Sight guide · Palm Springs · United States
Visiting Mid-century modern homes drive
Palm Springs' modernist houses are best seen on a self-guided drive or bike ride: Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms by E.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Palm Springs · Photo: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Mid-century modern homes drive is a neighbourhood in Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms, Palm Springs. Allow 2–3 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Neighbourhood
- Area
- Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, architecture, photo spot and history
- Best months
- May, October and December
Plan a trip to Palm Springs
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About Mid-century modern homes drive
Palm Springs' modernist houses are best seen on a self-guided drive or bike ride: Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms by E. Stewart Williams, Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House, John Lautner's Elrod House above Southridge, and streets of butterfly-roofed Alexander homes in Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms. Most are private homes seen from the street, with interiors opening mainly during Modernism Week tours.
Tip: 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.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not needed; you can simply turn up.
- Where: Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms.
Best time to visit Mid-century modern homes drive
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- May: 36°C (97°F) highs, almost no rainy days, moderate crowds.
- October: 33°C (91°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- December: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 3 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Palm Springs has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Palm Springs itinerary visits Mid-century modern homes drive on day 1, together with Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Mount San Jacinto State Park and Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest.
- No. 2 of the 16 sights in our Palm Springs things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 5-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Palm Springs.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Palm Springs.
If you like Mid-century modern homes drive
- Indian Canyons — Agua Caliente Reservation, 2–4 hours
- Architecture and Design Center — Downtown Palm Springs, 45 minutes
- Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station) — North Palm Springs, 30 minutes
- Sunnylands — Rancho Mirage, 1–3 hours
Staying near Mid-century modern homes drive
Where to stay in Palm Springs compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Mid-century modern homes drive?
Plan 2–3 hours.
+Is Mid-century modern homes drive free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Mid-century modern homes drive?
May, October and December, the quietest of the good months. 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.
+Do I need to book Mid-century modern homes drive in advance?
No: it is free to visit, so you can decide on the day.