Planning a trip to Joshua Tree? Here is where to stay

Wondering where to stay in Joshua Tree? One minute you’re dreaming of cactus-lined paths, glowing sunsets, and those famous starry skies and the next you’re buried in 47 Airbnb tabs that all start to blur together. I might be able to help. I’ve lived in Joshua Tree for the past three years and host my own Airbnb here, so I’ve gotten to know the area inside and out. And while there’s no shortage of places to stay, not all of them give you that dreamy desert feeling you’re probably searching for.

View from Cholla Hills Home in Yucca Mesa

If you’re looking for the best Airbnb in Joshua Tree, here’s what I always tell people: location matters just as much as the aesthetic. You can find a beautifully decorated home, but if it’s surrounded by fences, streetlights, and houses packed close together, you’re going to miss out on what makes the desert feel magical.

That’s why my go-to picks are always Yucca Mesa and Pioneertown.

These two areas feel like a natural extension of Joshua Tree National Park. Even after you leave the park, the landscape stays the same. Joshua trees, cholla cacti, mountains in the distance, and open sky in every direction. The homes out here are spaced out and tucked into the land, which means you get privacy, quiet, and actual views. You won’t be staring into your neighbor’s backyard, you’ll be watching the sunrise with coffee in hand and stargazing in total stillness.

View from Cholla Hills Home in Yucca Mesa

Even with that off-the-grid feeling, both areas are close to everything you need. Yucca Mesa is just 15 minutes from the park and a quick drive to coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. Pioneertown sits a little farther out, but the dramatic scenery makes it worth every extra minute.

Staying in Yucca Mesa or Pioneertown feels like having your own little slice of the park. For a few days, you get to wake up in the middle of the desert, surrounded by Joshua trees and quiet, with all the comforts of home just steps away.