Romantic California Getaways: Why Couples Pick Palm Springs

The best romantic getaways in California are Palm Springs, Big Sur, Napa and Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake Tahoe and Santa Barbara. If you want guaranteed sun, a pool and a short drive from Los Angeles or San Diego, Palm Springs is the easy pick, and a romantic getaway in Palm Springs at The Muse puts you in an adults-only boutique hotel with king suites that come with their own fenced yard. Here's how the romantic California getaways compare. For the couples' view of the hotel, read our Palm Springs couples getaway guide.

Romantic getaways in California, compared

Northern California couples have the coast and wine country close by. Everyone else, and anyone who wants to wear a swimsuit in February, tends to head to the desert.

Romantic weekend getaways in Southern California

For a SoCal weekend getaway, Palm Springs is about two hours from Los Angeles and San Diego without traffic. That's a Friday afternoon drive and a Friday night dinner. Our Los Angeles to Palm Springs road trip guide has the best stops on the way.

Santa Barbara, Big Bear and Temecula are all good weekends too. Palm Springs is the one with reliable pool weather from fall through spring, an airport minutes from the hotel, and a downtown made for dinner and a nightcap.

What a weekend for two at The Muse looks like

The Muse is an adults-only boutique hotel with nine suites, a courtyard pool, a six-person hot tub, an outdoor fireplace and pergola swings. It's small enough to feel like your place.

• Book a king suite with a yard. Brigitte, Audrey, Marilyn and Taylor each have a king bed, a full kitchen and a private fenced yard. Compare them on our suites page.

• Add a massage. In-room massages run 60 or 90 minutes per person and book at least 48 hours ahead. Couples treatments are back to back, not side by side.

• Skip the breakfast hunt. Grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills, parking and Wi-Fi are included.

A romantic Palm Springs weekend itinerary

• Friday: Check in, hot tub at sunset, dinner downtown.

• Saturday morning: Coffee in your yard, then the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway or a walk through Moorten Botanical Garden.

• Saturday afternoon: Back-to-back massages, then a long swim.

• Saturday night: Dinner at Copley's on Palm Canyon, set in Cary Grant's former guesthouse, then a nightcap at Seymour's, the cocktail lounge tucked behind Mr. Lyons.

• Sunday: A slow breakfast on your patio and one more swim before the drive home.

Want more evening plans? Try our date night ideas in Palm Springs.

Last-minute and budget-friendly couples getaways

The cheapest romantic getaway is the one you can drive to. Go midweek, when Palm Springs is quieter and dinner reservations are easier to land. Book a king suite with a full kitchen for a night in with a cheese board on the patio, and spend the money you saved on one great dinner. Last-minute trips work best Sunday through Thursday. Text or email the concierge and we'll tell you what's open.

When is the best time for a romantic California getaway?

For Palm Springs, October through May brings warm days and cool nights. Summer is hotter and quieter, which means empty mornings at the pool and very motivated naps. The coast is often clearest in early fall, and wine country is busiest around harvest.

Romantic California getaways FAQ

A small hotel with a very good pool. Check your dates and claim a yard for two.