Jason Heidemann

Otherworldly desert landscapes, jagged rock formations and, of course, Joshua Trees, are what characterize this vast Californian national park, and if you’re planning a vacation to get away from the digital world and breathe in the vastness of this landscape, we’ve got some advice on where to stay. Below is our recently refreshed list of the best hotels in Joshua Tree, which includes new reviews of brilliant properties AutoCamp, Lobo Luna at Sacred Sands and The Bungalows by Homestead Modern for Fall and Winter 2025.   Which area is best to stay in Joshua Tree? To ensure you have close proximity to the West Entrance Station of Joshua Tree National Park, opt for Joshua Tree itself. As for the North Entrance Station, head instead to Twentynine Palms. Oh, and if you’re feeling really adventurous, why not camp inside the park?  Joshua Tree’s best hotels at a glance: 💎 Most luxurious: AutoCamp Joshua Tree 👛 Best budget: Harmony Motel 🌃 Best view: The Bungalows by Homestead Modern 🤩 Most iconic: Pioneertown Motel 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in Los Angeles How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features,

The Hi-Desert desert communities surrounding Joshua Tree National Park are worlds apart in terms of style, attitude and overall vibes: in the Coachella Valley, visitors don Trina Turk kaftans while reclining on poolside loungers, while in Joshua Tree they strap on Merrell Moab boots while stretching their gams hiking famous trails like Arch Rock.  The Bungalows By Homestead Modern, a luxury desert getaway located on the same grounds as a historic spiritual wellness center (more on that later), feels like a sunny Palm Springs lodging that pined for stark scenery and a cowboy lifestyle and one day decided to up and haul off to Joshua Tree (while keeping its midcentury vibes and sun-dappled color scheme intact). In short, it seems to offer the best of both worlds.  Why stay at The Bungalows by Homestead Modern? The Bungalows are a collection of 14 apartment-style units within three historic buildings designed in 1961 by architect Harold B. Zook. Not unlike the homes that are so distinctive to Palm Springs, each of the virtually identical buildings are likewise single-story with low-slung, low-pitch gable roofs, and each contain sliding patio doors designed to filter in copious amounts of sunlight.   My deluxe suite included a living area and shared a wall with another unit. During my stay it was shared by a couple who planned on spending their weekend staying put. Despite my protestations, I could hardly blame them—The Bungalows sit on a butte overlooking a field of Joshua Trees

Beetlejuice… Beetlejuice! I wanted to scream that name aloud upon entering The Hotel Castro. Why? Well, because the front door at this self check-in boutique opens into a slim hallway featuring hallucinatory black-and-white floor tiling and matching striped wallpaper that immediately conjures the famous bio-exorcist from the celebrated Tim Burton film (though I obviously would never dare say his name out loud three times).  If that kind of decor sounds a little bit idiosyncratic, (keep in mind we’re in a part of the city where you’re likely to pass men on the street window shopping in nothing more than a sock to cover their private parts), rest assured that overall The Hotel Castro is a slim and attractive treasure chest of a stay which houses 12 rooms ideally suited to the independent-minded traveler. Why stay at the Hotel Castro? The Castro is the indisputable queen of queer US neighborhoods and lodgers will find themselves just steps away from marquee attractions like the historic Castro Theatre (slated to reopen in 2026 as a live music venue), Harvey Milk Memorial Plaza (a tribute to the late civil rights leader), and the artifact-filled GLBT Historical Society Museum. The entire neighborhood pays living tribute to the ongoing struggle for gay liberation and queer vibes ripple all across its famously rainbow-splashed streets. Meanwhile, San Francisco’s post-pandemic slump which, while somewhat overstated, has indeed led to numerous store closures and subsequent glum aroun

If you find yourself curled up and snoozing peacefully atop an outdoor ‘stargazing’ bed as passing breezes perfume the air with the scent of cedar and sagebrush (an intoxicating fragrance that should be sold in candle form at gift shops) and baggy-skinned chuckwallas scamper across the landscape, you could be forgiven for thinking you were dozing off under a starry night sky within Joshua Tree National Park. You practically are. Sacred Sands is a dashedly charming inn, and its footpath-connected guesthouse Lobo Luna sit together on 10 acres of mountain-facing land a mere 2 kilometers from the park’s West Entrance Station. It’s like overnighting inside the park but with a ‘treat yourself’ mentality for people who want crisp linens instead of shaggy sleeping bags (and the promise of a tarantula-free night’s sleep). Why stay at Lobo Luna at Sacred Sands? California’s Hi-Desert, the area north and west of the park which includes communities like Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree, has largely eschewed big-box hotels (though a few familiar US chains can be found along Twentynine Palms Highway). Instead, homestays heavy on desert swagger which have been designed to lure drive-market weekenders, plus cowboy-curious travelers from elsewhere in the US and around the world, dominate.  Lobo Luna at Sacred Sands delivers boho chic vibes in spades and its proximity to the park makes it the envy of other vacation rentals. Current owners Keith and Kaylee Niemann Ham