Joshua Tree National Park in August

Joshua Tree National Park in August calls for brief outdoor stops and a serious heat check. An evening visit still needs water, preparation and a weather-aware plan.

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The sky turns hues of pink and purple over a field of Joshua trees.
Quail Springs Area at SunsetNPS / Emily Hassell
Joshua trees grow on a flat plain with boulder outcrops and mountains in the distance
Lost Horse ValleyNPS/Brad Sutton

Conditions

Last checked:

Check before you go

What to see and do in Joshua Tree in August

Choose an August outing that fits the route, weather and effort involved.

night scene showing stars of the Milky Way over a sign saying "Entering Joshua Tree National Park"
Stars Over the Park Entrance · NPS/Lian Law

Dark-sky viewing

After-dark visiting still requires heat preparation and a Moon and weather check. Do not expect dark skies from the month alone.

August · Dark-sky viewing

Joshua Tree weather in August

August’s normal high is 103°F and low is 76°F, with 0.65 inches of precipitation. These normals come from Twentynine Palms at about 1,975 ft, outside the park. This is a lower-elevation gateway proxy, not a park-wide average. Higher places such as Hidden Valley and Keys View can be colder, with freezing winter nights. Check the forecast for your stops.

Cooler Hotter
Jan
High63°F
Low42°F
Precip · in0.50
Feb
High67°F
Low44°F
Precip · in0.56
Mar
High74°F
Low49°F
Precip · in0.35
Apr
High81°F
Low55°F
Precip · in0.12
May
High90°F
Low63°F
Precip · in0.05
Jun
High99°F
Low71°F
Precip · in0.00
Jul
High104°F
Low77°F
Precip · in0.40
Aug
High103°F
Low76°F
Precip · in0.65
Sep
High97°F
Low69°F
Precip · in0.34
Oct
High85°F
Low58°F
Precip · in0.15
Nov
High72°F
Low47°F
Precip · in0.19
Dec
High62°F
Low40°F
Precip · in0.56

Joshua Tree crowds in August

August averages 140,063 recreation visits, 34% of the peak monthly average in March.

LowestLowModerateHighPeakAverage month: 255,294August

Tips for your August visit

Check the approach before choosing the rest of the day.

Joshua Tree entrances and selected paved roads A: West Entrance from Joshua Tree. B: North Entrance from Twentynine Palms. C: South Entrance from Interstate 10. Highlighted NPS road geometry shows Park Boulevard, Pinto Basin Road, Keys View Road and selected campground approaches. Road lines show geography, not current conditions. Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Keys View Rd Keys View Rd Black Rock Campground Pinto Basin Rd Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Cottonwood Springs Rd Park Blvd Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Black Rock Campground Barker Dam Rd Barker Dam Rd Indian Cove Rd West Entrance StationA North Entrance StationB South Entrance (Cottonwood)CN
AWest Entrance StationBNorth Entrance StationCSouth Entrance (Cottonwood)
  • Selected paved park roads
  • Park boundary

How we built this page.

An independent guide using official data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service.

Crowds
2021–2025 monthly averages. NPS recreation visits, compared with the park’s own busiest month. Visits are not unique visitors or a count of people on a trail.
Weather
1991-2020 climate normals. NOAA’s Twentynine Palms station. These describe typical weather at the station, not every part of the park or a forecast.
Roads & lodging
Normal seasonal schedules. NPS guidance and official operator information. Confirm access, hours and availability before you travel.