Where to stay on route to San Diego... Palm Springs or Joshua Tree?

[nickyjw]

Thankyou everyone for all your replies. Do you think it’s doable to drive from Anaheim early in the morning to Joshua tree and then do the tramway in the late afternoon/ evening? I didn’t really want to do the tramway the following morning as we want to have that as a full day in San Diego as ideally once we have driven there it will give us three full days to see as much as we can.

[Aims]

Originally Posted by nickyjw

Thankyou everyone for all your replies. Do you think it’s doable to drive from Anaheim early in the morning to Joshua tree and then do the tramway in the late afternoon/ evening? I didn’t really want to do the tramway the following morning as we want to have that as a full day in San Diego as ideally once we have driven there it will give us three full days to see as much as we can.

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Well, it will be a bit of a push to get to it all in one day, but if you leave Anaheim on a Sunday or Saturday morning you won't have rush hour traffic to slow you down too much, otherwise you will need to leave very early to accommodate weekday traffic (which is really bad in Orange County). Without traffic, its about 2 1/2 hours or a little more between Anaheim and Joshua Tree. The Palm Springs tram is about 45 mins to an hour from Joshua Tree, depending on what traffic might be like at the time. You may not have time to drive the entire length of Joshua Tree (it's huge!), but I guess that will depend on how early you get there. The last tram going up the mountain leaves around 6 pm, and you buy tickets by date and time so I would suggest getting your tickets well in advance as it's a very popular attraction.

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by nickyjw

Thankyou everyone for all your replies. Do you think it’s doable to drive from Anaheim early in the morning to Joshua tree and then do the tramway in the late afternoon/ evening? I didn’t really want to do the tramway the following morning as we want to have that as a full day in San Diego as ideally once we have driven there it will give us three full days to see as much as we can.

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Not really - it could take you 2 1/2 hrs to get to Joshua tree but it could take you 6 hrs or more and there is no way of really knowing until you are on the road (although you could minimise it by leaving before rush our (say 4am and the roads are busy by 5)0 but unless you want to just tick a box to say you have been to Joshua Tree, you really need to spend some time there even just to drive around the loop - as there are not facilities there (no where to get any drink or food) you need to plan that into your day too. Personally I think you are trying to do too much in too less a time by a mile and either need more time or drop some stuff off your list - also what month are you travelling ?

[jdouds]

Don’t rush , if you really want more time in San Diego leave Joshua to another trip.
For us day doing park , nice meal Palm Springs, early up tramway and San Diego by lunchtime

[Mrs Red C]

Agree about pre booking the Aerial Tramway, you might not get on as a walk up. You'd probably need an hour to walk at the top and enjoy the views.

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by Mrs Red C

Agree about pre booking the Aerial Tramway, you might not get on as a walk up. You'd probably need an hour to walk at the top and enjoy the views.

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I agree and dont underestimate how long it takes to get to the top form the main entrance - that very steep long also drive up the mountain to the car park can take a long time, park the car then wait for the trolley to take you to the waiting area. Tickets and wait for your tram then beautiful journey up there - form the sign on the main road to the top can easily take over an hour and the same on return . People in So Cal dont tend to rush - relaxed, gentle way of life (outside of LA lol)

[jdouds]

Originally Posted by megaflyer

I agree and dont underestimate how long it takes to get to the top form the main entrance - that very steep long also drive up the mountain to the car park can take a long time, park the car then wait for the trolley to take you to the waiting area. Tickets and wait for your tram then beautiful journey up there - form the sign on the main road to the top can easily take over an hour and the same on return . People in So Cal dont tend to rush - relaxed, gentle way of life (outside of LA lol)

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Once we parked we walked up to tramway only few minutes

[Lola]

Definitely stay in Palm Springs, a great spot. Go to Joshua tree visitor centre and get guides to short walks in the Park, not in high summer though as it can be too hot to stay out of your car for any but a short time

[nickyjw]

Thankyou all, we are travelling in the Christmas holidays and the day we leave Anaheim to travel to Palm Springs falls on Monday 3rd Jan. I’m wondering if it would be better to drive from Anaheim direct to San Diego that day and just stop at the Tramway / Palm Springs for lunch etc and forget Joshua Tree? We wouldn’t have any travelling then the next day?

[cornishfrogboy]

Whilst I do not know Palm Springs, I have visited Oceanside (pier, beach and the Kelly McGillis top gun house). The visitor centre there is also a pick up point for ‘Gosandiego’ tickets that would be very convenient should you wish to kill two birds with one stone.

La Jolla is also a good one, near to San Diego and with Scripps Aquarium, Kayaking and other stuff (free with a Gosandiego card if you have earlier stopped at Oceanside as just a flying visit).

Another possibility, depending on your family interests is Carlsbad Legoland, also free on a Gosandiego and south of the Oceanside pick up point.

There are no shortage of options.. and that is before ‘Aims’ and ‘MEGAFLIER’ put in their, much more experienced options.