There are 6 ways to get from San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park by bus, plane, bus (Flixbus, Amtrak), train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus to San Francisco International Airport, fly, bus
best- Take the bus from Larkspur - pickup to San Francisco Airportbus
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)plane SFO - PSP
- Take the bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Centerbus
5h 51m$157–372Drive 514.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from San Rafael to Joshua Tree Oasis Visitor Centercar 514.5 mi
8h 53m$94–136Bus
- Take the bus from El Cerrito del Norte BART to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Springs Airport Amtrak Bus Stopbus
- Take the bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Centerbus 15
17h 31mTrain, bus
- Take the train from Oakland to Los Angelestrain
- Take the bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Springs Airport Amtrak Bus Stopbus
- Take the bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Centerbus 15
21h 12mBus to Oakland International Airport, fly, bus
- Take the bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airportbus
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)plane OAK - PSP
- Take the bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Centerbus
5h 40m$360–875Bus to Sonoma County Airport, fly, bus
- Take the bus from San Rafael to Sonoma Co Airport Terminalbus
- Fly from Sonoma County Airport (STS) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)plane STS - PSP
- Take the bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Centerbus
6h 22m$170–775
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park is to drive which costs $90 - $140 and takes 8h 53m.
The fastest way to get from San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park is to bus and fly which takes 5h 40m and costs $360 - $900.
No, there is no direct bus from San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park. However, there are services departing from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform B and arriving at 29 Palms Transit Center via El Cerrito del Norte BART, Fullerton Amtrak Station and Palm Springs Airport. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 17h 31m.
The distance between San Rafael and Joshua Tree National Park is 505 miles. The road distance is 517.5 miles.
The best way to get from San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park without a car is to bus which takes 17h 31m and costs .
It takes approximately 5h 51m to get from San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park, including transfers.
San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from El Cerrito del Norte BART station.
San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Los Angeles Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park is 518 miles. It takes approximately 8h 53m to drive from San Rafael to Joshua Tree National Park.
What companies run services between San Rafael, CA, USA and Joshua Tree National Park, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform B to 29 Palms Transit Center via El Cerrito del Norte BART Station-Bay C1, El Cerrito del Norte BART, Los Angeles Union Station, L.A. Union Station, Fullerton, Fullerton Amtrak Station, Palm Springs Airport, and 29 Palms Transit Center in around 17h 31m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Saturday and Monday
- Estimated price
- $45–260
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–290
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 33m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $50–310
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–320
Flights from Sonoma County Airport to Palm Springs International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 41m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–700
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–240
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–240
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Oakland to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 2m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $250–400
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 415-461-4222
- Website
- Marin Airporter
Bus from Larkspur - pickup to San Francisco Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $32
- Website
- Marin Airporter
- Adult One-way
- $32
- Phone
- 760 366 2395
- [email protected]
- Website
- basin-transit.com
Bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–20
- Website
- basin-transit.com
Bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–20
- Website
- basin-transit.com
Bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–20
- Website
- basin-transit.com
Bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–20
- Website
- basin-transit.com
Bus from Palm Springs Airport to 29 Palms Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–20
- Website
- basin-transit.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from El Cerrito del Norte BART to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–100
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Springs Airport Amtrak Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Springs Airport Amtrak Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 707-837-8700
- Website
- Groome Transportation
Bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Website
- Groome Transportation
- First Passenger
- $25–55
Bus from San Rafael to Sonoma Co Airport Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Website
- Groome Transportation
- First Passenger
- $25–55
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide










