National parks near Desert Hills, Arizona
Desert Hills sits inside the Lake Havasu City area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Lake Havasu City for the full write-up.
Joshua Tree National Park is the closest national park to Desert Hills, Arizona — 102 mi (164 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 52 min behind the wheel.
Joshua Tree makes a full day trip — leave early. Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Constitución 1857, and Zion are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Desert Hills gates the entrance itself, but 7 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Desert Hills has a population of about 2,245.
National parks near Desert Hills
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Tree National Park | 102 mi (164 km) | 2 hr 52 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Grand Canyon National Park | 163 mi (262 km) | 4 hr 18 min | Best as a weekend |
| Death Valley National Park | 180 mi (290 km) | 4 hr 43 min | Best as a weekend |
| Constitución 1857 National Park | 201 mi (324 km) | 5 hr 13 min | Best as a weekend |
| Zion National Park | 204 mi (328 km) | 5 hr 16 min | Best as a weekend |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | 242 mi (389 km) | 6 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Saguaro National Park | 243 mi (390 km) | 6 hr 11 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park | 260 mi (419 km) | 6 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Petrified Forest National Park | 261 mi (420 km) | 6 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Sequoia National Park | 273 mi (439 km) | 6 hr 55 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Desert Hills
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | Tuweep Area Day Use Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Joshua Tree | Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Backpacking Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Zion | Angels Landing: Fall (Hikes on September 1 – November 30) | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Bryce Canyon | Bryce Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Petrified Forest | Wilderness backpacking permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Sequoia | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Desert Hills
Within reach of Desert Hills, 27 campgrounds across 7 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Joshua Tree, 7 at Sequoia, 3 at Grand Canyon, and 3 at Zion, plus 3 more parks with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Joshua Tree National Park is generally best March through May, then October through November, with February and early December as the quieter shoulder either side.
Summer highs regularly clear 100 °F / 38 °C. Winter is pleasant by day but nights drop below freezing at elevation.
Summer heat is the real hazard, not the crowds. Hike at dawn, skip exposed trails after mid-morning, and never rely on finding water.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Desert Hills are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon → Zion | 100 mi (161 km) | 2 hr 49 min |
| Joshua Tree → Constitución 1857 | 123 mi (198 km) | 3 hr 22 min |
| Joshua Tree → Death Valley | 177 mi (285 km) | 4 hr 39 min |
| Death Valley → Zion | 221 mi (356 km) | 5 hr 41 min |
Planning a trip from Desert Hills
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Mohave County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Desert Hills?
Joshua Tree National Park. It is about 102 mi (164 km) from Desert Hills, roughly 2 hr 52 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Desert Hills?
Yes — Joshua Tree National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Desert Hills?
10 parks are within reach of Desert Hills, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Desert Hills?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 7 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Backpacking Permits, Tuweep Area Day Use Tickets at Grand Canyon, and Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Desert Hills?
Recreation.gov lists 27 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Desert Hills. They are spread across 7 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Desert Hills?
For Joshua Tree National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then October through November. Either side of that, February and early December stays quieter.