The 8 best things to do in Twentynine Palms

Get a closer look at the sky from this observatory, which also has nature and wilderness trails, mechanical models of the solar system, a meditation garden, and welded steel sculptures. Occasionally they host a two-day Night Sky Festival for all ages, plus telescope clinics where guests can bring in their telescopes and learn how to set up, align and operate them. Just be aware there's no running water on the campus.

You don’t have to stay at one of the charmingly mismatched bungalows dotting the expansive grounds to have a great meal or a drink at the 29 Palms Inn. Be advised that only guests can take a dip in the pool, though. An ample cocktail list supports a menu of burgers, sandwiches, and salads made with produce grown right on the hotel’s property. Go for lunch to take in the sunlit splendor of the pool and palms, plus a lagoon filled with swimming turtles.

Owned and operated by the volunteer, nonprofit Twentynine Palms Artists’ Guild, 29 Palms Art Gallery is located in a historic adobe house built in 1936. The gallery hosts monthly art exhibits, adult and youth art education courses, juried art exhibits, artist receptions, and seasonal fundraising events. Their onsite gift shop sells jewelry, gifts, and other artsy items.

One of the last remaining drive-in theaters in California, Smith’s Ranch’s single screen is flanked by trees for a secluded setting. Relax in your car or bring lawn chairs and a boombox for double features of first-run movies. A quaint snack shack delivers outstanding versions of movie treats like chili dogs, popcorn, and even pulled pork sandwiches—all for significantly less than cineplex prices.

One of Joshua Tree National Park’s most Instragrammable locales, Arch Rock is a geological marvel. As the name suggests, it is an enormous, naturally-formed stone arch that bends upwards over the top of a precarious-looking boulder. Not far from the White Tank campsite, the arch is a 15-minute drive into Joshua Tree National Park from the highway hub of Twentynine Palms. From there, it is a beginner-level jaunt to the stone marvel, with more than enough boulders for more experienced hikers to climb atop.

This charming, inexpensive and unpretentious facility is the platonic ideal of a classic bowling alley. Wild patterns adorning the walls amplify a decor that—delightfully—seems like it hasn’t been updated much since the 1970s. Though the number of lanes leaves something to be desired, you can kill time waiting for one at the facility’s top-notch bar, the Back Alley, which gets lively when there’s a game on television. Bowladium’s in-house taqueria, Mexican Street Tacos, serves a variety of meats, including fish and shrimp, and even hosts a hot-salsa challenge.

Built up against the national park, Tortoise Rock Casino is essentially one vast room filled with slot machines and a dozen table games like blackjack and poker. Extremely friendly staff and a clean (but cigarette smoke-filled) environment set it apart from other small casinos, and well-priced food and drink specials make it more than just a place to play games of chance. There are worse ways to spend an afternoon than drinking a vodka cranberry and feeding the penny slots.

The mountainous range of rocks that cut this part of Joshua Tree off from the rest of the national park makes this campground feel completely unique. Indian Cove is only accessible by car via a separate, dead-end northern entrance mere minutes from the highway and downtown Twentynine Palms. With plenty of gorgeous campsites nestled against jutting rocks and large boulders great for climbing, this is one of the most accessible portions of the park for vertical beauty.