Joshua Tree in November: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Peak crowds · VisitWhen score 62/100 · #8 of 12 months

November is peak season — the 4th-busiest month of the year, at Joshua Tree National Park: crowds run 76% of the March peak (312,571 average visits). Weather: highs average 74°F and lows 46°F, with 0.3″ of precipitation and 10.4 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Joshua Tree in November: what the park service says

November falls in Joshua Tree's long camping season: the park service says every campground in the park is usually full on weekends from September through May. Black Rock, Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Jumbo Rocks and Ryan can be reserved on recreation.gov up to six months ahead, and the park strongly suggests booking for any holiday or weekend. Hidden Valley, Belle and White Tank are first-come, first-served and are typically full by Friday afternoon, so plan a fallback outside the park, such as BLM land or lodging in a gateway town.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in November

Joshua Tree averages 312,571 recreation visits in November — 76% of what March, the peak month, draws. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — book early and start days at dawn.

Weather & daylight

Days are mild (highs average 74°F), and nights stay mild (lows average 46°F). It is typically dry (0.3″ of precipitation). Mid-month daylight runs 10.4 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station CHIRIACO SUMMIT, CA US (18 mi from park coordinates, 1,706 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of November.

What to pack for Joshua Tree in November

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• A light layer you can shed by midday (long sleeve or windbreaker) — a 28°F swing between the average low of 46°F and high of 74°F
• Headlamp — only 10.4 hours of daylight in mid-November (compare other options)
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Joshua Tree are January and May.

Also at their best in November

Other parks whose computed November verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• Canyonlands in November — 35% of peak crowds, highs 55°F, score 72/100
• Mammoth Cave in November — 33% of peak crowds, highs 61°F, score 72/100
• New River Gorge in November — 33% of peak crowds, highs 54°F, score 72/100
• Petrified Forest in November — 45% of peak crowds, highs 58°F, score 72/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in November · Last verified 2026-09-24