April, October, November, December
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December
- Long days: June, July
Grid derived from the climate averages (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Fair16°3° at night
- 30 mm · 2 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Recommended17°4° at night
- 18 mm · 2 d
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended21°6° at night
- 11 mm · 1 d
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended25°8° at night
- 5 mm · 1 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair30°12° at night
- 3 mm · 0 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended35°16° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended39°21° at night
- 7 mm · 2 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended38°21° at night
- 9 mm · 1 d
Low season, lower prices
September
Fair34°18° at night
- 6 mm · 1 d
Low season, lower prices
October
Recommended28°11° at night
- 6 mm · 1 d
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended21°6° at night
- 4 mm · 1 d
Busy, without the crush
December
Fair15°2° at night
- 12 mm · 2 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 16 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Hardly any rain (30 mm over 2 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 17 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Hardly any rain (18 mm over 2 days). Busy season, without the crush.
March. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 6 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (11 mm over 1 day). Busy season, without the crush.
April. 25 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C at night. Hardly any rain (5 mm over 1 day). Busy season, without the crush.
May. 30 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 0 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Real heat: 35 °C at the warmest of the day, 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 39 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (7 mm over 2 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Real heat: 38 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 1 day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 18 °C at night. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 1 day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 28 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C at night. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 1 day). Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 6 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (4 mm over 1 day). Busy season, without the crush.
December. Cool: 15 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Hardly any rain (12 mm over 2 days). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree?
February to April and October to November: over these months, average highs range from 17 to 28 °C, with 1 day of rain a month on average (2015-2024 averages, Joshua Tree).
Which month should you avoid in Joshua Tree?
August: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 9 mm over 1 day of rain on average over 2015-2024 at the reference point (Joshua Tree).
What is the hottest month in Joshua Tree?
July, with 39 °C on average in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (Joshua Tree).
What is the coldest month in Joshua Tree?
December, with 15 °C at best during the day and 2 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (Joshua Tree).
What is the driest month in Joshua Tree?
June: 1 mm over 0 days of rain, against 30 mm in January, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Joshua Tree?
The gap between day and night reaches 19 °C in June: 35 °C in the afternoon, 16 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Joshua Tree?
January, February, March, April, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month on 2015-2024 averages (Joshua Tree), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Joshua Tree guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit the American West: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Giorgio Galeotti / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Eugenio Felix / Pexels · Joshua Tree National Park / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons) · Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)