Cheap flights to Palm Springs
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Quick summary
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Airport
PSP
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-8 (UTC-7 during summer time)
Deals already spotted to Palm Springs
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
PSP, a small airport about 3 km from downtown
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
Palm Springs International Airport lies about 3 km from the centre according to Wikivoyage (DE); Wikivoyage (EN) puts it in the heart of the city. It has year-round service to western hubs and seasonal flights to other cities according to Wikivoyage (EN). Bus 24 reaches downtown from a stop one block west of the terminal according to Wikivoyage (EN); check the network before you go. Ontario (ONT), 110 km to the west, has many more flights according to the same source. We give no exact times or fares.
Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikivoyage and Wikipedia (EN, FR, DE, ES); timetables change, so check them before you travel. We give no fares.
Palm Springs had 44,575 residents at the 2020 census according to Wikipedia (EN, DE); the population triples between November and March as winter retirees arrive, mostly Canadians, according to Wikipedia (EN). The city lies in the Coachella Valley, about 180 km east of Los Angeles according to Wikipedia (FR, DE) and Wikivoyage (EN), and over 200 km from San Diego according to Wikipedia (FR, ES). It is sheltered by the San Jacinto Mountains to the west and the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south according to Wikipedia (ES).
Landmarks and sights
Palms, Indian Canyons, the tramway and mid-century modern design
Palm Springs is about palm trees, mountains and architecture. Six pictures illustrate the city and its surroundings; the Indian Canyons and the modernist houses are described in text.
Palms against the mountains
The name Palm Springs refers to palm trees and hot springs according to Wikipedia (FR, DE); Spanish explorers called the place "La Palma de la Mano de Dios", the palm of God's hand, according to Wikipedia (FR, DE). The California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera, is the local species according to Wikipedia (FR).
The valley at sunset
The city spreads at the foot of San Jacinto in the Coachella Valley, a stony desert where the streets are lined with palms according to Wikipedia (EN) and Wikivoyage (EN). Evening light turns the ridges and the residential neighbourhoods gold.
A trio of palms in the desert
In the nearby canyons, fan palms grow where water reaches the surface: the Indian Canyons, Palm, Andreas, Murray and Tahquitz, were sacred sites for the Cahuilla and can now be hiked according to Wikivoyage (EN). Carry water and check access conditions before you go.
Snow-streaked San Jacinto
San Jacinto Peak rises to about 3,300 m according to Wikipedia (ES): you can swim in the valley while looking at snow on the summit according to the same source. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, with the world's largest rotating cars according to Wikipedia (EN), climbs from Chino Canyon to 2,596 m; the ride takes about ten minutes according to Wikivoyage (DE).
Desert ridges and palm groves
The mountains around the city give it a dry, sunny climate according to Wikipedia (ES). In the distance, palm groves mark where water rises: a hiking landscape for spring and autumn.
The valley from above
From the top of the tramway, the view takes in the Coachella Valley and the desert according to Wikivoyage (EN). The air is cooler than in the valley, and trails in Mount San Jacinto State Park lead through forest according to Wikivoyage (DE).
Modernist architecture and the Cahuilla, in text
Palm Springs is known for its mid-century modern architecture according to Wikipedia (EN): in 1946 Richard Neutra designed the Kaufmann Desert House there according to the same source. Every February, Modernism Week, eleven days of tours and talks, celebrates this heritage according to Wikipedia (EN). The Cahuilla, the first people of the region, still live here: the Agua Caliente reservation makes the tribe the city's largest landowner according to Wikipedia (FR, EN).
Museums and culture
Art, aviation and Cahuilla culture
Palm Springs Art Museum
Founded in 1933 according to Wikivoyage (EN), the museum stages contemporary art exhibitions according to Wikipedia (DE) and holds American and Native American art according to Wikivoyage (EN). We do not quote fares because they change.
Palm Springs Air Museum
The aviation museum shows US Air Force aircraft from the Second World War and the Korean and Vietnam wars according to Wikipedia (DE); Wikivoyage (EN) recommends it if you have half a day.
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
The museum traces the history and culture of the Agua Caliente tribe according to Wikivoyage (EN). It complements a visit to the Indian Canyons, once sacred to the tribe.
