When Jesse and I decided to visit Joshua Tree from the SF Bay Area, we went without a plan and without any reservations. It is not something I usually like to do when visiting something new but Jesse loves to wing vacations to keep things exciting! Because of this, we were kinda forced to vacation Joshua Tree on a budget. Here is what we learned, what we would do next time and how you can also enjoy this beautiful National Park on a budget (without the stress)!
1. Lodging
BLM Dispersed Camping
| Price | Free! |
| Type | Camping/RV |
| Location | 1 North of Joshua Tree NP 2 South of Joshua Tree NP |
| Comfort Level | Casual |
| Amenities | None |
Did you know that you can camp FOR FREE on public lands? This mode of lodging is called “BLM Dispersed Camping”. BLM stands for the Bureau of Land Management and they are a Federal Government agency that is responsible for overseeing U.S. public lands. These BLM plots are usually undeveloped and vacant. That means if you do choose to stay overnight on a BLM plot, you will be ON YOUR OWN.
Once you get to one of these plots, you can either sleep in your car/RV or pitch a tent. Since these are undeveloped plots, please make sure to take out all your trash out with you when you leave. There are no trash cans or running water either. If you want to make a campfire, you will need a permit from the BLM.
2. Transportation
Car Rentals
- SkyScanner
- SkyScanner not only scans the web for the cheapest flights but you can also use it to search for cheap car rentals.
Gas
- Google Maps
Google Maps has a ton of features that didn’t really exist a couple years ago (food ordering for one!) and one of their more useful tools is searching for nearby gas stations with their PRICES shown. Gas prices are not what they used to be (back in the early 90s it used to be about $1.90/gallon) so any way to save money during a road trip gets a gold star from me.
Why not use actual apps that are focused on collecting cheap gas prices? Because the last thing we need to do during a road trip is open up another app. I’m all about convenience, and this is the most convenient and efficient way to find what you need and keep goin!
3. Side Quests
The First Original McDonald’s Museum
If you decide to take in some different sites and sounds back home to the Bay and end up in San Bernardino, make a stop by the McDonald’s Museum. It’s not the original McDonald’s site but they still have some neat things like the original multimixer and Happy Meal Toys from the 90s.
