Free things to do · Palm Springs · United States
5 free things to do in Palm Springs
Palm Springs without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs · Photo: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Palm Springs without paying an entry fee: Mid-century modern homes drive, Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station), Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest and Sunnylands are all free. Hotel rates can halve between peak February–April weekends and midweek stays in late May, October or December.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 8
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- July–August
Plan a trip to Palm Springs
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms
1.Mid-century modern homes drive
Go early in the morning when the light is soft and the streets are empty, and photograph from the pavement; these are lived-in private homes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
- Iconic
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Architecture · North Palm Springs
2.Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station)
Stop here on the way to or from the tramway to photograph the roof against the mountains and pick up an architecture map.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Street · Downtown Palm Springs
3.Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest
Visit VillageFest after sunset in the warmer months, when the pavement has cooled and the stalls are busiest.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Historic site · Rancho Mirage
4.Sunnylands
The free gardens are a calm stop in themselves; the estate usually closes for part of the summer, so check its calendar.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
Nature · Thousand Palms
5.Coachella Valley Preserve
Walk the short McCallum Trail to the oasis pond in the early morning, when birds are active and the temperature is bearable.
- Time needed
- 1.5–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms | Mid-century modern homes drive | 2–3 hours |
| North Palm Springs | Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station) | 30 minutes |
| Downtown Palm Springs | Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest | 1–2 hours |
| Rancho Mirage | Sunnylands | 1–3 hours |
| Thousand Palms | Coachella Valley Preserve | 1.5–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Nature · San Jacinto Mountains
Mount San Jacinto State Park
Pick up the free wilderness permit at the ranger station below the Mountain Station before any hike beyond the short loops, and start the summit trail early.
- Time needed
- 2 hours to a full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Nature · Agua Caliente Reservation
Indian Canyons
Start at Andreas Canyon for an easy shaded walk, then drive on to Palm Canyon; carry plenty of water, as there is little shade on the upper trails.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- History
- Photo spot
Nature · South of downtown
Tahquitz Canyon
Visit in winter or early spring, when snowmelt and rain mean the waterfall is actually flowing; by late summer it can be a trickle.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- History
Museum · Downtown Palm Springs
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Allow time for the outdoor plaza and its desert garden, and book a spa slot ahead if you want to bathe in the mineral water itself.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Downtown Palm Springs
Palm Springs Art Museum
The museum has offered free entry on some evenings; check its website before you go and pair a visit with dinner downtown.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Architecture · Downtown Palm Springs
Architecture and Design Center
Visit before an architecture drive; the shop sells maps and books that identify the modernist homes you will pass.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Garden · South Palm Springs
Moorten Botanical Garden
It takes under an hour, so pair it with the Indian Canyons a few minutes further south.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Museum · Desert Hot Springs
Cabot's Pueblo Museum
Combine it with lunch in Desert Hot Springs, about 20 minutes north of downtown Palm Springs.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Hotel rates can halve between peak February–April weekends and midweek stays in late May, October or December.
- Check for resort fees and parking charges, which many Palm Springs hotels add to the nightly rate.
- Avoid booking during the Coachella and Stagecoach weekends unless you are attending; prices across the whole valley rise sharply.
- The architecture drive, Palm Canyon Drive, VillageFest, the visitor centre and the Coachella Valley Preserve cost nothing.
- Hotels and rentals in Palm Desert and Cathedral City are often cheaper than in Palm Springs, if you have a car.
- Summer brings the lowest rates of the year and many restaurant deals, but plan everything around the heat.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Palm Springs expensive to visit?
Palm Springs is moderately priced for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Palm Springs?
Mid-century modern homes drive: Go early in the morning when the light is soft and the streets are empty, and photograph from the pavement; these are lived-in private homes.