Food and drink
Farmers market, Restaurant Week and resort dining
Markets and street fairs
On Thursdays, a street fair brings crafts, food stalls and, in spring, live music to downtown according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES). On Saturday mornings a farmers market is held a few kilometres from the centre according to the same sources.
Restaurant Week
Each year the valley's Restaurant Week lets you try several restaurants at reduced prices according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES). We name no addresses.
Resort dining
Wikipedia (EN) lists many restaurants, from American to Mexican and French cuisine, in a resort city where terraces rule. Go out in the evening: summer days are too hot for long walks.
Getting around
A walkable centre, a car for the rest of the valley
Downtown on foot
Downtown is pleasant on foot, with palm-lined Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive, boutiques, terraces and galleries according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES).
Car
The two main downtown streets are one-way; Palm Canyon Drive is busy at weekends and in the evening, and parking is free in municipal lots except Thursday to Saturday nights according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES). Route 111 serves the whole valley but is slow: take Interstate 10 for longer trips.
Bus, train and bike
SunLine Transit serves Palm Springs and several neighbouring towns according to Wikivoyage (EN). Amtrak runs only a few Sunset Limited trains a week according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES). The flat, dry terrain suits cycling in the cooler months according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES).
Budget and precautions
A resort destination, with care needed in the heat
Price level
Palm Springs is a resort destination: price levels vary a lot by season and accommodation, from motels to grand addresses according to Wikivoyage (EN). The currency is the US dollar (USD). We do not publish figures: sources are dated or disagree.
Flights and alerts
Los Angeles and San Diego are about two hours away by road according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES), but PSP spares you that drive. SniperAir tracks flight prices to PSP and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets.
Precautions
In summer, average highs hover around 41 to 42 °C according to Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (FR), and the heat index can climb higher: drink plenty of water, avoid the middle of the day and check conditions before a hike. Foreign visitors should check US entry requirements for their nationality.
When to go
A hot desert: mild winters, scorching summers
Winter (December to February)
Mild and sunny: the city welcomes winter retirees according to Wikipedia (EN, DE). Wikipedia (ES) mentions snow visible on the summit of San Jacinto. Modernism Week takes place in February according to Wikipedia (EN).
Spring (March to May)
A good time to walk in the canyons before the fierce heat. The international film festival is in January according to Wikivoyage (EN); other events follow in spring according to the same source.
Summer (June to August)
Scorching: average highs around 41 °C according to Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (FR), with an all-time record of 52 °C according to Wikipedia (FR). Evenings stay bearable according to Wikipedia (ES).
Autumn (September to November)
The heat eases in October and November, and the winter retirees return from November according to Wikipedia (EN). A Modernism Week preview is held in mid-October according to the same source.
Palm Springs has a hot desert climate (BWh) according to Wikipedia (FR), with under 150 mm of rain a year according to Wikipedia (FR, ES). Sources give very different numbers of sunny days, so we do not quote one: the sky is very often clear.
By length of stay
What to do in Palm Springs by length of stay
The essentials
Downtown on foot, the Palm Springs Art Museum and a sunset over the palms.
Culture and discoveries
Add the San Jacinto tramway, an Indian Canyon and a museum.
Going further
Plan a day at Joshua Tree, a modernist architecture tour or the film festival in January.
In pictures
Palm Springs in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Palm Springs
How do I get from PSP airport to downtown Palm Springs?
The airport is about 3 km from the centre according to Wikivoyage (DE); bus 24 is mentioned by Wikivoyage (EN), so check it. Taxis and rental cars are the other options.
When is the best time to visit Palm Springs?
Winter and spring are pleasant; summer is scorching, with average highs around 41 °C according to Wikivoyage (EN).
What is there to see in Palm Springs?
The San Jacinto tramway, the Indian Canyons, the Palm Springs Art Museum and the modernist architecture according to Wikipedia (EN) and Wikivoyage (EN).
How far is Palm Springs from Los Angeles?
About 180 km, around two hours by Interstate 10 according to Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (FR).
What is there to eat and do in the evening in Palm Springs?
Markets and a street fair, terrace restaurants and Restaurant Week according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES).
How long should I stay in Palm Springs?
Two to three days cover downtown, the tramway and a canyon; add a day for Joshua Tree.
How much does a flight to Palm Springs usually cost?
The price depends mostly on your departure city, the season and how early you book. The opportunities section above shows real examples of fares SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
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