Where to stay in Joshua Tree

Why we picked it

What convinced us is the sense of place: an adobe bungalow with a fireplace at the edge of the Oasis of Mara, a restaurant on site and the park’s North Entrance five minutes away. We would book it to disconnect on purpose, with the continental breakfast before an early hike, a picnic lunch ordered the night before and the stars from the patio after dinner.

• Built around the Oasis of Mara, a spring-fed pond that has drawn people and wildlife for thousands of years
• Adobe bungalows built in 1934, with wood-burning fireplaces and private sun patios
• Run by the same family for five generations, with its own restaurant, farm and creative center

• Oasis of MaraThe spring-fed pond at the heart of the 70-acre property
• Wood-burning fireplacesIn the 1934 adobe bungalows; firewood for sale
• Heated poolYear-round, 8 am–8 pm, hotel guests only
• Continental breakfastSelf-serve in the dining room, 7–9 am every day
• The RestaurantWednesday to Sunday, 12–4 pm and 5–8:30 pm
• BarOpen 2–7 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays
• Faultline FarmNative and indigenous fruits and vegetables grown on site
• Yoga on the lawnSaturdays and Sundays, March to October; mats provided
• Creative CenterGallery and art programs on the property
• Pet-friendly rooms$50 per room in adobes, Gold Park, Faultline and more
• Wi-FiAround the reservation and pool area only

Why we picked it

What convinced us is the character for the price: a 1949 hacienda-style motel laid out around a desert courtyard and pool, where every room opens onto its own patio and rooms are named after Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris and Donovan. We would book it for a night or two near the West Entrance, with coffee in the courtyard before Hidden Valley and an evening by the fire pit.

• Room 8, the Gram Parsons Room, still has the mirror and picture that hung there in 1973
• A large pool, a zen courtyard with a pond and fountain, a fire pit and a covered stage
• Eleven ground-floor rooms, each with a private patio, fridge and microwave

• Swimming poolLarge pool, 8 am–8 pm, with an ADA chair lift
• Zen courtyardPond, fountain, shade structures and picnic table
• Fire pit and BBQFire pit (bring your own wood) and charcoal grill
• Coffee and morning snacksComplimentary coffee, tea and morning goodies
• Wi-FiFree in all rooms
• Heating and air-conditioningIn every room
• Fridge and microwaveIn every room
• Gram Parsons RoomRoom 8, where the musician spent his last hours in 1973
• Kitchen suitesFull kitchens in Donovan’s and John Barrymore suites
• Pet-friendly roomsSelect rooms, $50 per pet per night
• Gift shopOn site and online