Twentynine Palms vacation rentals

Twentynine Palms is a small, rustic town at the northern entrance of Joshua Tree National Park in the Southern California desert where you’ll find access to hiking trails through boulder-lined canyons and fan palm oases, surrounded by the area’s pom-pom-like Joshua trees. Once night falls, the remote desert location makes Twentynine Palms a dark-sky haven for spotting meteor showers and the Milky Way.

Many of the mission-style and adobe buildings downtown date back to the 1920s. The Old Schoolhouse Museum, the oldest building in town, displays artifacts from the early 20th century in San Bernardino County, such as antique school desks and century-old photos. Along downtown’s main drag, Adobe Road, you will find thrift stores, Western clothing boutiques, and independent restaurants and cafes.

Twentynine Palms’ arid desert weather ranges from the sweltering to the chilly, depending on the time of year. Summer days can grow extremely hot and sunny, and if you’re spending time outdoors, make sure to pack sun protection and plenty of water. You can enjoy the slightly cooler evenings by going to Luckie Park this time of year for the city’s “Summer Movies in the Park” night each week. The daytime heat grows more comfortable in October and November. Throughout November, artists from across the country show their work inspired by Joshua Tree’s landscapes at the Joshua Tree National Park art expo. The expo takes place along the Oasis of Mara, the trail where 29 palm trees planted by early inhabitants gave the town its name.

Winters are cool and comfortable, with a few gloomy days here and there. The cooler weather makes it a great time to spend the morning at the 29 Palms Farmer's Market on Saturdays, shopping for produce and crafts. The hot weather begins again in April.

Oasis of Murals

Visitors to Twentynine Palms cannot fail to notice the huge, colorful outdoor murals painted by world-class artists that adorn many of the town’s commercial buildings. Known as the Oasis of Murals, the artworks were paid for by local residents. There are 29 murals in total featuring the area’s pioneering history, notable residents, and the desert flora and fauna. You can pick up a mural map at the local Visitor Center and stroll the town.

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Immediately south of Twentynine Palms, you can embark on a local hike into Joshua Tree Park using the Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail. The three-mile trek is a steep up-and-down journey through a sprawl of fan palm trees, surrounded by desert hills and enormous rock formations. The sky at sunrise makes for a colorful backdrop while you hike and offers just enough light to spot big-horned sheep in the distance.

Mojave Trails National Monument

You can take a scenic drive along Route 66 through the Mojave Trails National Monument, 140 miles of open highway surrounded by desert. One of the highlights of this drive is about 50 minutes from Twentynine Palms, at Amboy Crater. You can hike to the top of the crater and see lava remains thousands of years old and sweeping views of the Mojave Desert.