K
Joshua Tree
It was a great tool and way to experience Joshua Tree National Park . Ensured we saw the entire park.
Operator response
Glad you enjoyed the tour! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour
+11 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3–4 hours
- Price from
- $15 / person
- Location
- Palm Springs, United States
- Rating
- 3.7 / 5 · 3 reviews
- Languages
- DE, DE, EN, EN
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Drives & Detours
- Meeting point
- Option 2: The audio tour will start automatically after entering Joshua Tree National Park through the North Entrance Station.
Description
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
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 14
- Group price
- $15 per vehicle, up to 5 people
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Joshua Tree National Park
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
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
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
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
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
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
Take a short hike (optional) to this old homestead site of a wealthy rancher turned mine operator.
Hall of Horrors
Get out and explore a mini slot canyon tucked into the boulders!
Ryan Mountain
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
Located right along the road, Skull Rock is a natural rock formation and popular photo spot.
Split Rock
Another optional loop hike that gets a little less traffic than some of the other sites in the park.
Arch Rock Nature Trail
Relatively easy and popular hike that lets you visit 2 natural rock formations on one hike, Arch Rock and Heart Rock.
Cholla Cactus Garden
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
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.
What's included
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
Not included
Food & Drink
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
3.7
3 reviews
Important 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
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour take?
Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour lasts about 3–4 hours. The itinerary has 14 stops.
How much does Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour cost?
Prices start at $15 per person for this Palm Springs experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day.
Can I cancel Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Option 2: The audio tour will start automatically after entering Joshua Tree National Park through the North Entrance Station. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour offered in?
The experience is available in DE, DE, EN, EN, FR, FR, ES, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 5 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 3.7 out of 5 across 3 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Drives & Detours.
Reviews(3)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
L
I gave it 3 stars, it really deserves 2
Directions are not clear. It is very awkward to use. There must be better apps out there. I have designed software and this is not well designed.
Operator response
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We'd love to know more about what you found unclear or awkward, or to understand if it was something particular to your device. Please shoot us a note at support@drivesanddetours.com.
J
Informative and convenient way to enjoy the park at our own pace.
Joshua Tree Park is like another planet - amazing scenery and not too crowded. Saw it 5 years ago and it was just about unchanged this time. The audio tour was a great way to learn more about the park on the road seeing it first hand. Stopped at the Park Visitor's Center to check in and pay the park fee - nice staff and lovely displays. Asked about the Trip Advisor tour and none of the staff knew anything or offered any advice about it. They suggested we download the Park's app and helped us do that, but it didn't prove to be useful. We took some time to get the Trip Advisor tour loaded and synced up with our car Blue tooth and after a few false starts getting familiar with the app, we got it working and followed along. Found the tour informative, but wished for more info and more specific sites to be included. Enjoyed the convenience of travelling at our own speed and being able to replay specific parts of the audio tour for details we missed the first time. Would certainly recommend this tour for anyone going to the park, whether they be first timers, or return visitors as I was. Wasn't able to take pictures while listening to the tour as I didn't want to risk losing the audio feed. My travel partner took lots of pix on her phone, though. Nice to have two phones to use.
Operator response
Glad you guys enjoyed it and thank you for taking the time to leave a review! You are correct in that we are not affiliated with the park so we do recommend you familiarize yourself with the app beforehand. Safe travels!
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from$15
3.7(3) Free cancellation