Jolene’s quest in Across the Desert takes her to a variety of locations in Arizona. The novel references Alamo Lake State Park, the ghost town of Signal, and Jo’s destinations of Quartzsite, Hope, and Wenden; each is a real location northwest of Phoenix, Jolene’s home. The Alamo Lake region, where Jolene treks to find her friend, Addie, has daily average temperatures in June, July, and August that top 100 degrees. Stretches of desert separate towns and stopping points; although Alamo Lake State Park offers camping, hiking, and fishing, Addie’s plane crash occurs in a remote area where passersby would be very unlikely. Sun exposure, heat, insects, snakes, cacti, and other hazards pose dangers for the characters. Environmental conflicts are amplified because Addie flies without supplies, and Jo does not have adequate water or emergency gear.

As the novel progresses, the intense heat transcends other dangers. The heat’s impact is foreshadowed in the opening of the story: “It’s so hot today in downtown Phoenix, I could probably bake cookies in a car” (1). Jo’s and Addie’s comments regarding the heat help to establish this conflict as well; Jo is relieved to feel the cool air of the library, and Addie reports (ironically) that she does not intend to fly the next day due to the heat.