Last year, I embarked on a brief but epic journey through the Southwest with my cousin-in-law, Jessi. We explored Phoenix for a day before hitting the road for Joshua Tree National Park. It was my first time visiting Arizona and California, and the experience was unforgettable! Here’s what we did during our 72-hour Phoenix to Joshua Tree road trip:

Day 1: Phoenix

I landed bright and early in Phoenix and we immediately hit the ground running. Jessi, the incredibly talented owner of Jessi Casara Photography, was location-scouting for an Adventure Couple Session, so we first headed to South Mountain Park and Preserve. I immediately fell in love with the picturesque desert landscape—especially the cacti.

After taking a scenic drive through the preserve, we headed into downtown Phoenix and walked around a bit. The temperature reached 107° so we took a break from the heat to enjoy some tacos and margaritas before setting off for the Apache Wash Trailhead in the Sonoran Preserve. Golden hour was setting in at this point, enhancing the area’s rugged beauty.

Jessi and I then grabbed some drinks at Front Pourch Brewing and made our way to Piestewa Peak Park for sunset. The park had amazing views of the Phoenix skyline and the colors of the sky were spectacular.

After a long day of sightseeing, we refreshed at our Airbnb and hit the town for drinks at Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour. The bar is cozy and plush, with a huge selection of unique cocktails. Check out this drink topped with an edible wafer that was printed with a funny cat image!

Day 2: Phoenix to Joshua Tree

The next morning, it was time to say goodbye to Phoenix and make our way to California. It’s only a three-hour drive and the scenery along the way was stunning. We made it to Joshua Tree National Park early in the afternoon and were ready to explore!

Psst, check out Jessi’s guide to spending 24 Hours in Joshua Tree for more photos and details of our trip.

Our campsite was in the Jumbo Rocks Campground, conveniently located near some of the park’s coolest spots. After setting up camp, Jessi and I made the short hike to Skull Rock. The formation was really busy so we didn’t stay for long, but it was super cool (and easy to see how it got its name).

As the sun began to set, we headed to the Cholla Cactus Garden. This is a beautiful area to walk around, but there were TONS of gnats flying around. Also, be sure to watch your step so you don’t get stuck by the cacti of varying sizes.

Once it was dark, we returned to camp and stayed up late to stargaze. I’ve never seen so many shooting stars as I did that night! It was one of my favorite experiences from our trip and definitely worth losing some sleep over.

Day 3: Joshua Tree to Los Angeles

On the third and final (for me) day of the trip, we got up early to go on a morning hike. Our destination was Arch Rock, an iconic sunrise spot. The trail there was relatively easy and short at only around a mile long, weaving through many interesting boulders and Joshua Tree plants that the park is famous for.

A few other people were hanging out at Arch Rock when we arrived, and everyone was really friendly which made things even more fun. Jessi even shot a spontaneous Mini Session with an adorable couple who watched the sunrise with us!

Afterward, it was time to make our way to Los Angeles so I could catch a flight home. On our way out of the park, we stopped for breakfast burritos at Castaneda’s Mexican Food in Twentynine Palms. They were huge and SO delicious topped with the restaurant’s homemade salsa.

I’m so grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime trip—hopefully I can return and spend more time in Joshua Tree National Park!