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This month we checked off parks 17 and 18 on our journey to visit all 63 National Parks in the US! This was the first of several trips we plan to take to California to knock out all the parks in this beautiful and diverse state. We had time to visit the two southernmost parks in the state—Joshua Tree and Channel Islands—and they could not be more different or wonderful in their own ways. Our Channel Islands excursion departed from Ventura (~90 min from LA), and Joshua Tree was ~2.5 hrs from LA / 45 min from Palm Springs.
This post walks you through our California itinerary and what to do if you only have two days to visit these Southern California National Parks!
Southern California National Parks Map
First things first, let’s get our bearings. Where are California’s National Parks located?
This handy little map shows you roughly where each of the National Parks is located. It’s easy to see how you might be able to group several parks together for a California National Parks road trip based on their proximity to each other!
How Many National Parks Are in California?
California has the most national parks of any US state—9 in total!
All-Day Visit to Channel Islands National Park
Our biggest takeaway from Channel Islands was that if you’re planning to camp overnight in any National Park, this is the one to do it!
You have to commit to the bit if you’re visiting Channel Islands. You can’t just drive across a bridge, do a couple hikes, then head out. This is a full day or multi-day excursion that requires advance booking and additional planning.
Best Time to Visit Channel Islands
Decide when you want to visit! Because of the year-round Mediterranean climate, there aren’t many “bad days” at this park. The most popular time to visit Channel Islands is typically June – October. We visiting the park in the middle of May in 2026 and, according to our ferry captain, the water conditions were unseasonably calm. We had gorgeous weather the whole day! This seasonal guide by Santa Barbara Adventure Company is a helpful resource when planning your travel dates.
How to plan your Channel Islands visit
- Choose your date(s) and which island you plan to visit
- Book your ferry departure and return rides through the Island Packers website (cost varies depending on which island you plan to visit, and there are several times you can choose from – highly recommend booking in advance)
Round Trip Day Fares for Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands are as follows:
- Adult (13-54): $72.00
- Senior (55 and up): $67.00
- Military: $67.00
- Child (3-12): $52.00
- Infant (under 3): FREE
Overnight campers pay separate rates. You can view the most up to date rate list here.
- Pack your bag(s)! I recommend a lightweight day pack with essentials, snacks, and extra water if you’re just visiting for the day. There are unsupervised lockers to store any non-valuable items when you get to the islands.
- Drive to Ventura, CA, and check in for your Island Packers ferry at least 45 minutes early.
- Take the ferry to the islands. The ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island is just over an hour long.
- Disembark and go through a quick orientation with a National Parks volunteer
- Set up your campsite and/or start exploring the trails!
- Arrive back to the dock at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure
Worth noting: Expect to see whales and dolphins during your trip over if conditions are good! There are also 2-3,000 island foxes living on Santa Cruz. You’ll definitely see them visiting any of the islands.
Our Channel Islands Itinerary
We arrived at Ventura Harbor around 7 am, walked Harbor Cove beach, shopped the Island Packers gift shop, then caught the 9 am ferry over to Santa Cruz Island—and got SO lucky with some really close whale sightings on the way (our captain even delayed our arrival so we could enjoy!!).
After a quick orientation and our packed lunch, we spent the afternoon taking our time on the Potato Harbor Overlook trail—a can’t-miss—then relaxed in the shade with our books and explored the rock beach by the dock before lining up for the 5 pm ferry back.
Want our full hour-by-hour breakdown? Comment below and let me know. I’ll be sharing a link to a more detailed Channel Islands guide soon!
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Note: The Santa Cruz Island visitor center isn’t a visitor center in the traditional National Park sense. It doesn’t have a gift shop, and it’s not operated by park rangers. This visitor center houses a full history of the island and walks visitors through some interactive exhibits to learn more. You can still stamp your passport and sign the guest book!
If you’re hoping to pick up Channel Islands souvenirs, arrive at the Island Packers ferry with enough time to visit their gift shop before your departure. They have clothing, postcards, stickers, pins, and other great options to commemorate your visit!
One Day in Joshua Tree National Park
Is Joshua Tree Worth Visiting?
I enjoyed Joshua Tree so much more than I thought I would. But it’s typical of me to go into something with low or no expectations so I can be pleasantly surprised. That was definitely the case with Joshua Tree!
Before visiting, my knowledge of this park was limited to the Invisible House, the Kardashians S6 E9, Selling Sunset S8 E6, and random pictures friends have posted from their visits over the years. I pretty much thought it was a barren desert wasteland with tumbleweeds and no shade.
Hence my surprise when we drove up and there were actual mountains—sort of. More like boulder hills (official term is inselbergs).
Best Time of Year to Visit Joshua Tree
The weather was pretty nice even at midday but super sunny. It was cool; we were basically the only ones out there! If you aim to visit in spring or fall, you can avoid the brutal midday summer heat.
