When to go · Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree in May
Great month. Inside Joshua Tree's best window: Oct–May (cooler desert days, less heat).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C) / 17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 2
- Crowds
- Medium
- United States overall
- Prices
- Medium
- United States overall
Verdict
Inside Joshua Tree's best window: Oct–May (cooler desert days, less heat).
Is another month better than May?
No other month rates higher than May for Joshua Tree in this guide.
Weather in May
- Joshua TreeHighs around 35 °C (95 °F), lows around 17 °C (63 °F), rain on about 2 daysHighs around 95 °F (35 °C), lows around 63 °F (17 °C), rain on about 2 days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Memorial Day big impact
Last Monday of May · United States
Start of summer; roads and beaches full.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · United States overall
- Medium
- Prices · United States overall
- Medium
United States overall: Warm and green; Memorial Day (last Monday) opens the summer season; timed-entry systems start at some parks.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Joshua Tree, side by side.
Verdict
May: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
May: 35 °C (95 °F)95 °F (35 °C)
Jan: 20 °C (68 °F)68 °F (20 °C)
Night low
May: 17 °C (63 °F)63 °F (17 °C)
Jan: 5 °C (41 °F)41 °F (5 °C)
Rain days
May: 2
Jan: 2
Crowds
May: Medium
Jan: Low
Prices
May: Medium
Jan: Low
Festivals listed
May: 1
Jan: 0
May: Inside Joshua Tree's best window: Oct–May (cooler desert days, less heat).
January: Inside Joshua Tree's best window: Oct–May (cooler desert days, less heat).
Joshua Tree: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen