The Coolest, Wackiest Places to Stay in Joshua Tree
Stay in a spaceship, a desert igloo, or an oasis with a hot tub. Why not.
There’s just something about the desert that attracts people who want to live on the fringe, whether for a long weekend or forever. In the wild, wide open communities surrounding Joshua Tree National Park, creatives of all stripes are drawn to the clear skies and sage-scented air, sharing their backyards with wandering coyotes and the occasional desert tortoise.
"Joshua Tree is so close to LA; it's only a two-hour drive which makes it really attractive to people," says Kathrin Smirke, who runs the Dome in the Desert Airbnb pictured above, alongside her husband, Brian. "A lot of artists who couldn't afford LA anymore moved to Joshua Tree full time, and that led to a really creative arts community."
And as you can imagine, an unconventional desert lifestyle requires unconventional accommodations. Hammocks, fire pits, and cowboy tubs abound in Joshua Tree's high-design Airbnbs, many of which are truly one-of-a-kind. Whether you’re in the desert to seek inspiration or possibly have a run-in with aliens, there’s an Airbnb for everybody—so long as you’re willing to keep it weird.
Up to 6 guests, $345/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 10 minutes by car
When we imagine our dream house, it looks a hell of a lot like this 1949 hacienda: excellent interior decor, wide-open spaces, a hammock room, a fireplace, killer sunset views, space for our closest friends, and—most importantly—a big ol’ hot tub! There are over 100 Joshua trees on the property—some of which, according to the owner, are nearly 250 years old. Take one step out the front door, and you’ll feel one with the desert.
2 guests, $211/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 30 minutes by car
If you haven’t heard, Joshua Tree is chock full of weird and wonderful things. This is one of them: a 13-foot tall UFO-shaped abode, one of just 65 known Futuro houses worldwide and the only one you can rent in the U.S. Once beloved by Hugh Hefner (yes, really), the spaceship comes equipped with outdoor showers, restrooms, and a kitchen for cooking under the stars. But perhaps the best thing about this is the reasonable $211/night price tag. Who says you need Elon Musk-level money to go to space?
Up to 3 guests, $95/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 30 minutes by car
When people talk about van life, this is what they’re dreaming of: a spacious, refurbished trailer complete with a kitchen, a full bathroom and shower, a cozy bedroom, and 1.5 acres of land to freely roam. The 1950 Spartan was once owned by a family who used it to traverse the highways of America back in the 1950s, On the Road-style. You will feel damn cool staying in it, and we imagine Jack Kerouac would approve. Close to the park, you’re also less than 20 minutes away from J-Tree must-sees like the Integratron and Giant Rock. It’s available to rent through Hipcamp, which is kind of like Airbnb’s cousin who likes to camp.
5 guests, $195/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 10 minutes by car
We’re obsessed with the giant, rustic porch swing that Casa Joshua Tree has on deck. Sunsets in the desert are notoriously beautiful, so it’s easy to picture ourselves here, cold drink in hand, soaking in the last golden rays of light as clusters of stars gradually take over the sky. Nice. Also in store: bright, airy rooms full of plants and a cozy fireplace. If you consider yourself a true patron of the arts, this is a great place to support: This little Airbnb is run by an artist, painter Lindsay Hollinger, and offers an artist residency program.
COVID-19 Update: Casa Joshua Tree is currently closed due to the pandemic. Check Airbnb for updates on reopening.
8 guests, $2,659/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 5 minutes by car
Well, if there was ever an Airbnb worth paying nearly $2,700 a night for, this is it. Inside this 5,500 square-foot, reflective fantasy construction—a masterpiece designed by filmmaker Chris Hanley and resembling a behemoth skyscraper turned on its side—you’ll find everything from three king-sized bedrooms and multicolored LED lights to a stargazing fire pit and a 100-foot indoor swimming pool that looks out onto 90 acres of private desert. Oh, and if that isn’t enough, the joint has its very own 4,000-foot mountain with exclusive hiking trails.
4 guests, $188/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 10 minutes by car
This giant igloo took a wrong turn and ended up in California (although the tundra is a type of desert, to be fair). The interior brings the sun, sky, and wide-open spaces inside, with bright yellow and blue accents and plenty of room throughout. Guests can also expect to find handcrafted decor, antique books and games, an indoor fireplace, and—hallelujah!—A/C and Wi-Fi. And if the Dome isn’t available (don’t be surprised; Joshua Tree rentals go quick!), the owners also run two other impeccably-designed Airbnbs in the area, Cabin Cabin Cabin and The Shack Attack.
2-6 guests, $74/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 10 minutes by car
For an option that gets you very outside, the “rustic bohemian” private cabin at Porte-Cochere is your spot. Most of the property is open-air, so you’ll spend the bulk of your time out in nature. But along with a clean bathroom and running water, your bed is tucked into a little cabin with a huge window, so you can sleep beneath the cosmos but without any unwelcome desert critters. It’s available to rent through Hipcamp, and apparently, the cell phone reception here is *chef’s kiss.*
Up to 6 guests, $430/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 12 minutes by car
If you’re after a space-adjacent experience but Area 55 is already booked, don’t worry, there are other ways to shoot for the stars. May we present Moon Camp, a solar-powered, off-the-grid retreat. The base comprises three different structures: the main dome house, as well as a guest house and lounge house both built from renovated shipping containers—all yours for the taking. The property comes equipped with a telescope, lounge chairs, hammocks, and a fire pit. And the pièce de résistance: the starry cosmos that light up the sky above the campsite each night will truly make you believe that you’re living on a lunar base. Plus, if the Moon Camp is ALSO booked, the same owners also run the Little Dipper, a tiny home parked just outside Joshua Tree National Park.
2 guests, $188/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 10 minutes by car
If you really want to immerse yourself in J-Tree’s creative community, stay in a house that doubles as an art gallery. Rose Cefalu’s Tiny Desert Rose Airbnb—a garage conversion attached to a main house—is filled with her own "alternative process photography" (gum prints and cyanotypes that are also for sale). The design aesthetic is something she calls “MoBoWoo” (modern bohemian wood). Make yourself at home in the loft bed and settle into the desert life. The photographer also offers cyanotype classes to guests interested in trying their hand at sun printing.
2-10 guests, $182/night
Distance from Joshua Tree National Park: 10 minutes by car
Run by three friends, Joshua Tree Acres is a secluded 10-acre property home to five beautifully renovated Airstream trailers and, as the name implies, surrounded by scores of Joshua trees. You’ll have access to the shared communal clubhouse, full-size outdoor kitchen, and one of THE most iconic desert pools we’ve ever seen. Rent just one trailer—say, the Piece of the Sky 1975 Airstream, complete with porch swings and vintage decor—or gather all your friends and reserve the whole pack. In the Mojave, the more, the merrier.