December in Joshua Tree National Park is a good month: highs around 63°F, lows around 38°F. Crowds: quiet — #6 busiest of the park's 12 months. Cool days, cold nights, and possible high-elevation snow. The editorial best window here is March–April & October.
| Verdict | Good A solid visit with a caveat — usually crowds or heat. |
|---|---|
| Temps °F | 63° high / 38° low |
| Crowds | quiet · #6 busiest of the park's 12 months |
| What December is like | Cool days, cold nights, and possible high-elevation snow |
| Best window (whole year) | March–April & October |
| Peak crowds (whole year) | Mar–Apr |
CROWDS: RELATIVE SEASONALITY FROM NPS VISITATION STATISTICS · TEMPS: APPROXIMATE NOAA NORMALS AT MAIN VISITOR ELEVATION — HIGH COUNTRY RUNS 10–20°F COLDER
Joshua Tree National Park in January — Good, highs around 62°F, crowds: quiet (cool and clear; a comfortable month before spring crowds arrive).
Our verdict for December is "Good". A solid visit with a caveat — usually crowds or heat. Expect highs around 63°F and lows around 38°F, with crowds at the "quiet" level. Temperatures are approximate NOAA normals at the main visitor elevation; crowd levels follow published NPS visitation statistics.
Across the full 12-month review, the best window is March–April & October, and the peak-crowd months are Mar–Apr. December itself we rate "Good".
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