Where to stay in Indio, California

If you are heading to Joshua Tree, I would recommend checking out the Hampton Inn & Suites in Indio. This was a reasonably priced hotel that provided access to both the north and south entrances the National Park. The hotel also has a really nice outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, which were great for relaxing after hiking in the park all day. There is also a fitness center and buffet breakfast at the hotel. The air-conditioning was also quite adequate to keep me cool when the outside temperatures hit 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

From this hotel, it takes about an hour to get to the North Entrance and Visitor’s Center of Joshua Tree. It is about a 30-minute drive to the highway turn off to the south entrance as well. It takes about an hour to get to the southern park entrance. This makes the hotel centrally located to get to both sides of the park. The hotel is also a short drive to a casino if you want to gamble while visiting the area.

Since Joshua Tree is so remote, you will have to drive a decent distance to get to the park. Staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Indio is a good option for being able to see most of the park over a couple days. Indio is also located off a major highway, which is nice if you are driving back to the hotel after taking some night photography in the park. This means that once you leave the park, the risk of wildlife on the road is minimal since it is a major highway. I unfortunately did not get any photos of my room on this visit, but you can view photos and check rates and availability for this hotel here.