Mojave Desert Road Trip
Discovering hidden beauty and adventure in one of the unlikeliest places.
As we traveled from Las Vegas to Southern California, we didn’t take the path most traveled (aka the interstate) because where’s the fun in that? Instead, we took the country roads on a journey through the Mojave Desert. And it was so worth it!
The Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree National Park
If you’ve never been through this region of Southern California, you will discover the scenery is breathtaking. We loved it so much.
James and I took our time driving through both areas and stepped out to explore, take pictures, and savor the beauty. I never would have thought I’d enjoy the desert, but it was stunning.
The landscape is dotted with interesting rock formations, sand dunes, and unique plant life, including Joshua Trees, cholla, yucca, and cactus. The Mojave Desert meets the Colorado Desert within Joshua Tree National Park. These two different ecosystems together are fascinating.
Then we happened upon some unworldly salt mine. As we drove Highway 62, we spotted an oddity by the roadside and had to turn around to see what it was. The beautiful turquoise water in the middle of the desert was so cool. We still aren’t entirely sure what it was, but it was amazing.
Even though James was in the Army, he was excited to briefly visit Twentynine Palms, home to the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center. In WWII, this area was used by the Army Air Force for flight training and has a significant military history. He was geeked out and had a great time.
The journey through the Mojave Desert opened up a world we never knew existed, and we’re thankful we did it because the drive was mesmerizing. Plus, it was relaxing, with very little traffic — it was easy to pull over along the route to take pictures or stand in awe. If you have time, you could even hike in the desert.
If you ever get the chance, be sure to put this on your list to see. You won’t regret it.