I never get tired of a weekend away in Joshua Tree. Every couple of years I find myself drawn to this quirky desert pocket and its beauty. Located only a few hours from San Diego and Los Angeles, it makes for the perfect getaway. Keep reading for my list of the most Instagrammable spots in Joshua Tree.

Save the Travis Joshua Tree Moodboard for planning your trip!

This article was kindly sponsored by travel company Travis. With their site you can find and curate your own moodboards for upcoming trips! My favorite part is that you don’t need to fiddle with Google Maps anymore because everything is mapped in an aesthetic way. For all the spots mentioned in this article, head to my moodboard.

Interested in making your own moodboard? To get bumped up the wait list, go to this link and use code “palmtreespellegrino” to get an immediate invite!

Instagrammable Places in Joshua Tree #1: The Station

The Station is a historic 1949 Richfield service station turned chic souvenir shop. Whenever I visit Joshua Tree I make it a point to stop by and check out their latest items. Not only is it a super instagrammable spot, but also the perfect place to get a non-tacky souvenir.

Instagrammable Places in Joshua Tree #2: Art Queen

The mini “neighborhood” that Art Queen is in is jam packed with things to see. So the number one tip I have is to make sure you take your time exploring all the hidden nooks and crannies. Don’t miss shopping at the Sun Alley Shops or a visit to the other art installations that are mentioned later in this article.

Designed by Sheri Elf (singer-songwriter) and Randy Polumbo, the installations are all about creating art from trash and re-imagining everyday objects. They’re also the artists behind the World Famous Crochet Museum.

Instagrammable Places in Joshua Tree #3: Beauty Bubble Salon & Museum

I’m a little embarrassed to say that I’ve never actually been inside the Beauty Bubble Salon & Museum. Not only is it a functional hair salon (they work by appointment only Sunday-Wednesday), it’s also a museum of hair/beauty artifacts. It was curated by owner Jeff Hafler who started collecting in 1991!

Instagrammable Places in Joshua Tree #4: World Famous Crochet Museum

Another work by Shari Elf, the Crochet Museum is a fun little stop while visiting Art Queen. This small space is filled wall to wall with little crochet critters.

Instagrammable Places in Joshua Tree #5: Cholla Cactus Garden

A trip to Joshua Tree isn’t complete without a visit to the Joshua Tree National Park. While I’m not an avid hiker, I love this national park because you can see a lot of spots while driving. One of them is the Cholla Cactus Garden. This spot is absolutely magical at sunset and you can get some awesome shots.

Pro Tip: Make sure you visit the Visitor Center before the close to pick up a map as there’s no service in the park, and these spots are a bit hard to find.

Instagrammable Places in Joshua Tree #6: Skull Rock

Another of my favorite spots in Joshua Tree National Park is Skull Rock. This spot literally looks like a skull and is the perfect fall/spooky October photo op!

Instagrammable Places in Joshua Tree #7: Joshua Tree Mural

Located around the corner from the Natural Sisters Cafe (one of my favorite lunch spots), this is the quintessential selfie spot. “Welcome to” and “Greetings From” Murals are a great souvenir on their own.

Bonus Spots in the Joshua Tree General Area

The next few spots technically aren’t in Joshua Tree, but they’re all located within ~25-30 minute drive and are musts in my opinion.

Twenty Nine Palms: Glass Outhouse Art Gallery

The Glass Outhouse Gallery is located in the town of Twenty Nine Palms. This ever-growing outdoor gallery is by artist Laurel Siedl who started it in 2009. It’s completely free to visit (but I recommend leaving a donation). The art is pretty quirkly but there is so much to se that you could spend a couple of hours studying each area.

Pro Tip: Visit later in the day as it can be crazy hot mid-day. When we visited it was actually 107!

Cabazon: Cabazon Dinosaurs

Visitors tend to stop at the Cabazon Dinosaurs on their way in or way out of Joshua Tree. Technically it’s a museum and you can go inside and learn more about the history of dinosaurs. This is always a fun stop as they frequently re-paint to match the season.

Pioneertown

If you’ve ever been to one of those ghost towns out in the desert, Pioneertown is reminiscent of the old west. Founded in 1946 as a living and breathing film set by Dick Curtis, it’s still used to this day in movies. After taking a few photos, stop by Pioneertown Bowl for some vintage bowling, and the saloon for a drink.