Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.5/5
Based on 803 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour worth booking?
Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour is a 3-hour experience in Palm Springs, United States, from $14 per person. It scores 81 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.5/5 rating across 803 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 81 / 100
- Rating
- 4.5/5 (803)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $14 per person
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Explore the rugged, mystical beauty of Joshua Tree National Park with this narrated driving tour. Discover a desert full of amazing hikes and cartoon
What you get
About this experience
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Explore the rugged, mystical beauty of Joshua Tree National Park with this narrated driving tour. Discover a desert full of amazing hikes and cartoonishly strange trees, and hear all about the area’s fascinating history, from the greed of the gold rush to the McHaney Gang’s reign of terror. Enjoy all this in any season from the comfort of your own car! • Tour Joshua Tree National Park from the comfort of your own car • As a bonus, this package also includes a tour through Hidden Valley Nature Trail! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
What's included
Included
- Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Self-guided audio tour through our easy-to-use mobile app.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
Not included
- Self-guided tour — no live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
What you'll see and do
Your tour of Joshua Tree begins at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. From here, you'll drive through this weird, one-of-a-kind park where two deserts meet. Along the way, get ready to marvel at the bizarre Joshua trees for which the park is named, embark on awe-inspiring hikes, and catch a sunset you'll never forget. Note: The tour is over 66 miles long, with more than 60+ audio stories, and takes about 3-4 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Pass by without stopping
Joshua Tree National Park
Before you enter the park, you'll pass through the town of Joshua Tree. It's full of quaint little shops and restaurants and is the perfect place to pick up a snack or a souvenir before or after your trip through the park.
5 minutes here
This peculiar landmark can be accessed via a moderate, 3.3-mile trail. Almost 100 years ago, an enigmatic man named John Samuelson etched various musings and declarations onto these rocks. They remain to this day as a strange, almost mystical sight.
5 minutes here
A 7-mile trail leads straight to Willow Hole, a seemingly miraculous oasis in the middle of the desert. The oasis is surrounded by willow trees and just has to be seen to be believed. Many visitors at first think it's a mirage!
5 minutes here
The Hemingway Buttress is one of the most popular climbing spots in the park. It juts up dramatically from the earth, seeming to dare visitors to scale it. The buttress features a huge pile of boulders which are lots of fun to scramble up, and climbers of all skill levels can find something to enjoy here.
5 minutes here
Ever wanted to see the hideout of a Wild West gang? You'll find it on this trail, as well as some seriously stunning desert scenery to boot. The Hidden Valley Nature Trail is an easy trek and only goes for about a mile, making it one of Joshua Tree's must-see hikes. As a bonus, this package also includes a tour through Hidden Valley Nature Trail!
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Intersection Rock
Intersection Rock is considered to be a sort of hub within Joshua Tree. Thanks to its towering size, it can be seen from a great distance and casts a striking silhouette against the blazing desert sky. It's also a hugely popular climbing spot, featuring numerous different climbing routes with names like Knuckle Cracker, Ignorant Photons from Pluto, and Sympathy to the Devil.
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Cap Rock Trail
Cap Rock is a strange sight, featuring a small boulder almost impossibly perched atop a larger rock formation. Here, you'll find a quick quarter-mile trail chock full of information about the local flora.
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Lost Horse Valley
Lost Horse Valley is a sweeping desert valley that gets its name from some of the McHaney Gang's misdeeds back in the days of the Wild West. You'll hear all about that as you drive through this valley, including what one overconfident miner did to try to get his stolen horses back!
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Lost Horse Mine
The Lost Horse Mine Loop Trail leads to a truly unique spot: the remains of one of the most successful gold mines in the region. In addition to these ruins, this four-mile trail also features some magnificent desert flora and more than a few excellent vistas. If you're visiting in the summer, be prepared for a lack of shade on this trail.
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Queen Valley Road
Another abandoned mine waits in Queen Valley. The gold found in this mine was the motive behind at least one murder and a whole lot else.
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Skull Rock
This iconic desert granite formation looks uncannily like a human skull. It's easily accessible from the roadside, and is also the trailhead for an easy 2-mile trail that's among the most popular hiking trails in the whole park.
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Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center
Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center is a phenomenal spot to learn not just about the flora and fauna of Joshua Tree, but also about the stars above. As a dark sky area, Joshua Tree makes for some seriously impressive stargazing, so try to stick around after dark if you can!
Pass by without stopping
Oasis Visitor Center
The Oasis Visitor Center is the last stop along the main tour route. It sits in the town of Twenty-Nine Palms, not far from where you began your tour. If you'd prefer to continue journeying through Joshua Tree, you can also follow the detour route, which proceeds south through the rest of the park and exits out the southern gate.
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Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Palm Springs
West Entrance: Start on Park Blvd near 6563 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA, heading south toward the park with the Joshua Tree Visitor Center on your right. Suggested start; not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text, download ahead on strong internet.
Meeting point
Palm Springs
South Entrance: Start on Cottonwood Springs Rd just south of Cottonwood Visitor Center, heading north with the Visitor Center on your right. Suggested start; we’re not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text for setup, download ahead on strong internet.
Meeting point
Palm Springs
Northeast Entrance: Start on CA-62 (29 Palms Hwy) near 6505 Freedom Wy, Twentynine Palms, heading east with the Joshua Tree Visitor Center and parking lot on your right. Suggested start; not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text, download ahead.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
West Entrance: Start on Park Blvd near 6563 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA, heading south toward the park with the Joshua Tree Visitor Center on your right. Suggested start; not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text, download ahead on strong internet.
