Day Trips From Palm Springs: 12 Drives Worth Leaving the Pool For

The best day trips from Palm Springs are Joshua Tree National Park and Pioneertown, each about an hour away by car. Next come Idyllwild in the mountains, Desert Hot Springs, Palm Desert, the Salton Sea and Anza-Borrego, with the coast about two hours west. Pick one, leave early, and be back at the pool by golden hour. Build the rest of your Palm Springs weekend getaway around it, and read our Joshua Tree day trip guide if the park is first on your list.

Day trips from Palm Springs at a glance

Drive times are approximate, without traffic, from The Muse.

Joshua Tree and Pioneertown: the classic pair

Joshua Tree National Park

The classic. Joshua Tree is where two desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, meet, which is why the landscape changes as you drive through it. October through May is the best time to visit. Cell reception is very limited and there's no water inside the park, so download maps and pack more water than seems reasonable.

Pioneertown and Pappy and Harriet's

Up the hill from Yucca Valley, Pioneertown is a 1940s Old West movie set that turned into a real town. Walk Mane Street, then stay for Pappy and Harriet's at 53688 Pioneertown Road, a roadhouse with BBQ and live music most nights. Check the show calendar before you go, because the good nights sell out. Easy to pair with Joshua Tree in one long day.

Short drives: mountains, mineral springs and Palm Desert

Idyllwild and the Palms to Pines drive

Take the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway (CA-74) up into the San Jacinto Mountains, and the desert turns into pine forest. Idyllwild is a small mountain town with shops, galleries and trails, and it's noticeably cooler than Palm Springs. Bring a layer, and check road conditions in winter.

Desert Hot Springs, Whitewater and Palm Desert

These are the quick ones, perfect when half the group wants a day trip and the other half wants a float.

• Desert Hot Springs: About 12 miles north, known for its mineral water. Tour Cabot's Pueblo Museum, a pueblo hand-built by Cabot Yerxa. Our Desert Hot Springs guide has the details.

• Whitewater Preserve: A river canyon northwest of town with trails and big mountain views.

• Palm Desert: Shop El Paseo, visit The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, and stay for dinner. See our Palm Desert restaurants guide.

• Cabazon Dinosaurs: The giant roadside dinos off I-10, with Desert Hills Premium Outlets nearby.

Salton Sea, Salvation Mountain and Anza-Borrego

Head south past Indio and the desert gets stranger. The Salton Sea is California's big inland lake, and Salvation Mountain near Niland is a painted hillside of folk art that's been drawing visitors for decades. Its 40th anniversary celebration is set for November 7, 2026. Further southwest, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has spring wildflowers, badlands and the giant metal sculptures of Galleta Meadows in Borrego Springs. Go between November and April, carry water, and fill the tank before you leave.

Wine country, the coast and getting around

Temecula's wine country is about an hour and a half away and makes an easy tasting day with a designated driver. Julian is a mountain town known for apple pie. Both work well on the way to San Diego, and our San Diego road trip guide maps the route.

Can you get to the beach from Palm Springs?

Yes, but plan a full day. Palm Springs is in the desert, so the nearest beaches in Orange County and San Diego County are about two hours away without traffic. If you want water without the drive, the Palm Springs Surf Club has waves, a lazy river and slides, and The Muse has a courtyard pool and a six-person hot tub. Driving in from LA? Our Los Angeles road trip guide covers the stops.

How do you get from Palm Springs to nearby cities?

By car, almost always. A car or rental gives you the freedom to stop at viewpoints, and most of these day trips have no transit option. Palm Springs International Airport is minutes from The Muse, and there's an Amtrak station on North Indian Canyon Drive. Las Vegas is about four hours, so read our Las Vegas drive guide and consider making it an overnight.

A simple Palm Springs itinerary with a day trip

• Day 1: Arrive, claim your suite, and spend the afternoon at the pool. Dinner downtown.

• Day 2: Leave early for Joshua Tree. Lunch and a show in Pioneertown. Hot tub when you get back.

• Day 3: Grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills, a slow morning swim, and a short drive to Desert Hot Springs or Palm Desert before heading home.

Day trips from Palm Springs FAQ

Easy to get to. Hard to leave. Check your dates and plan the day trip around the pool.