Palm Springs, CA

Travel Guide
Indian Canyon which includes tropical scenes and a sunset
Once a swinging spot for Hollywood’s celebrities, today this Southern California city welcomes vacationers from across the country to enjoy its warm weather.

Bob Hope, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra and others are perennially remembered in Palm Springs with streets bearing their names. Soon after World War II the city offered a luxurious getaway for an interesting mix of Hollywood celebrities and top politicians. Enjoy your own vacation getaway at today’s Palm Springs with golf and poolside relaxation at lavish resorts.

In one of the world’s most concentrated golf locations, select from more than 120 courses in and around Palm Springs. Get early morning tee times to beat the heat. Then gather floats or frosty drinks to cool off at the pool at your accommodations.

The area experiences very warm and dry conditions, making multiple daily trips to resort swimming pools common for visitors. For another cooling experience, ride on the rotating Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to enjoy views over the valley, noting green areas of civilization amid the brown rocky topography. At the 8,516-foot (2,596-meter) summit, have lunch or hike on the 50 miles (80 kilometers) of trails through Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Temperatures here are much cooler than in the valley.

Hike or climb winding roads into the San Jacinto Mountains to look down at the oases of the city and see snow-capped mountains in the distance. The Indian Canyons feature additional vegetation varieties and artifacts from early Cahuilla people.

Come to Palm Springs in April for food, art and a range of musical acts at the Coachella festival in nearby Indio. Drive into Joshua Tree National Park to see the unusual spiky trees and nearly 750 other plant varieties growing in the Mojave Desert and Colorado Desert.

Drive about 2 hours east from Los Angeles International Airport to reach Palm Springs or fly to the city’s small international airport. Stop at the Palm Springs Air Museum next to the airport to see numerous aircraft from World War II and beyond. Several miles west, the Palm Springs Art Museum features modern and contemporary artworks including Chihuly glass.

Palm Springs Travel Guide Video

Where to stay in Palm Springs

Motel 6 Palm Springs, CA - East - Palm Canyon
Motel 6 Palm Springs, CA - East - Palm Canyon
2 out of 5
595 East Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA
The price is $48 per night from Oct 17 to Oct 18
$48
per night
Oct 17 - Oct 18
Stay at this motel in Palm Springs. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Camelot Park ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,014 reviews)
"Quiet at night"

Reviewed on Sep 30, 2023

Motel 6 Palm Springs, CA - East - Palm Canyon
Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel
Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel
4 out of 5
888 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
The price is $206 per night from Oct 22 to Oct 23
$206
per night
Oct 22 - Oct 23
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Palm Springs. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 bars/lounges, and breakfast. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,050 reviews)
"Friendly staff!"

Reviewed on Sep 29, 2023

Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel
Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs
Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs
4 out of 5
1600 N Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
The price is $152 per night from Oct 22 to Oct 23
$152
per night
Oct 22 - Oct 23
Stay at this 4-star spa resort in Palm Springs. Enjoy 2 outdoor pools, 2 poolside bars, and 2 spa tubs. Our guests praise the pool and the property condition ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,600 reviews)
"The property is beautiful and perfect for our needs"

Reviewed on Oct 2, 2023

Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
7 Springs Inn & Suites
7 Springs Inn & Suites
2.5 out of 5
950 N Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA
Stay at this aparthotel in Palm Springs. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 spa tubs. Our guests praise the bathrooms and the overall value in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,152 reviews)
"King room was very spacious. Had the basics, very clean. Upon arrival, I was accidentally checked into another guests room, but the clerk was very professional and apologetic for the mistake. My room was just a few down, and clean and ready. Property is not as close to downtown as I had hoped, wasn’t ..."

Reviewed on Sep 26, 2023

7 Springs Inn & Suites
The Oasis Resort
The Oasis Resort
3 out of 5
4190 E Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA
Stay at this 3-star condo in Palm Springs. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 8 outdoor pools. Popular attractions Rimrock Shopping Center and Palm Springs Municipal ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (781 reviews)
"Nice property, just wish better communication when checking in. I was never told that our room is in a decline floor. No even when setting up the registration in line and last thing very small bbq’s for big rooms, my friends that stay in a three bedroom had only a small bbq grill. Other than that ..."

Reviewed on Sep 26, 2023

The Oasis Resort
Desert Vacation Villas by VRI Americas
Desert Vacation Villas by VRI Americas
3 out of 5
250 West Vista Chino, Palm Springs, CA
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Palm Springs. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and room service. Popular attractions Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Las Palmas ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (289 reviews)
"Great location, comfortable and spacious, great value"

Reviewed on Sep 24, 2023

Desert Vacation Villas by VRI Americas
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Palm Springs

Palm Springs itself is reasonably compact and easy to get around, with a highly walkable downtown area and a decent public bus system. However, the attractions and activities that most visitors come for are very spaced out, with many being outside the city boundaries. You really do need to rent a car to get around, but fortunately there are plenty of rental companies catering to this need. Visit the Morongo Basin Transportation Authority website.Browse Palm Springs rental cars.

Best time to visit

Since it’s located in the middle of a desert, it's no surprise that Palm Springs gets extremely hot in the summer months. Between June and August, temperatures soar to well over 100 F (37 C). Visit between November and March instead and you will have pleasant, sunny weather in the 70s F and 80s F (20s C) during the day. This will let you make the most of the many outdoor activities available.

Popular places to visit

Read travel guides and advice on visiting Palm Springs

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