Airport near Joshua Tree National Park

[Jim Moore]

I'm thinking about going to the Joshua Tree National Park workshop in January.

Could someone please tell me what the nearest airport would be? I would need to fly in for this one

Thanks,

Jim

 

[Robert Hall]

Palm Springs or 29 Palms. Or if I get some time off you could go down with me from Salt Lake City, but that is a bit of a drive, about 8 hours.

 

[Dave Parker]

Hi,

You might take a look at this, a friend of mine runs a very large network on all of the National Parks, I am sure he would have some great information you can use, it looks like LAX is the nearest International Airport.

http://www.joshua.tree.national-park.com

And this page lists how to get there.

http://www.joshua.tree.national-park.com/how.htm

Have fun.

Dave Parker
Ground Glass Specialties

 

[Aggie]

Dang blast it Jim, You are going to get me to go to another workshop? The motels with heaters are not that close to where they camp. I'll freeze copious amounts of excess weight!

 

[rbarker]

Being as you'll need to rent a car once there, almost any of the LA-area airports would probably work for you. LAX or Orange County are probably more likely to have connections from Iowa than the smaller airports closer to JTNP.

 

[noblebeast]

See if you can fly into Burbank Airport, which will put you a little bit closer than LAX to Joshua Tree, or better yet Ontario International which is right near the 10 freeway - right where you want to be - and quite a bit closer to the final destination. If you land at LAX you can expect to add at least an hour to your drive time, and that's if you arrive in the middle of the night during a freak blizzard and all of the L.A. drivers have skidded off to the side of the road; During most daylight hours, well, bring a good book or a video game for the long sit in traffic.

Joe

 

[photomc]

Jim, I agree about the Ontario airport..but I would suggest you do a search on Travelocity or Orbitz and just play with some of the destinations..It makes some difference in price. Flew into Ontario a few years ago, nice airport, all of the rental car places and does not seem that far from Joshua Tree...you lucky dog.

 

[BradS]

I'd go with Ontario. It will very likely save you two or three hours of sitting in traffic (compared to LAX, Burbank, Long Beach and John Wayne).

 

[hortense]

Palm Spring is THE closet - and you can rent cars.

 

[WarEaglemtn]

Palm Springs is the closest but there are at least five different areas in the park that have infrequent plane landings & takeoffs. Course if you use them you do attract the attention of park police. (if seen)
Lots of small fields/strips in the area used by some when they don't want to be noticed.. if you are flying your own or a small plane.

 

[Jim Moore]

Thanks everyone!

A quick check on Orbitz and Travelosity show that the rates are about the same for Palm Springs and Ontario.

Jim

 

[noblebeast]

Well, if you can fly pretty directly into Palm Springs, that's the place to be. Joshua Tree is kinda PS's backyard.

 

[Jim Moore]

Well, if you can fly pretty directly into Palm Springs, that's the place to be. Joshua Tree is kinda PS's backyard.

Sweet

 

[Shmoo]

Hey Aggie...here's an alternative. They can go to the Joshua Tree workshop...we can go sit in the sun in Palm Springs!!!

 

[Aggie]

Hey Aggie...here's an alternative. They can go to the Joshua Tree workshop...we can go sit in the sun in Palm Springs!!!

Since my vit. D levels are non existant, I might be able to get insurance to pay or it. Ater all sun treatments are theraputic! We can get Sven to carry the drinks.

 

[Dave Parker]

Whats the dates on this one again, Southern CA in January, might be just the change I need from Montana!

Dave

 

[Jim Moore]

Whats the dates on this one again, Southern CA in January, might be just the change I need from Montana!

Dave

Dave,

Saturday January 22nd through Sunday January 23rd

You can find more info at:

Dead Link Removed

Jim

 

[Aggie]

Dave if you are looking for a warm place in Jan. Joshua Tree is not it. You are talking high desert in winter. Temps at night go below freezing. The closest motel is about 30 miles from where they will be. Hence Sharon and I will stay in Palm Springs.

 

[Dave Parker]

Aggie,

Freezing is not a problem, I get a little tired of the 20 below zero! 32 degrees around here is t-shirt weather!


I have actually shot at Joshua before in the middle of winter...

Dave

 

[Richard Boutwell]

Airstrips and white-out conditions

Palm Springs is the closest but there are at least five different areas in the park that have infrequent plane landings & takeoffs. Course if you use them you do attract the attention of park police. (if seen)
Lots of small fields/strips in the area used by some when they don't want to be noticed.. if you are flying your own or a small plane.

Having grown up in the town of Joshua Tree and wandering all over the area I was suprised to hear of these landing strips. My grandfather was a ranger there and I don't remember ever hearing him mention any landing stips in the park. And thinking about the topography there are only a few places that one could land. The Pinto Basin, The upper Covington Flat area, and some back roads on the way to Cotton Wood. There is a dry lake between JT and 29 Palms but there is an airstip right off the main road. Even closer would be the TINY 29 palms airport and 20miles away the TINY Yucca Valley airport. You still need a car once you get there. I would love to know where these 5 places are, not because I have any intention of flying in, but the geography is such a personal interest to me.

The weather in that area is very hard to predict in the fall and winter. In early Feb. 03 it was 85 and sunny. Last year for the JT workshop it was down right cold and windy (That is what I remember most about winters as a kid). Two weeks ago my parents called me to say that there was 8 inches of snow @ 5:30 in the morning, and 11 inches @ 2 PM. I wish I could have been there, but they soon closed the two northern roads into the park.

Aggie, I would not sugest staying in Palm Springs. With the "Low Desert" sprall getting worse it will take you more than an hour and half to get the workshop. And that is the Short way. There are three major motels in 29 Palms and those are only 20 min max from Jumbo Rock campground. Not to mention it is only about a 10 degree temperature difference from Joshua Tree. Not exactly sun bathing weather (unless you hail from Iceland).

I wish I could get out there for this year's workshop. Last year a handful of people from the workshop came to my house to look at photographs, have coffee and talk before going home to catch the tail-end of the super bowl. Air-fare being only $200 from Philly it might be possible if I can get the time off.