Take a Day Trip to Palm Springs, CA
The sunny desert of Palm Springs, California paints the picture for a perfect weekend road trip from neighboring cities. Centrally located near popular California cities like Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego, Palm Springs is just a short drive down the interstate for those looking to visit or relocate there.
Before you head in that direction, plan your trip ahead of time to make driving a breeze. Avoid rush hour from 7:00 to 9:00 am and 4:00 to 7:00 pm to be safe, and your trip should be smooth sailing. As you get closer to Palm Springs and leave the bigger cities behind, you’ll find less traffic and better commutes. Map out your road trip, stock up on snacks and pack your itinerary with a few fun stops along the way.
Palm Springs draws in tons of vacationers year-round as it boasts a wide array of attractions, activities, and scenic backdrops. The winding mountains lend way to tons of hiking and biking trails, that lead you up to the top of the city.
From the ground, you can fill up your day at the spa or golf course, or explore the local area. Not only are the attractions diverse, but the residents of Palm Springs are too, welcoming in any and all walks of life. Palm Springs is inviting for both tourists and families planning to call it home.
Leave the big cities behind to explore the desert of Palm Springs.
Trip One: Los Angeles to Palm Springs
Wave goodbye to the Hollywood hills and hello to Palm Springs. This road trip will take just under two hours, making it an easy day trip, yet still a good distance for a longer getaway. Head East out of the city on Interstate 10 and enjoy the ride. As the desert starts to stretch out before you, you will pass by some of the best hiking spots in the city. Stop off to hike Mt. San Jacinto, one of the spectacular desert mountain ranges that looks out over Palm Springs. Trail options vary, so even the newest hiker can handle the hike.
Trip Two: San Bernardino to Palm Springs
San Bernardino is just slightly Northwest of Palm Springs, and less than an hour away by car – as long as you miss traffic. Allow yourself some extra travel time to enjoy these attractions around Palm Springs. The Palm Springs Art Museum highlights all art from Mesoamerican to modern and photography to sculptures. In addition to the museum’s permanent exhibitions, unique collections are rotated through every few months, so there is always something to new to appreciate.
After a day at the museum, drive up to the northern side of the city to visit Desert Hot Springs. As its name may allude, Palm Springs is known for its huge selection of hot water spas, many of which can be found within Desert Hot Springs. These natural mineral spas are soothing - and not to mention breathtaking - and are the perfect way to start or end any trip. Check out some of the top hot springs in the area.
Trip Three: San Diego to Palm Springs
Another California staple, San Diego, is only a couple short hours outside Palm Springs. Hop on Interstate 15 and coast along as the warm breeze blows. As you enter into Palm Springs, head to Moorten Botanical Garden. This natural oasis has all the gorgeous desert plant species you can imagine – cacti, vines, gardens and more. This place is worth viewing and is perfect for intimate occasions. Nearby the botanical garden is one of Palm Springs highest rated golf resorts, Indian Canyons. Tee off with the Indian Canyons as your backdrop and palm trees lining the course. You can easily spend a whole Saturday at the resort golfing, shopping, and dining.
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You may not originally envision the desert as being relaxing, but Palm Springs continues to draw in people who are looking to unwind with a round of golf, a soak in a mineral bath, or even a hike through the mountains. Wherever your point of origin is, make sure to plug in Palm Springs as your destination, then hit the highway and let the good times roll.
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