Joshua Tree National Park in July
July at Joshua Tree National Park averages a daytime high near 104°F and an overnight low around 77°F, with about 0.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.6× the park's average month, which makes July a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 77°F
- Average high
- 104°F
Range across the year: 40°F to 104°F
- Precipitation
- 0.4 in
- Daylight
- 14.0 hours
Roughly 5% of the park's yearly visitors come in July: about 133,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the quietest month of the year at Joshua Tree; by contrast March, the busiest, runs about 1.6× the average — so July is the easiest time to have the place largely to yourself.
On our Best Time to Visit score July rates 51/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 91°F is hot, with afternoons near 104°F to plan the day around. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 18.6 miles from the park.
July falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 15% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 14 hours of daylight in July to explore — near the year-round maximum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 2,932,644 recreation visits, down 2% from 2,991,874 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 15%, so a July visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How July compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 99°F / 71°F | 0.7× Quiet | 48 Fair |
| July | 104°F / 77°F | 0.6× Quiet | 51 Fair |
| August | 103°F / 76°F | 0.6× Quiet | 50 Fair |
All twelve months at Joshua Tree, with the best time to visit.
Seasonal closures in July 2027
The National Park Service lists these Joshua Tree facilities as closed during July 2027. The dates are the park's own, read on October 11, 2026. A facility that is not listed here may still be closed, so confirm on the park's site before you go.
- Belle Campground (campground): closed all month (June 1, 2027 to August 28, 2027)
- White Tank Campground (campground): closed all month (June 1, 2027 to August 28, 2027)
Things to do at Joshua Tree in July
The National Park Service tags 22 Joshua Tree activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Become a Joshua Tree Junior Ranger · 30-120 minutes
- Black Rock Zone Backpacking · 2-15 days · reservation required
- Drive Park Boulevard · 1-10 hours
- Hike Boy Scout Trail · 1-10 hours
- Hike Cottonwood Spring · 5-20 minutes
- Hike Indian Cove Trail · 30-45 minutes
- Maze Zone Backpacking · 2-15 days · reservation required
- Stargazing at Joshua Tree
Frequently Asked Questions
July averages a daytime high near 104°F and an overnight low around 77°F at Joshua Tree National Park, with about 0.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 18.6 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
July is quiet at Joshua Tree National Park (about 0.6× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 51/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is July. July sits at about 0.6× the park's average, or 5% of annual visitation.
A typical July sees about 133,000 recreation visits at Joshua Tree National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Joshua Tree in July
Booking a July trip to Joshua Tree National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live July availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Joshua Tree
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in July.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.