How many days · Palm Springs · United States
How many days do you need in Palm Springs?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs · Photo: Mfield , Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Palm Springs, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the tramway, a canyon hike, downtown and an architecture drive. Four days adds a full day in Joshua Tree, a lazy pool day and a trip down-valley to the Living Desert or Sunnylands.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.9 h (Dec) to 14.4 h (Jun)
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What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Mid-century modern homes drive, Mount San Jacinto State Park and Indian Canyons |
| 2 days | Good | Indian Canyons, Tahquitz Canyon and Agua Caliente Cultural Museum |
| 3 days | Good | Palm Springs Art Museum, Architecture and Design Center and Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station) |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Joshua Tree National Park and Pioneertown |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Palm Springs add up to roughly 20–27 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (Half a day), Indian Canyons (2–4 hours) and Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (3–4 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs Aerial Tramway | Half a day | Chino Canyon |
| Mid-century modern homes drive | 2–3 hours | Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms |
| Mount San Jacinto State Park | 2 hours to a full day | San Jacinto Mountains |
| Indian Canyons | 2–4 hours | Agua Caliente Reservation |
| Tahquitz Canyon | 2 hours | South of downtown |
| Agua Caliente Cultural Museum | 1.5–2 hours | Downtown Palm Springs |
| Palm Springs Art Museum | 1.5–2 hours | Downtown Palm Springs |
| Architecture and Design Center | 45 minutes | Downtown Palm Springs |
| Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station) | 30 minutes | North Palm Springs |
| Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest | 1–2 hours | Downtown Palm Springs |
| Moorten Botanical Garden | 1 hour | South Palm Springs |
| Living Desert Zoo and Gardens | 3–4 hours | Palm Desert |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Mid-century modern homes drive |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Palm Springs Aerial Tramway |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Joshua Tree National Park and Pioneertown |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.4 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Palm Springs with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego | About 137 km (85 mi) | 5 days |
| Los Angeles | About 159 km (99 mi) | 6 days |
| Las Vegas | About 290 km (180 mi) | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Palm Springs?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the tramway, a canyon hike, downtown and an architecture drive. Four days adds a full day in Joshua Tree, a lazy pool day and a trip down-valley to the Living Desert or Sunnylands.
+Is a week too long in Palm Springs?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Joshua Tree National Park and Pioneertown.