Set at the intersection of Highways 62 and 247, Yucca Valley is a quirky desert town that’s known mostly as a pit stop before Joshua Tree National Park. As a gateway city, the town sees its fair share of tourists, a fact that stirs up mixed feelings among the locals, but what really sets Yucca Valley apart is its undercurrent of the unusual. “People live here all year. But it’s also very popular for Airbnbs, so there are lot of visitors,” says Brandy Nelson, Executive Director of Equity Union Real Estate with over 20 years of experience. The city was once known as Lone Star – mostly because it felt like the only speck of civilization for miles around. Today, Yucca Valley has grown into a city of roughly 22,000, small enough to where most residents a place where most residents know each other by name.
Scattered around town are healing spots that go beyond run-of-the-mill day spas, offering alternative therapies to those seeking desert escapes. The town’s history of UFO sightings adds another layer of intrigue, with certain areas once considered hotspots for aliens. Just outside town lies Pioneertown, a piece of the Wild West frozen in time, complete with weathered wooden buildings and tumbleweeds. Companies like Amerigas, Hi Desert Propane and Ferrell Gas have turned the city into somewhat of a propane hub — Yucca Valley's largest industry.
Yucca Valley, California
The Integratron in Landers was listed in 2019 on the National Register of Historic Places.
A group of beautiful desert homes sit near the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park.
The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum stands as a special place of desert art in Landers.
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Midcentury homes with desert and Spanish influences
The median home price in Yucca Valley is about $374,000, compared to $415,000 in Joshua Tree and nearly $600,000 million in Palm Springs. While there are a handful of modest ranch-style homes from the 1980s, most local homes are either midcentury ranch-style or 21st-century new traditional with two stories and Spanish-style details. The priciest homes can reach between $1.3 and $2 million, homes that are either newly built or were recently renovated.
Classic Spanish style home seen in the desert landscape of Landers.
Subdivision with midcentury houses
Where mid-century modern design meets desert tranquility in Yucca Valley.
A small desert home located on a large lot in Yucca Valley..
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MUSD supports student artists
The Morongo Unified School District serves roughly 7,400 students and earns an overall grade of C-plus from Niche. The district is home to 11 elementary schools, 2 middle and three high schools. In 2019, the district partnered with the Groundwork Arts Program with the goal of expanding arts education, giving art students opportunities to learn from Morongo Basin artists. They were honored with a Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association in 2024.
The athletics at Yucca Valley High School are some of the best in the area.
Students are the highest priority at Yucca Mesa Elementary School in Yucca Valley.
La Contenta Middle School populates under 800 students.
Friendly Hills Elementary School in Joshua Tree challenges and encourages children to learn.
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Expanding parks and desert flora and fauna
The 5-acre Yucca Valley Community Center features a playground, skate park and athletic fields. “We’re building 8 pickleball courts in 2025,” says Jakub “Kuba” Kusmieruk, Sports & Wellness Supervisor of the Yucca Valley Community Center. “We offer an adults softball league, fitness classes and even Bollywood dance classes. In the summer, we have concerts.” The adjacent Hi-Desert Nature Museum showcases the High Desert ecosystem, an interactive museum with kid-friendly exhibits. Joshua Tree National Park, 11 miles away, covers an area slightly larger than Rhode Island, spanning parts of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. The park’s landscape includes sagebrush, wildflowers, and Joshua Trees among rocky outcroppings, attracting hikers and campers. In Yucca Valley, the Warren Peak trail provides a 6-mile hike with 1,100 feet of elevation gain.
Yucca Valley locals enjoy the skate park at Community Park.
The Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Joshua Tree Visitor Center offers information and local knowledge about the area.
Residents have access to world-class hiking and rock climbing at Joshua Tree National Park.
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Eateries and shopping concentrated along Highway 62
Most of Yucca Valley’s restaurants and retail options line Highway 62 -– also known as 29 Palms Highway. However, on Highway 247, the locally owned La Copine stands out. Once dubbed the “High Desert’s Best Destination Restaurant” by the Los Angeles Times, La Copine has been gaining traction since its opening in 2015, known for a menu that features comfort food and international dishes. Thrift and antique shopping are popular here, with secondhand shoppers preferring Angel View Resale Store and Pioneer Crossing Antiques. Regional grocers like Vons and Stater Bros Markets can also be found along Highway 62. Residents head to the Sky Village Outdoor Marketplace for the weekend flea market, picking up locally sourced items.