Our One Day Joshua Tree Itinerary
Since we only had one day, we tried to fit in the highlights that would let us experience the more popular features of the park. We hiked the Hidden Valley trail (the trailhead is 15 minutes from the park entrance) and finished with the Bigfoot/Panorama Trail—we only did this one partially since it’s roughly an 8 mile hike, but you get an awesome view of the valley at sunset from this trail! We didn’t see too much wildlife, but we spotted some lizards, birds, and several bunnies hopping around at dusk in search of their dinner.
Want our full one-day breakdown? Comment below and let me know. I’ll be sharing a link to a more detailed Joshua Tree post soon!
Read More: The Ultimate Angels Landing Hike Packing List
Where To Eat & Shop Near Joshua Tree
We got a late lunch in the nearby town so we could also stop by the visitor center. We loved Sky High Pie (ironic name since Joshua Tree is hella flat mostly lol) and ordered the Veggie Park and the Double Pepperoni.
We were bummed that The Dez Cafe across the street was sold out of their Date Milkshake! It looked amazing, and that’s what everyone says to order. Make sure you grab one earlier in the day if you want to try it. They even have a vegan option!
The Joshua Tree Trading Post next door to Sky High Pie is a MUST visit, imo. The outside does not match the inside, but it is the cutest gift shop with novelty and premium gifts that you don’t get with every park. I got the cutest Joshua Tree t-shirt and a gift for our dog sitter. They also have tons of sunscreen options if you forgot yours (but that’s the one thing you shouldn’t forget here).
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Joshua Tree has several different visitor center locations you can visit. The main visitor center we visited is located OUTSIDE of the park at 6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252. They close promptly at 5 p.m. on weekdays, so if you want to stop there, make sure you plan ahead! It’s about a 10-minute drive from the West Entrance Station and next to a handful of restaurants, cafes, and gift shops.
There is another visitor center located 20 minutes east of this at 6533 Freedom Wy, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. If you’re planning to visit Skull Rock Trail or Arch Rock, this center would be convenient for you to hit on your way down to either of these trailheads.
Alternatively, if you’re on the southern side of the park and planning some hikes in Cottonwood Springs, you can visit the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Pinto Basin Rd, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. This is just shy of 40 miles or a one hour drive from the Twentynine Palms center, as you have to cut straight through the park going south.
Southern California National Parks FAQ
How Do You Get to Channel Islands National Park?
The only way to travel to Channel Islands National Park is through the Island Packers ferry service that docks at Ventura Harbor.
Where is Channel Islands National Park?
Channel Islands is a grouping of eight islands located roughly 12–70 miles (20–115 km) off California’s southern coast. The island chain extends 150 miles (240 km) along the coastline and includes San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa in the northern grouping, and Santa Barbara, San Nicolas, Santa Catalina, and San Clemente in the southern grouping.
How Much Are Channel Islands Ferry Tickets?
Channel Islands ferry ticket prices vary depending on your age, the island you plan to visit, and whether or not you’re camping overnight or visiting for the day. View current rates and book your ferry tickets here.
What Animals Live on The Channel Islands?
Channel Islands is home to several unique varieties of land and sea creatures, although there are actually only four land mammals native to the island. Make sure to look out for the island fox, the island deer mouse, the harvest mouse, and the spotted skunk. There are thousands of island foxes inhabiting the islands, which you are sure to run into when you visit! They are not afraid of humans but should not be touched, approached, or fed. Make sure to admire the wildlife from afar and respect the inhabitants of the island.
The Island Scrub Jay can only be found on Santa Cruz Island and we saw many of these blue beauties during our visit here!
Dolphins, whales, sharks, and other smaller sea creatures are frequently spotted around the islands.
Can You Visit Channel Islands in Just One Day?
Definitely! But I’m willing to bet that you’ll wish you had more time. We spent one day on Santa Cruz Island and will never forget our day trip adventure here. I highly recommend planning an overnight camping trip to Channel Islands, especially if you want to kayak, snorkel, swim, and explore multiple different hiking spots.
Can You Do Joshua Tree in One Day?
In my opinion, one day is definitely enough to experience the best of Joshua Tree. This is a chill park with some easier and more challenging hikes depending on what you’re into, and it’s not as spread out as some other parks, so you can drive the length of the park in just an hour (north to south). I do think overnight camping is a must-do if you’re with a group of friends and want to stargaze!
Sofia is an NC native turned Atlanta-based creative living with her husband, Parker, and their mini labradoodle, Bernadette. She’s an SEO copywriter and digital strategist for luxury, woman-owned brands, specializing in blog, Pinterest, and email marketing that connects. With a background in marketing (and bridal beauty), she blends strategy with storytelling. A Christ follower and forever adventurer, Sofia is passionate about intentional living, clean beauty, and chasing meaning over metrics—whether she’s road-tripping to a national park or crafting content that makes life a little more beautiful (and your biz a lot more visible).
