Palm Springs & Joshua Tree 2025 | A Two-Day Christmas Desert Trip

Overview

During Christmas break we drove the Tesla to Palm Springs and spent two easy days around Joshua Tree National Park.

The keywords for this trip:

• Cactus, boulders, and desert landforms
• Flamingo photo stop in downtown Palm Springs
• First real test of the Seestar S30 for deep-sky and moon photography
• A surprisingly strong Joshua Tree stargazing experience

The biggest surprise was the night sky. In good weather, the stars were visible to the naked eye and felt far more impressive than expected.

Day 1 | Joshua Tree: Cactus, Rocks, And Deep-Sky Photos

The first day was a slow loop through Joshua Tree National Park. During the day we looked at cactus gardens and rock formations. In the evening we started looking for a spot to photograph the night sky.

I brought the new Seestar S30. It was easy to use overall, though I still had not fully figured out equatorial mode. Even so, we got several satisfying deep-sky and moon photos.

For stargazing, Porcupine Wash was a strong recommendation:

• Very good sky quality and stable photo results
• Surprisingly, there was network signal on site
• More reassuring for Tesla navigation and range planning

Tesla FSD also deserves credit here. On this longer drive, it made the trip much easier.

Day 2 | Palm Springs Downtown And Flamingo Photos

The second day was a slower downtown Palm Springs day: food, walking, photos, and a flamingo stop.

For a short weekend trip, this mix of "one day national park plus one day downtown" felt very comfortable.

Stargazing Notes

1. Joshua Tree is a great first deep-sky photography destination: approachable setup, high reward.
2. With new gear, first prioritize getting stable results, then explore advanced modes.
3. A stargazing spot with signal, like Porcupine Wash, is very beginner-friendly.
4. Winter night photography has a big temperature drop, so warmth and battery planning matter.

Final Thoughts

This was a light but very happy Christmas short trip:

• Desert landscapes by day
• Milky Way overhead at night
• Easy switch between town and nature

In good weather, Joshua Tree is absolutely worth visiting for the night sky.