Closest desert to Dsneyland?

[Disney Dukers]

We want to show our kids some desert while on our trip in April. Can anyone recommend a good spot to do so? We will have a rental car and don't mind a drive. Thanks!

 

[carriemd]

I don't know if it's the closest, but Joshua Tree is about 2 hrs away. http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/desertpark.htm

 

[Woodview]

I take it that you are going to The State of California. ?


Not The State of Florida

 

[Hojoanaheim]

I’ve heard that Joshua Tree is a really nice place to see the desert; especially in the spring when the flowers are blooming! If you have time I would try going there.

I believe Palm Springs is the closest desert to Disneyland; this is about an hour and a half away from Anaheim. I feel that this is more commercialized with hotels, golf courses, and shopping areas. So it’s great if you wanted to make a day trip of it.

HTH,
Kriss

 

[daannzzz]

if you want to just go get a quick peek at the desert than you don't have to go out to Joshua Tree....but... I spent a day there and I really liked it. There is an oasis (not much to look at but was teeming with life) and vast views into the desert and then there are the fields of Joshua trees. I had no idea they were so plentiful. There are some awesome rock formations to hike through as well. I would love to go back and recommend it highly.

 

[sheetz]

Palm Springs and Joshua Tree are not deserts. (That's like calling Denver a mountain.) However, they are both located within the Mojave Desert. If you want to drive through the Mojave you can just make a day trip out to Palm Springs or nearby Cabazon. (The Cabazon Dinosaurs are kind of fun for kids.) If you want to actually get out of the car and walk up to cacti, lizards, and tumbleweed then Joshua Tree is the better choice.

 

[billyandjj]

This is a really interesting post to me....never thought about taking the kids to the desert. But, now I am really interested. If we went to Joshua Tree, is there a particular section we should focus on....the map looks like it is a big area. We would likely only have a few hours there so we would want to squeeze in as much as possible.

 

[Disdedalus]

Variety truly is the spice of life. Coming from Salt Lake, my kids have seen salt flats and red rock deserts their whole lives. Cacti, scrub oak and tumbleweed don't draw a second look.
But they wouldn't recognize the ocean if they fell out of a boat. They are all desperate to see an honest to goodness beach.
Good luck with your quest. Hope you have a blast.

 

[sheetz]

If you want to try something neat drive to Palm Springs and ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to the top. Then when you head back to Anaheim stop off for dinner in Huntington Beach. By doing this you'll have visited the desert, the mountains, and the ocean/beach all in one day!

 

[bcla]

What are you looking for? Technically most of Southern California is a desert.

Are you looking for cactus? Scrub brush? Sand dunes?

Death Valley is an excellent example of desert landscape. However, it's best visited in the winter and late fall or early spring.

 

[Girimama33]

If you want to try something neat drive to Palm Springs and ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to the top. Then when you head back to Anaheim stop off for dinner in Huntington Beach. By doing this you'll have visited the desert, the mountains, and the ocean/beach all in one day!

That's why everyone lives in So Cal.

 

[Disney Dukers]

Sounds great everyone, Joshua park sounds like a good spot to me! Thanks

 

[jahexom]

Just got back from the area and we visited the Living Desert in the Palm Springs area. Very interesting place.

 

[Disney Dukers]

Just got back from the area and we visited the Living Desert in the Palm Springs area. Very interesting place.

Cool, can't wait!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

A very cool outing that I take now and then takes you along the coast (5 south) and through the countryside (78 east), to the the mountain town of Julian (great apple pie here), and down into the desert and to the State Park of Anza Borrego (shown at the end of Soarin' Over Californian where the people on horses are riding in the desert & Blue Angels fly over). There is a nice visitor center with some trails at Anza Borrego. (all of this still on the 78)

You can continue towards the Salton Sea, and pass the postal stagecoach trails along the way (you can read the signs for the stations). Cut over to Indio (I THINK you take the 86), and to the 10 and head west. You'll see the famous windmills, the 'dinosaurs' at Cabazon, as well as the outlet mall there, and the famous shop where you can buy those delicious date shakes.

I've done this trip a few times through the years, and spring is the best time. You'll see daffodils growing in the hills, and if you go after a rain you'll see the desert flowers - just beautiful.

I talked about it on one of our podcast segments:

http://www.disunplugged.com/2013/04/18/dis-unplugged-podcast-041813-disneyland-show/

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

A very cool outing that I take now and then takes you along the coast (5 south) and through the countryside (78 east), to the the mountain town of Julian (great apple pie here), and down into the desert and to the State Park of Anza Borrego (shown at the end of Soarin' Over Californian where the people on horses are riding in the desert & Blue Angels fly over). There is a nice visitor center with some trails at Anza Borrego. (all of this still on the 78)

You can continue towards the Salton Sea, and pass the postal stagecoach trails along the way (you can read the signs for the stations). Cut over to Indio (I THINK you take the 86), and to the 10 and head west. You'll see the famous windmills, the 'dinosaurs' at Cabazon, as well as the outlet mall there, and the famous shop where you can buy those delicious date shakes.

I've done this trip a few times through the years, and spring is the best time. You'll see daffodils growing in the hills, and if you go after a rain you'll see the desert flowers - just beautiful.

I talked about it on one of our podcast segments:

http://www.disunplugged.com/2013/04/18/dis-unplugged-podcast-041813-disneyland-show/

OT but let me say this wonderful day trip itinerary of yours is one of the exact reasons my partner and I are planning to move to Southern California. Try this here from Chicago and it's eight hours of corn with an occasional bored cow.

 

[gunka]

A very cool outing that I take now and then takes you along the coast (5 south) and through the countryside (78 east), to the the mountain town of Julian (great apple pie here), and down into the desert and to the State Park of Anza Borrego (shown at the end of Soarin' Over Californian where the people on horses are riding in the desert & Blue Angels fly over). There is a nice visitor center with some trails at Anza Borrego. (all of this still on the 78)

You can continue towards the Salton Sea, and pass the postal stagecoach trails along the way (you can read the signs for the stations). Cut over to Indio (I THINK you take the 86), and to the 10 and head west. You'll see the famous windmills, the 'dinosaurs' at Cabazon, as well as the outlet mall there, and the famous shop where you can buy those delicious date shakes.

I've done this trip a few times through the years, and spring is the best time. You'll see daffodils growing in the hills, and if you go after a rain you'll see the desert flowers - just beautiful.

I talked about it on one of our podcast segments:

http://www.disunplugged.com/2013/04/18/dis-unplugged-podcast-041813-disneyland-show/

This is a great route. If you want to see real Sand Dunes you can go a little further east to the Imperial Sand Dunes. For kids that have never seen them or played in them - they are amazing. For Information or location - just Google "Imperial Sand Dunes". During the middle of summer they will be extremely hot. In the winter the weather will be beautiful.

 

[heybets30]

Mikedoyleblogger ... Why would you want to move away from here?? This snow, and more snow, with temps no where near above freezing ... Spent most of my life around chicagoland, first year I am so completely over winter!! 33 days til my family vaca in socal!!

Thanks to other posters about desert suggestions!! Didn't even think about that as a possible outing before our days in the parks ... Looking into joshua tree now! Kids would love the dinosaurs too. Awesome tips!