Located on the northern edge of Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms is a desert city in California’s San Bernardino County. It was named after the palm trees that were planted by Native American peoples before the arrival of Europeans and the discovery of gold in the 19th century.
Things to do in Twentynine Palms
In the heart of Twentynine Palms is the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, which includes exhibits about the cultural and natural history of the area. In addition to browsing the bookstore, you can pick up information about the park’s hiking trails. Twentynine Palms makes an excellent base for exploring the Fortynine Palms Oasis and the Indian Cove Boy Scout Trail in the northern part of Joshua Tree National Park.
For a dose of local history, visit the Twentynine Palms Historical Society, which occupies a historic schoolhouse building. Learn about life here for early pioneers and the discovery of gold in the 1870s, then admire the beautiful collection of purple glassware. You can coincide your visit with the Twentynine Palms Historical Society’s annual “Weed Show”, which is devoted to artwork created from weeds.
On the edge of Twentynine Palms is the Oasis of Mara, which was first settled by the Serrano people. By the time Europeans arrived, the Serrano were cultivating corn, pumpkin and squash and had planted 29 palm trees. Follow the short nature trail that leads through the oasis, with information panels detailing the desert flora and fauna.
Getting around Twentynine Palms
Twentynine Palms is around 1.5 hours’ drive from San Bernardino and San Bernardino International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. The much larger Los Angeles International Airport is four hours away. Buses connect to Twentynine Palms, although renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore the area.