San Bernardino County history: State Route 62 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

"San Bernardino County Update", yellow arrowhead and "SBCounty.gov

A winding road surrounded by Joshua trees and desert vegetation under a clear blue sky. — *State Route 62 serves as one of the primary routes to Joshua Tree National Park.*

California State Route 62 (SR 62) is a major east-west highway that crosses the desert regions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The highway is especially important because it serves as one of the primary routes to Joshua Tree National Park, which attracts millions of visitors each year. In addition to providing access to the park, SR 62 connects several desert communities and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.

SR 62 begins at its junction with Interstate 10 near the eastern end of the San Gorgonio Pass, northwest of Palm Springs. From there, the highway travels north into Yucca Valley, where it intersects with State Route 247 before turning east through Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms.

The highway’s history dates back to the 1930s, when a two-lane asphalt road was built over an existing dirt road. The highway was first designated as Route 187 and initially extended only from Interstate 10 to Morongo Valley. In 1959, the highway was extended 24.6 miles east to Yucca Valley. Two years later, in 1961, it was extended again to the Marine Corps base in Twentynine Palms.

In 1970, the highway was expanded once again when more than 100 miles of roadway were constructed from Twentynine Palms to the Colorado River. At that time, the route was redesignated as SR 62, bringing its total length to approximately 151.4 miles. The easternmost 100-mile stretch remains one of the most isolated highways in California, with virtually no services available between Twentynine Palms and the Colorado River.

A nine-mile section of SR 62 has been officially designated as a California Scenic Highway by Caltrans. This designation recognizes highways that provide exceptional views of the surrounding landscape while preserving the area’s natural beauty.

Today, SR 62 remains an important transportation corridor that provides access to Joshua Tree National Park, several desert communities and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.

The information in this historical feature was originally part of a video series produced by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s office.

Additional County Update News – July 30, 2026