Highway 62 Breakdown Between I-10 and Yucca Valley: Morongo Valley, the Morongo Grade, and Who to Call

You turn off Interstate 10 at White Water, point the car north on Highway 62, and start to climb. The road rises through Morongo Canyon, past the Coachella Valley's last palms, and the temperature gauge starts to creep. About ten miles up, Morongo Valley appears. Ten more and you're in Yucca Valley, more than 2,000 feet higher than where you started.



This stretch is the front door to the Morongo Basin for everyone coming from Palm Springs or Los Angeles, and it's where a lot of trips go wrong.

The route in plain terms

State Route 62 begins at I-10 near White Water, at an elevation of about 860 feet. It climbs north through Morongo Valley, which sits at about 2,582 feet. The Wikipedia entry for Morongo Valley places it roughly 10 miles north of I-10 and 10 miles west of Yucca Valley, and calls it the first San Bernardino County town travelers meet driving north from the Coachella Valley.

From there Highway 62 continues to Yucca Valley, which sits above 3,000 feet. At Yucca Valley it meets SR 247 (Old Woman Springs Road), which runs north toward Landers and Lucerne Valley, while Highway 62 itself turns east toward Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. Caltrans recognizes the nine miles from I-10 to the Riverside–San Bernardino county line as a scenic highway.

Why this stretch causes breakdowns

• A sustained climb. The engine works hard for miles, often with the air conditioning running, and an older or marginal cooling system can overheat.
• The descent on the way back. Coming down loads the brakes, and a long grade is a bad place to find out yours are tired.
• Visitors in unfamiliar vehicles. Rental cars, loaded SUVs, and RVs are all common here.
• Heat. A Coachella Valley afternoon at the bottom is a tougher test for a car than it looks on a map.

Wildlife on the grades

Highway 62's steep stretches are known wildlife crossings. California Highways reports that wildlife crossings are planned at the Morongo and Yucca grades, where advocates have documented multiple wildlife deaths in a single year, including mountain lions, black bears, deer, and bighorn sheep. Slow down at dawn and dusk. If you hit an animal, pull off safely and call 911 if anyone is hurt or your vehicle is blocking a lane. A collision can leave a car undrivable even when it looks fine.

Storms and washes

This is canyon country, and heavy rain can send water across low spots with little warning. After the recent flooding in the region, our post-storm driving guide explains the National Weather Service's flood-depth thresholds and what to check before you go. The short version: don't drive through flooded roadways.

If you break down on this stretch

1. Get as far off the road as you safely can. Shoulders vary, and a car sitting partly in a lane is a hazard.
2. Turn on your hazards, and stay clear of the road once you're stopped.
3. If the engine is overheating, shut it off and let it cool. Don't open a hot radiator cap, because pressurized coolant can scald you.
4. Call for help and give the dispatcher precise details (below).
5. Stay with the car unless you're sure of a safer spot.

What to tell the dispatcher

On a highway with few street signs, landmarks do the work. Give us:

• Your direction of travel: northbound toward Yucca Valley, or heading down toward I-10.
• The nearest landmark. Useful ones include Indian Canyon Drive at the base of the grade, Big Morongo Canyon Road and East Drive (near Willie Boys Saloon), Morongo Valley Park, Vale Drive, and the Joshua Lane/SR 247 junction in Yucca Valley.
• What happened: overheating, flat tire, won't start, accident, or an animal strike.
• The vehicle: a motorhome, an EV, or an all-wheel-drive car may need different equipment. See our guide to EV towing.

Where to take the car

Most drivers have a shop in mind, and the closest place to a breakdown on this stretch is often in Morongo Valley or Yucca Valley. If you're coming from the desert side, Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs are the next options down the hill. Tell the dispatcher where you want the car to go, or ask where they'd recommend if you don't know the area. Our guide to towing in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and the Morongo Basin covers the corridor in more detail.

How to get a clear price

A tow quote depends mainly on distance, the time of day, and the equipment your vehicle needs, like a flatbed or a winch. Because shorter runs generally cost less, a precise location helps. Before the truck loads, ask for the price and what it includes, and see our guide to what a California tow invoice must show. If you carry a motor club plan, our guide on AAA or a local tow truck explains how far your coverage may take you, which matters on a route where the nearest big shop can be a long way off.

Heading to Joshua Tree next?

If your trip continues past Yucca Valley into the park, our West Entrance breakdown guide covers what to expect on Park Boulevard, where there's no gas and no reliable cell service.

Before you drive up the grade

• Check coolant and hoses, and look at the temperature gauge in the first few miles.
• Top off fuel and fluids in the Coachella Valley or Morongo Valley.
• Have your brakes looked at if they've felt soft, especially before a trip with a long descent.
• Check your tires, including the spare.
• Carry water, since a hot-weather wait on a narrow shoulder is no fun.
• Save our number: (442) 205-6198.

Questions about breakdowns on Highway 62

How far is Morongo Valley from I-10 and from Yucca Valley?

Roughly 10 miles from each, according to the Wikipedia entry for Morongo Valley. It's the first San Bernardino County town you reach driving north from the Coachella Valley.

Does wildlife cause crashes on Highway 62?

It's a documented problem. California Highways reports wildlife crossings planned at the Morongo and Yucca grades, where advocates have recorded multiple wildlife deaths in a year, including mountain lions, black bears, deer, and bighorn sheep. Slow down at dawn and dusk.

Should I open the hood if my engine is overheating?

Shut the engine off and let it cool first. Don't open a hot radiator cap, because pressurized coolant can scald you. If the temperature light keeps coming back, have it towed instead of driving it.

Broken down between I-10 and Yucca Valley, in Morongo Valley, or anywhere along Highway 62?

Call (442) 205-6198 now and tell us your direction of travel and the nearest landmark.

Ask for a free quote before the truck rolls.