Coachella Valley, CA

Travel Guide

Indian Canyon featuring landscape views
Indian Canyon featuring landscape views
Sunnylands Center and Gardens showing a house
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway featuring landscape views and desert views
Sunnylands Center and Gardens featuring a garden as well as a small group of people
As a host of some of California’s biggest festivals and events, this warm and sunny rift valley keeps visitors active through the year.

Visit Coachella Valley, a picturesque resort area in and around Palm Springs, famed for its pleasant climate and eclectic events. In winter, so-called snowbird travelers from northern territories trade the colder weather back home for Coachella Valley's entertaining deluxe resorts. Play golf or attend festivals as you travel around this scenic rift valley.

Note the imposing San Bernardino Mountains and Little San Bernardino Mountains in the landscape. The valley sits between the Salton Sea and the San Gorgonio Pass, creating a stunning topography.

Stay in a hotel in the city center of Palm Springs and explore the area’s highlights. Visit the Sunnylands Center and Gardens and embark on a guided walk. Admire the historic estate that has welcomed celebrities and world leaders since 1966 and check out any temporary exhibitions. Enjoy golf at one of more than 100 courses in the area.

Study the vintage aircraft in the hangars of the Palm Springs Air Museum. Chat with the docents, many of whom have piloted the planes.

Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, a large rotating tramcar, above the valley to spot your favorite highlights among the landmarks below. Other sights around Palm Springs include the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Make your way east for the attractions in the cities of Indio and the Cathedral City. Here you’ll find the Desert Holocaust Memorial. When you reach Indian Wells, visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Attend the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival or the Indian Wells Masters tennis tournament, among other regional events.

Find Coachella Valley around Palm Springs in the southern part of California. From Los Angeles, drive east for 110 miles (193 kilometers) to get here in 2 to 3 hours, depending on traffic. You can also travel by Greyhound bus. While in this part of the state, make sure to visit surrounding natural attractions such as the Cleveland National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

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Where to stay in Coachella Valley

Palm Springs Art Museum which includes interior views and art

Downtown Palm Springs

4.5/5(1,565 area reviews)

A noteworthy feature of Downtown Palm Springs is its popular shops. While you're in town, be sure to stop and check out Plaza Theatre and Agua Caliente Casino.

Downtown Palm Springs
Snapped this shot as I was leaving my hotel in PS. The sky with the building, palm trees, and flowers all caught my eye and blended well together. No filter!

Baristo

4.5/5(13 area reviews)

While visiting Baristo, you might make a stop by sights like Plaza Theatre and Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center.

Baristo
 View from my hotel in Palm Springs Cali

Midtown

If you're spending some time in Midtown, Agua Caliente Casino and The Spa at Se-che are top sights worth seeing.

Midtown
Watering lawn grass palm trees and plants

Sunrise Park

While visiting Sunrise Park, you might make a stop by sights like Palm Springs Mall Shopping Center and Palm Springs Swim Center.

Sunrise Park
Joshua tree

Warm Sands

4/5(109 area reviews)

Warm Sands might not have many top sights, but Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Plaza Theatre are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Warm Sands
One of the many fascinating doors to hideaways in Palm Springs

Movie Colony East

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Movie Colony East and surrounding area, you can visit Agua Caliente Casino and El Paseo Collection.

Movie Colony East
Indian Wells Resort Hotel

Indian Wells Resort Hotel

3.5 out of 5
76-661 Highway 111 Indian Wells CA
$152 nightly
The price is $175 total per night from Mar 22 to Mar 23
$175 total
Mar 22 - Mar 23
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this golf resort in Indian Wells. Enjoy room service, a fitness center, and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (3,627 reviews)
The front desk staff was excellent, gave us an upgrade when our room was not ready. The suite was spacious, although the decor is a bit dated and the air very stale. Nice little gym. The pool area looked nice but we were not there long enough to use it.

Reviewed on Feb 27, 2026

Indian Wells Resort Hotel
Aqua Soleil Hotel & Mineral Water Spa

Aqua Soleil Hotel & Mineral Water Spa

3 out of 5
14500 Palm Drive Desert Hot Springs CA
$96 nightly
The price is $111 total per night from Mar 1 to Mar 2
$111 total
Mar 1 - Mar 2
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Desert Hot Springs. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,161 reviews)
The room was clean and had the amenities listed, including a small refrigerator. The bathroom was well- equipped. I enjoyed use of one of the two hot tubs, as well as the swimming pool. Overall a very good value.

Reviewed on Feb 27, 2026

Aqua Soleil Hotel & Mineral Water Spa
Miracle Springs Resort & Spa

Miracle Springs Resort & Spa

3 out of 5
10625 Palm Dr Desert Hot Springs CA
$148 nightly
The price is $171 total per night from Mar 8 to Mar 9
$171 total
Mar 8 - Mar 9
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Desert Hot Springs. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,743 reviews)
The room was old and had a musty smell. The hotel is in a not-so-safe area, so we had to bring our electric bikes into the room. The one plus side is that the mineral pool and hot tubs were wonderful.

Reviewed on Feb 26, 2026

Miracle Springs Resort & Spa
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.
The Westin Desert Willow Villas, Palm Desert

The Westin Desert Willow Villas, Palm Desert

4 out of 5
75 Willow Ridge Palm Desert CA
Book a stay at this golf condo in Palm Desert. Enjoy free WiFi, 4 outdoor pools, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,323 reviews)
Room was clean, staff was good. It was a pool down close to our suite that was closed for construction and there market place was closed due to construction had I known that before our stay I would have booked somewhere else!

Reviewed on Feb 27, 2026

The Westin Desert Willow Villas, Palm Desert
Marriott's Desert Springs Villas II

Marriott's Desert Springs Villas II

3.5 out of 5
1091 Pinehurst Ln Palm Desert CA
Book a stay at this golf condo in Palm Desert. Enjoy free WiFi, 7 outdoor pools, and a health club. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,296 reviews)
Perfect place to getaway!

Reviewed on Feb 23, 2026

Marriott's Desert Springs Villas II
Marriott's Shadow Ridge I-The Villages

Marriott's Shadow Ridge I-The Villages

3.5 out of 5
9003 Shadow Ridge Road Palm Desert CA
Book a stay at this golf condo in Palm Desert. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and 3 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,787 reviews)
Staff very service oriented but we had issues daily with shower water pressure, and could not be fixed, which was a real hassle and below expectations (we even changed rooms but no better - pressure from taps and bath good but shower horrible). They could also use another restaurant on property.

Reviewed on Feb 26, 2026

Marriott's Shadow Ridge I-The Villages
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.

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