There’s something about the desert that is captivating; something magical that I can’t quite put my finger on. It is vast, silent, dangerous. Driving through rolling mountains of dust and cacti, rock and brush, it calls to us time and again. I think of the first settlers of the west, and how treacherous it was to venture out here with limited access to food and water. I think of the folks who are still crossing into this vast desert landscape on foot, in hope for a better life. I contemplated all of this over a blazing campfire, sparkling stars overhead, cell phones lifeless with no service to connect to. Those of us in bustling cities in Southern California crave and need this kind of unplugging, whether we realize it or not. Feel free to use the loop we took to inspire your own desert road trip. 

Pioneertown

Our first stop was just outside of Joshua Tree, in Pioneertown, CA. It was established in the 1940’s as a working film set. Folks could live and work in its 1880’s style old west facades, and film crews would come in and shoot Westerns. To this day it’s a touristic destination where one can walk among the old west, and explore working artist studios.

Joshua Tree

After the pit stop in Pioneertown, we grabbed lunch at the Joshua Tree Saloon, which continued the days old west theme, complete with live country music and delicious food. It was our last vestige of civilization for a few days. We headed into the park and went straight to claim our campground for the evening. We chose the Hidden Valley campground because of its proximity to great hikes, rock climbing, and killer views. Please note if you are heading into Joshua Tree to camp, there is limited access to running water. We brought all of our own water to clean dishes with, brush our teeth with, etc. You must also pack in your food and be prepared to put your phone away, because cell service is limited. There is no access to electricity either, so bring firewood or coals for cooking.

Joshua Tree is magical. It’s easy to start missing your bed, or a proper shower, but one look into the bright night sky while a campfire is crackling nearby and you are transported. There are also loads of great hikes to get in at every fitness level, and there are even handicap-accessible viewpoints off the main road and at Keys View. We opted to do the strenuous Ryan’s mountain hike, which is the highest vantage point in the park. Do this one in the morning or late afternoon/sunset. Attempting it in the middle of the day might be dangerous and dehydrating! Bring plenty of water and good shoes. We also did the Hidden Valley loop, and Barker Dam hike, which was much easier.

Salvation Mountain

When leaving Joshua Tree, we headed south East towards Salvation Mountain. When exiting this side of the park, note that the only available stops for gas are in the town of Mecca, so don’t pass it without stopping because the next available gas isn’t for 52 miles in the town of Calipatria. Salvation Mountain is essentially an art installation in the Imperial valley created by Leonard Knight as a testament to his faith. It is a popular destination for religious folks and Instagrammers alike. It took thousands of gallons of paint and an undying drive to complete in the unforgiving desert heat of the region.

Glamis

After snapping a few photos and walking through the art, we were off to the desert dunes of Glamis, CA. This area is a popular spot for avid ATVers who come into town from OC and San Diego. We weren’t sure how long we’d stay, and if we had proper sand boards, we probably would have stayed longer. Pro tip: a boogie board will not suffice when trying to sled down the dunes! We did manage to get some incredible shots for the gram though, and loads of folks come here for engagement and elopement photography too!

San Diego

Up next was San Diego, where a hot shower and a hotel room awaited us! We stayed at the Pearl hotel in Point Loma, which is a renovated 1960’s style building with mod vibes, a pool, and a delicious restaurant on site. They also do “dive-in” movies on Wednesday nights, with a large screen projector visible from the pool and the restaurant. It’s a great place to hang for locals and visitors alike! We spent most of our time exploring downtown and the Hillcrest neighborhood, hanging at the pool, and roaming the coastline. We topped our stay off with a Lizzo concert at UCSD. It was the perfect way to ease back into civilization not too far from home.

There’s nothing quite like a great road trip when you need to just get away on a budget and unplug from society. What’s the best road trip you’ve taken? And if you’re in the market for a Pacific Northwest road trip, check out this day trip from Portland!