Yucca Valley locals and visitors go bargain shopping at the Sky Village Outdoor Marketplace.
Yucca Valley locals love sitting outside of Luna Bakery to enjoy their lunch.
Yucca Valley residents can enjoy the endless menu at Frontier's.
Yucca Valley locals enjoy the brunch offered at The Tiny Pony Tavern
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Morongo Basin Transit helps locals get around
“There is one main road, Highway 62,” Nelson says. “It gets busy, but it’s not a problem with traffic.” Highway 62 leads to Joshua Tree in about 8 miles and Palm Springs in about 28 miles. Nearby Interstate 10, which leads to Los Angeles in about 121 miles, gets particularly congested during Stagecoach and Coachella music festivals in April. Hi-Desert Medical Center is a straight shot down Highway 62, less than 10 miles from the center of Yucca Valley. Morongo Basin Transit Authority serves the area, with 9 different bus stops in the city. Palm Springs International Airport is about 36 miles south. Yucca Valley Airport is a small private airport in the center of the neighborhood; it abides by noise abatement procedures.
High fire risk and slightly higher crime risk
Yucca Valley has a fire risk, and the average summer high is 108 degrees, so staying cool is paramount. Cooling centers include the Yucca Valley Community Center and Yucca Valley Senior Center. According to FBI statistics from December 2023, the Yucca Valley Police Department reported violent crime at an annual rate of about 8 incidents per 1,000 residents, compared to the California rate of about 10 and national rate of roughly 12. Property-related crime was reported at an annual rate of around 29 incidents per 1,000 residents, higher than the California rate of 20 and the national rate of 17.
Written By
Braxton Chea
Photography Contributed By
Marcus Yzaguirre
Video By
Mike Dunleavy
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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Pioneertown Mountains Preserve - The Wildlands Conservancy
Brehm Park Family Recreation Center
Jacobs Park
Yucca Valley Housing Trends
On average, homes in Yucca Valley, CA sell after 79 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Yucca Valley, CA over the last 12 months is $373,000, down 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Elevate Your Lifestyle in Western Hills Estates – A 2023 Custom-Built RetreatWelcome to an extraordinary custom-built residence that harmoniously blends modern luxury with the stunning natural landscape of Western Hills Estates. This 2023 architectural gem, crafted by a builder with over 40 years of expertise, showcases unparalleled quality and high-end finishes, all framed by breathtaking
Color-drenched designer compound featured in Elle Decor, Dwell, and Design Milk, Lavender Ranch is a fully reimagined 1957 desert retreat where sunset inspiration and design converge. Los Angeles interior and furniture designer Another Human meticulously reenvisioned these 4 structures, including a 1BD/1BA lavender-hued main house with a bonus room (optional 2nd BD), newly built Studio/1BA
New Price Improvement! Discover this beautifully maintained single-story home in the sought-after Copper Hills community—where comfort, style, and desert serenity meet. Just minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs, and 29 Palms Marine Base, this home offers both convenience and peace.Featuring 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and an open layout on a 13,500 sq ft lot, you’ll love the
Discover your perfect retreat in the heart of Yucca Valley with this inviting 2 bedroom 2bath home. Nestled in a tranquil neighborhood, this property offers a unique blend of peaceful desert living and modern comfort. Imagine waking up to stunning mountain views and basking in the golden sunlight that fills the spacious interiors. This home features an open floor plan that seamlessly connects the
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NEWLY REMODELED 3-Bedroom, 2-Bath Home in Yucca Valley – Perfect for Desert Adventures!Our stylish 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in Yucca Valley features an expansive living area, an upgraded kitchen, huge bedrooms, spa-like bathrooms, and a relaxing backyard patio deck with loungers. Setting you for your next desert adventure, our stunning home is just minutes away from top attractions like
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