Things to Do in Palm Springs and the Desert
Mid-century style, palm oases and a tram ride from the desert floor to the pines.
See top-rated activities »About Palm Springs
Palm Springs sits at the western end of the Coachella Valley, about two hours east of Los Angeles, under the steep wall of Mount San Jacinto. It grew in the 1930s through the 1960s as a winter escape for Hollywood, and the architects who built for that crowd left one of the best collections of mid-century modern houses and buildings in the country. Driving or cycling past the low, glassy homes in neighborhoods like Vista Las Palmas and the Movie Colony is a pastime in itself, and the Palm Springs Art Museum and its architecture and design center tell the story.
The land around the city belongs in large part to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Their Indian Canyons south of town shelter groves of native fan palms along streams, with walking trails into Palm Canyon and Andreas Canyon, and the tribe's cultural museum downtown sits beside the hot spring that gave the city its name. For a change of climate, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway lifts riders in rotating cars from the desert floor to a mountain station in Mount San Jacinto State Park, where trails wind through pine forest that can be 30 degrees cooler than the valley.
Down the valley, Palm Desert and Indian Wells are resort and golf towns, and the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens shows the wildlife of the world's deserts. About an hour northeast, Joshua Tree National Park spreads across two deserts, with boulder piles, climbing routes and the spiky trees that gave it its name; it is one of the best places to visit in Southern California for dark night skies. Plan outdoor time for early morning in summer, when afternoon heat is extreme. The cooler months, roughly October to May, are the main season.
Don’t Miss
Rotating tram cars climb to a mountain station with restaurants, viewpoints and trails in Mount San Jacinto State Park.
Palm oases, streams and hiking trails on Agua Caliente tribal land south of town.
The tribe's museum of Cahuilla history and culture, part of a downtown cultural plaza by the original hot spring.
Modern and contemporary art, glass and Western art downtown, plus an architecture and design center.
A zoo and botanical garden of desert animals and plants from North America and Africa.
Boulder fields, Joshua tree forests, hiking and stargazing where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Palm Springs
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 31, 2026. Best in SoCal may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Plan your time in Palm Springs
Tell us when you are coming and what you enjoy. A travel specialist will put together hotel, activity and travel options for you — free, with no obligation.
Get free trip quotes »Palm Springs — FAQ
How far is Joshua Tree from Palm Springs?
The park's west entrance at the town of Joshua Tree is about an hour's drive from downtown Palm Springs. Many visitors take a guided jeep or day tour from Palm Springs instead of driving.
When is the best time to visit Palm Springs?
October through May, when days are warm and nights are cool. Summer is very hot, and many visitors then spend mornings outdoors and afternoons by the pool or up the Aerial Tramway.
More of Southern California
