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BNP Paribas Open Palm Springs Guide: Tennis in Indian Wells
Updated: 5 days ago
The BNP Paribas Open is the big pro tennis tournament of the Palm Springs area, and the 2027 edition runs February 28 to March 14 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, about a half-hour drive down the valley from downtown Palm Springs. It's the largest combined ATP and WTA event in the world, with more than half a million fans each year. Stay in town, drive down for matches and turn it into a Palm Springs weekend getaway. Our Palm Springs in March guide covers the rest of the month.
When and where is the BNP Paribas Open?
The 2027 tournament runs February 28 through March 14 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, a Coachella Valley city southeast of Palm Springs. The grounds opened in 2000 and have 29 courts. Stadium 1 seats about 16,100 people and Stadium 2 about 8,000, and the main entrance is on Washington Street.
People often call it the Palm Springs tournament, and plenty of fans stay in Palm Springs. Just know you're driving to Indian Wells for the matches, usually a half hour or so depending on traffic.
The opening days are qualifying rounds, then the main draw takes over, ending with the men's and women's finals on the final weekend.
Early March is a lovely time to be here. Days are usually warm and sunny, and evenings cool off quickly. Check our March temperature guide before you pack.
Which BNP Paribas Open tickets should you buy?
It depends on what you came for: the stars or the sheer amount of tennis.
Grounds Pass. Full-day access to non-reserved seating in Stadiums 3 through 9, the practice courts and on-site activities. This is the move for the first week, when matches run on many courts at once.
Stadium 1. Reserved seats for the marquee matches, sold as day or evening sessions. Evening matches typically start at 6PM.
Stadium 2. All reserved seating, and not included with a Stadium 1 ticket or a Grounds Pass.
Practice courts sit on the south side of Stadium 1, and player practices are open to any ticket or grounds pass holder. Watching a top-ten player hit from a few rows back is half the fun. Buy through the official tournament site.
How do you get to Indian Wells from Palm Springs?
Most people drive. General parking at the tournament is free, in the General Lot off Miles Avenue. Gates open at 10AM and play starts at 11AM on most days, so leave early on weekends and for big matches.
Need to step out? Grab a re-entry wristband at a Guest Services kiosk or one of the main gates. You'll need both the wristband and your ticket to get back in. The tournament's free shuttles are for guests on official partner hotel packages, so plan on driving or a rideshare from Palm Springs.
What to bring, and what to leave at the hotel
A clear bag. One clear bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a small clutch.
Sun protection. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Day sessions in March get bright.
A layer for night matches. It cools down fast after sunset.
Your phone camera. Cameras with detachable or professional lenses aren't allowed.
A card, not cash. The venue is completely cashless.
Leave outside food, umbrellas and anything glass behind. You won't go hungry: there are more than 35 places to eat, and the Stadium 2 restaurants, including Nobu, are open to any daily ticket holder. Rules can change from year to year, so check the tournament's FAQ before you go.
Where to stay for the BNP Paribas Open
Palm Springs is the fun base. You get the restaurants, the mid-century neighborhoods and a pool to come home to, with Indian Wells a short drive away. The Muse is minutes from downtown Palm Springs and Palm Springs International Airport.
Couples can book one of four king suites with a private fenced yard and a full kitchen. Groups can take all nine suites with a full hotel buyout: nine bathrooms, room for up to 22 overnight guests, the courtyard pool, a six-person hot tub and an outdoor fireplace for post-match debates. Grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills, parking and Wi-Fi are included. A small hotel with a very good pool.
What else to do around Indian Wells
Make a day of it. Shop and eat along El Paseo in Palm Desert, next door to Indian Wells, and use our Palm Desert restaurant guide for dinner after a day session. Shields Date Garden in Indio is a classic Coachella Valley stop for a date shake. Back in Palm Springs, spend a rest day on a morning hike, the Aerial Tramway or a long lunch downtown.
BNP Paribas Open FAQ
When is the BNP Paribas Open 2027?
February 28 through March 14, 2027, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The first few days are qualifying.
Is the BNP Paribas Open in Palm Springs?
It's in Indian Wells, a Coachella Valley city about a half-hour drive from downtown Palm Springs. Many visitors stay in Palm Springs.
Is parking free at the BNP Paribas Open?
General parking is free in the General Lot off Miles Avenue.
What does a Grounds Pass include?
Full-day access to non-reserved seating in Stadiums 3 through 9, the practice courts and on-site activities. It doesn't include Stadium 1 or Stadium 2.
Is The Muse Hotel adults-only?
Yes. The Muse is adults-only, and every guest must be 21 or older, including on full hotel buyouts.
Two weeks of tennis, one very good excuse for March. Check your dates and pick your suite.
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