Joshua Tree + Channel Islands 2-Day Itinerary

Joshua Tree + Channel Islands

2-Day Itinerary

Adventure without breaking the bank

My friend and I traveled into LAX for a two-day/two-national-park trip! We initially planned to visit Joshua Tree and Death Valley, but an experienced traveller recommended Channel Islands to me, and I’m SO thankful she did. This was easily manageable for a quick weekend trip, and we felt we saw more than we even initially planned!

This was surprisingly one of the cheapest trips I’ve been on! California may have high prices, but if you do it right, you’ll see and do so much more for so much less than you could imagine.

You ready for a weekend in California?

When's the best time to go?

The best time to visit California is in the spring (March to May) and fall (October to November) when temperatures are mild and comfortable for outdoor activities.

We traveled in June, which isn’t the recommended time, but we found ourselves very comfortable. It never got too hot or too cold.

Housing

I might lose you here... but we opted for car camping during our time in California. It was the most practical choice considering our budget and the limited time we had.

Arriving late and needing to hike early, it was more convenient to locate a secure campsite and use nearby Planet Fitness facilities for showers.

(Tip: neck pillows are your saving grace. We got full night’s rest with reclined seats and our neck pillows)

Cost per night: $25

Transportation

The only option for transportation for any type of trip like this is to get a rental car. It’s easy to validate the cost when it’s also your source of housing for the weekend.

We used Turo, which was such a convenient option- we didn’t have to wait in long rental car lines, but had the car dropped off to us at the airport pick-up area.

Cost for 2 days: $120

First Night

We flew into LAX and headed straight for our campsite in Joshua Tree.

2 hours and 40 minute drive.

Joshua Tree Campgrounds

The majority of the 500 campsites in the park are available by reservation. Reservations can be made the same day or up to 6 months in advance and can be booked on recreation.gov. Book your site before entering the park.

We stayed in the Indian Cove Campground, which felt extremely secure and was breathtakingly beautiful. Make sure you route to your campsite well before you arrive because you will not have service.

One night: $25

Day One

Hope you brought your hiking boots!

Hiking in Joshua Tree

There are so many hikes to choose from in Joshua Tree National Park!

This might be a hot take, but once you see a little bit of Joshua Tree, you might feel like you’ve seen it all. There are lots of great hikes to choose from, but you won’t be missing out if you don’t see them all!

Cost of Entry: USUALLY $15-30, BUT if you arrive overnight for the campsite, they don‘t have people at the gates to charge you.

The Best Hiking Trails

Heart Rock and Arch Rock via Arch Rock Trail

Easy | 1.7mi

Skull Rock

Easy | 1.7mi

The hikes are all short in length- I’d recommend a half day in this National Park, then head near LA to explore Hollywood, get dinner and set up to car camp.

Before you leave...

If this is a weekend trip for you, don’t want to miss out on the Joshua Tree Farmer’s Market every Saturday! This is the only National Park I know that hosts a farmer’s market by their visitor center.

Be sure to stop by for some coffee, lunch, suvieneers, or fresh produce!

They are open every Saturday from 8AM until 1PM.

Head to Hollywood!

The drive into Hollywood is about 2.5 hours, so I’m sure you’ll be ready to stretch your legs. What better way than to hike to the Hollywood sign??

It was surprisingly easy to navigate throughout Downtown Hollywood and avoid some of the chaos of LA, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding this hike.

Hollywood Sign Hike

Easy | 1.8mi

Click “directions” on AllTrails for the exact starting point.

Street parking is free.

Let’s talk about showering 🫢

My favorite showering travel hack is specific to Planet Fitness, although I’m sure this works for other national gyms.

They allow free Day Passes for each gym location.

The best part is, you can get a free day pass for EACH LOCATION.

You are limited to one day pass PER LOCATION every 3 months. But there’s usually a few locations to choose from in busy cities, so you could shower at each of them for free!

Grubbb

We don’t have In-N-Out’s on the east coast, so they’re a MUST for traveling out west.

Not only are they affordable, but they’re delicious and kinda iconic.

Bon appétit!

Call it a Night (or Don’t)

I can’t speak to things to do in Hollywood after sunset, but I’m sure there are plenty of options: Hollywood Activities.

We had a friend that had an aunt that let us crash in our rental car in her garage LOL but I’m sure there are other safe places to car camp in Hollywood, even if you don’t have a generous friend with a cool aunt.

Click here to explore some safe, cheap options for car camping near Hollywood.

Day Two

This was easily the best hike I have been on throughout my hiking career (is that a thing?)

Channel Islands is a lesser-known California National Park, but has been my favorite of all US National Parks.

The drive from Downtown Hollywood to the ferry is about 40 minutes.

Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz Island

You can only access the islands by ferry, but luckily, the ferries are affordable, easy to navigate, and provide a beautiful form of transportation! Don’t be surprised to see sea lions and dolphins throughout the ride.

It is important to travel to this island. The other islands are over 3 hours away ONE WAY, while this one is around 30 minutes.

Island Packers is the best way to get there, but make sure you get your tickets well in advance because they do sell out.

Cost of ferry: $66 (includes the cost of entry)

Know Before You Go

The ferry ride is very choppy and got pretty cold.

There is no food or water available on the islands. Bring your own food and drink and leave no trace. Pick up trash and take it back including banana peels and apple cores.

There is no cell phone reception available. Rangers are available for first-aid but first-aid kit is recommended in the packing list.

Kayak

It costs $55 a day for a double kayak and $35 for a single. The kayak also comes with paddles, helmets, and life jackets.

If you want to try sea kayaking but aren’t ready to go at it solo, there are two local companies that do tours of the islands. The Channel Island Kayaking Center and the Santa Barbara Adventure Company have public and private kayaking tours of the islands.

Hike

We did the Potato Harbor hike, which made you feel like you were walking in another world. (highly recommend)

Moderate | 8.0mi

Then, we finished off with the Scorpion Canyon Loop Trail

Moderate | 4.7mi

Head back to the ferry at your designated pick-up time, get a bite to eat, and explore Downtown LA!

We were so surprised at how much we were able to see and do in such a short period of time. Don’t let time be the reason you stop yourself from exploring these beautiful National Parks!