Ends at
South Entrance: Start on Cottonwood Springs Rd just south of Cottonwood Visitor Center, heading north with the Visitor Center on your right. Suggested start; we’re not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text for setup, download ahead on strong internet.
Ends at
Northeast Entrance: Start on CA-62 (29 Palms Hwy) near 6505 Freedom Wy, Twentynine Palms, heading east with the Joshua Tree Visitor Center and parking lot on your right. Suggested start; not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text, download ahead.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, en, fr, nl
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Adventures with Action
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 802 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
802 verified traveler reviews for Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
We really enjoyed the...
We really enjoyed the narrator. Very informative regarding the features of Joshua Tree. My only issue was that we went to the 1 mine on the designated map/narrative and when leaving I apparently went wrong. I ended up on some off road lane with no map guidance. So I was a little freaked out. I would have liked for the app to help us get out of the predicament, as it isn't like you can turn around and go back the way you came.
Response from the operator: Gary, thank you for taking my Joshua Tree National Park self-guided driving audio tour! I’m glad you enjoyed the narrator and found the information about the park’s features helpful, though I’m sorry you ended up on an off-road lane after leaving the mine stop. Could you please reach out and let me know exactly where this happened or which mine/stop you were leaving from, so I can pass it to my team for review and help clarify the route guidance? I am available daily from 9 AM to 6 PM EST.
via Viator
Awesome Self Guided Tour
The stories and guide were easy to follow. The tour will pause and restart once you start driving again. Great for those who want to explore Joshua Tree at their own pace. You can use this guided tour multiple times which gives you the chance do each hike on different days.
Response from the operator: Shalonda, thank you for taking my Joshua Tree GPS driving audio tour. I’m so glad the stories and guide were easy to follow, and that the pause-and-restart feature made it simple to explore at your own pace. If you’d like to explore more nearby destinations, my Southern California Self-Guided Driving & Walking Bundle Tour includes Hollywood Celebrity & Star Homes, Famous Filming Locations in Los Angeles, La Jolla Cove, Death Valley National Park, and more. Happy exploring!
via Viator
Really Good
This tour has really well done narration of the park that follows along with your driving via GPS on your phone. It's well worth the nominal ~$16.
Response from the operator: Mark, I’m really happy to hear you found my Joshua Tree National Park GPS Driving Audio Tour well done and worth it. It’s great to hear the narration followed your drive smoothly through the park and enhanced your visit. If you’d like to explore more nearby destinations, my Southern California Self-Guided Driving & Walking Bundle Tour includes Hollywood Celebrity & Star Homes, Famous Filming Locations in Los Angeles, La Jolla Cove, Death Valley National Park, and more. Happy exploring!
via Viator
Loved this tour
Fantastic way to go through the park. The app matched the locations beautifully. Please make sure you download for best experience as the signal does go out completely go out within minutes inside the park. Loved the stories to accompany the markers, we learned things we wouldn’t have learned otherwise. The kids found it engaging and followed well which is especially helpful in the summer where hikes may be prohibitive due to the heat.
Response from the operator: Doris, I’m so glad to hear you loved my Joshua Tree National Park GPS Driving Audio Tour. It’s wonderful to know the app matched the locations beautifully and that the stories helped your family learn things you might have missed otherwise. I’m especially happy the kids found it engaging and easy to follow, especially during the summer when the heat can make hiking more difficult. If you enjoyed Joshua Tree, you might want to explore more with my Southern California Self-Guided Driving & Walking Bundle Tour. It features some of the region's top experiences, including Hollywood Celebrity & Star Homes, Famous Filming Locations in Los Angeles, La Jolla Cove, and Death Valley National Park. Happy exploring!
via Viator
Easy to follow (it...
Easy to follow (it follows you!) app. The stories are a wonderful addition to driving the route. It was especially helpful to have several starting points to choose from. I really enjoyed this tour and would certainly use this app another National Parks.
Response from the operator: Sue, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my Joshua Tree GPS Driving Audio Tour. It’s wonderful to know you found the app easy to follow and enjoyed the stories along the route. I’m also happy the multiple starting points made the experience more convenient for your trip. If you enjoyed Joshua Tree, you might want to explore more with my Southern California Self-Guided Driving & Walking Bundle Tour. It features some of the region's top experiences, including Hollywood Celebrity & Star Homes, Famous Filming Locations in Los Angeles, La Jolla Cove, and Death Valley National Park. Happy exploring!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $14 to $17
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 281
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Why this scores 81
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Palm Springs.
How much does Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour cost?
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Prices start at $14 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Palm Springs usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Palm Springs is not rushed.
Is Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 81 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.5/5 across 803 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Palm Springs, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour?
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Around 281 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Palm Springs can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Palm Springs and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Palm Springs within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Palm Springs?
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Palm Springs sells architecture tours through midcentury neighbourhoods, Aerial Tramway trips up San Jacinto, Indian Canyons hikes, Joshua Tree stargazing and windmill farm runs. Shade, water and pickup points separate a good desert tour from a rough one. On Outty we rank every Palm Springs experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Bank Heist Escape Room Game for Private Group, Palm Springs Modernism Architecture & History Bike Tour, Vampire's Lair Escape Room Game for Private Group. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Palm Springs?
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November to April. Book dawn or evening slots in summer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Palm Springs?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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