On our recent trip to California I was looking for things to do whilst we spent a few days in Palm Springs when I noticed a place called Pioneertown on the map. I was immediately intrigued so I had to find out more. Pioneertown is an old Wild West town hidden out in the desert close to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park making it incredibly easy to visit and a perfect side trip when visiting the area.

Pioneertown was built in 1946 when eighteen Hollywood personalities including Dick Curtis, Roy Rodgers and the Sons of the Pioneers had a dream of building a community and vacation spot for themselves and other people in the entertainment business. By making the buildings in the town look like they were built in the Wild West in the 1880’s, the town could also be a “living breathing movie set” when needed and a place for them to work and live at the same time. Over fifty movies and television shows in the 1940’s and 1950’s were filmed here and the town is still used as a filming location to this day as well as a tourist attraction.

I have written this blog and travel guide and tried to include all up to date information, directions, advice, tips and tricks to help you make the most of your trip to Pioneertown.

From the town of Yucca Valley and the Twentynine Palms Highway, turn onto Pioneertown Road and drive just over four miles before reaching Pioneertown on the right hand side of the road which takes about ten minutes. Make sure to stop at the welcome sign and snap a photo of the road behind you – it is what road trip dream views are made of.

Parking is free in Pioneertown and there are signposted parking lots and plenty of spaces available at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace as well as at either end of Mane Street when you first enter the town. Everywhere in Pioneertown is close by so you will not have far to walk.

As Pioneertown is so small it can easily be visited in a very short space of time. We spent just under an hour slowly walking around and exploring the town by foot before continuing our day at Joshua Tree National Park. Whilst I would usually recommend to visit places early in the day to avoid crowds, it is not necessary if visiting Pioneertown on a weekday – it only seems to get busy on certain weekends when the shops open and there is entertainment (such as the Mane Street Stampede or the Gunfighters for Hire) along Mane Street.

Pioneertown is open 365 days a year and is also free of charge to visit.  As already mentioned not everything will be open during the week so check the opening times online before visiting and try to visit on a weekend.

If you need to access mobile data whilst visiting the USA, you can purchase a travel E-Sim through Airalo. If you would like to use my referral code NIKKI8866 when signing up, you will receive £2.50 / US$3 off your first purchase.

If visiting Pioneertown in the summer months be aware that it will be very hot so come prepared with water, plenty of SPF and make sure to cover up to protect yourself from the scorching sun. Visiting in the winter months will be much more pleasant – we visited late on a Friday morning in November and it was the perfect temperature.

Businesses on Mane Street that you can visit (though not all are open every day) include the Pioneertown General Store, the Pioneertown Film Museum, the Pioneertown Motel, Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, the Red Dog Saloon, MazAmar Pottery and the Pioneer Bowl.

I can only begin to imagine how cool it would be to stay overnight at the Pioneertown Motel and see the stars in the clear night sky before waking up in the morning and walking straight out onto an empty Mane Street.

Pioneertown and the surrounding area is incredibly photogenic so make sure to bring your camera with you. It definitely feels like you are in another world when you are there and I have never visited anywhere like it before – it is unique in every way.

Mane Street is just under half a mile long and stretches from Pappy and Harriet’s to the US Post Office located at the far end of the road – the Pioneertown post office is said to be the most photographed post office in the entire United States.  No cars are allowed along Mane Street – only “Foot or Hoof” traffic is permitted and horses have the right of way on all roads in the town.

I loved our short visit to Pioneertown in California and I would definitely recommend a trip to anyone in the area – especially if staying in Palm Springs which is only forty minutes away. After the last few years of not being able to explore the United States and missing road trips so much, it was wonderful to be back again!

Since this blog post was written back in 2022, some of the information may no longer be accurate or up to date. Be sure to do your own research and check official websites for the latest details before making any of your own travel plans.

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