Table of Contents

In this article, I’ll go over a range of fun day trips from Palm Springs for activity, culture, and nature lovers. Whether you want to go hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, set sail on Big Bear Lake, spend a day in LA or San Diego, or enjoy wine tasting in Temecula Valley, I’ll provide inspiration so you can begin to plan your trip!

One of the best places to spend a vacation in California is the A-list hideaway, Palm Springs. In the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains and less than two hours’ drive from Los Angeles, there’s much to see and do.

Palm Springs is filled with botanical gardens, art galleries, fine restaurants, and championship golf courses. However, if you’ve been to Palm Springs before or if you have extra time to spend, you may want to explore the surrounding areas, too.

Let’s dive in!

Renting a Car in Palm Springs

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I might make a small profit if you choose to purchase at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with high quality content for free.

The following day trips from Palm Springs are easily accessible by car. If you’re flying into Palm Springs Airport, I recommend booking with Rentalcars.com. You can use the tool below to search for deals during your travel dates.

➡️ Book Your Car With RentalCars.com:

Now that your car rental is sorted, let’s check out the best day trips from Palm Springs!

1. Sunrise or Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park

best day trips from palm springs - joshua tree

Joshua Tree National Park covers over 1,200 square miles, attracting 3 million+ visitors each year. It’s a great place to visit year-round as the temperatures rarely drop below 19°C (66°F) even in winter!

To get around Joshua Tree National Park you will need a car. However, there are also several day trips from Palm Springs if you don’t want to drive.

So, what is there to see in Joshua Tree National Park? If you leave the city of Palm Springs early, the magical sunrise is a highlight – best seen from Cholla Cactus Garden. The rising sun bathes the cacti in a gorgeous golden glow, creating incredible photo opportunities for your Instagram stories.

Afterwards, head to the famous rock formations – Arch Rock or Skull Rock. Hike the easy Hidden Valley Nature Trail or the Barker Dam Trail, each with a distance of one mile, or opt for the more challenging Ryan Mountain three mile route with an elevation of 1,050 feet.

If you arrive later in the day, I recommend staying for the sunset! Keys View is my favorite spot. On a clear day you can see Coachella Valley and even Palm Springs. Also, if you want to stargaze in Joshua Tree National Park, it’s a fabulous place to see the constellations (and sometimes the Milky Way) because of the lack of light pollution.

➡️ Tours Available with GetYourGuide, my preferred tour company:

2. Connect with Nature at Huntington Gardens & Library

best day trips from palm springs - huntington gardens

In my opinion, one of the best day trips from Palm Springs is to Huntington Gardens and Library less than two hours away. This enchanting oasis near Pasadena covers 120 idyllic acres which include Japanese, Rose, Jungle and Subtropical Gardens. While you’re at it, you could also explore the rest of Los Angeles, since it’s right there.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE 33 Epic & Fun Things to Do in Palm Springs

I love wandering across bridges over koi filled ponds, taking in the bonsai trees, and enjoying the peace and tranquility of nature. You can book a guided tour, audio tour or choose to walk around the gardens at your leisure.

Although the gardens were the highlight for me, don’t leave without popping into the historic library. There are hundreds of manuscripts written by Lincoln, Chaucer, Mark Twain, and even Shakespeare plays dating back to the early 1600s!

3. Go Hiking at Mount San Jacinto State Park

If you don’t want to drive or travel too far from Palm Springs, take the aerial tramway to Mount Jacinto to go hiking! The tramway travels 2.5 miles across Chino Canyon to the summit with a journey time of around 10 minutes, and fantastic 360 degree panoramic views, courtesy of rotating tram cars.

When you arrive, you’ll discover over 50 miles of wildflower forest trails to explore and at the Mountain Station there are two restaurants, a natural history museum and observation deck.

Experienced hikers will enjoy the challenging San Jacinto Peak and Round Valley Loop. It covers 16 kilometers with an elevation of almost 800 meters and is one of the most popular trails, filled with birds and wildlife. If that sounds too much like hard work, there are plenty of shorter, easier routes to walk, too.

➡️ Tours I recommend:

4. Discover San Bernardino & Adventures at Big Bear Lake

best day trips from palm springs - big bear lake

When people ask me “What cities are an hour away from Palm Springs”? I tell them San Bernardino is less than an hour away. If you drive in this direction, there’s lots to see and do. Burger fans can pop into the original McDonald’s Museum – the first restaurant opened here in 1940. You can learn fun facts and see old menus and toys!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE How Far Is Palm Springs From LA? An EPIC Road Trip Guide

Art lovers can spend time at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art admiring Egyptian artifacts and Italian pottery, or if you’re into military history see the memorabilia at Norton Air Force Base Museum. One exhibit includes part of the Berlin Wall.

After lunch at one of San Bernardino’s popular brewhouses, cafes or Italian restaurants, drive to Big Bear Lake. Rent a boat and spend a few hours gliding merrily along the water, try your hand at wakeboarding, kayaking, pontoon boating or go hiking, mountain biking, or skiing in winter. It’s a great way to entertain children (and tire them out) before the car journey back to Palm Springs!

5. Cruise Along the Scenic Byway Loop Drive from Palms to Pines

If you love to drive out on the open road with the windows down, breathing in the scent of fresh pines, with music cranked up to the max, you’ll love the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway Loop Drive.

This is one of the best day trips from Palm Springs. It’s great for photographers with plenty of overlook points for picture-taking. Enjoy views of the Hidden Palms eco-reserve, San Bernardino National Forest, and the Coachella Valley.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE What to Wear in Palm Springs: Packing List Dos and Don’ts

The drive begins in Palm Desert, part of the Mojave ecosystem. A dry, arid landscape with agave and palm trees, cacti, and date trees. However, the higher you travel, the terrain changes to lush meadows filled with mountain pines! Mmm, smells SO good!

The full loop drive, beginning on Highway 111, is around 60 miles – a full 2.5 hours with no stops, but I would give yourself time for nice lunch in Idyllwild.

6. Hollywood Highlights in Los Angeles

best day trips from palm springs - los angeles

The saying goes, the journey is as good as the destination. So, if you’re thinking of spending the day in Los Angeles, what is the most scenic route from Palm Springs to LA?

The journey time if you take the 10 freeway is usually about 2-2.5 hours, and along the way, there are a few interesting things to see. You’ll pass Mount San Jacinto and the aerial tramway as you leave Palm Springs, and further along the route at Cabazon, you can stop to see two gigantic dinosaurs plus a fun gift shop and museum.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE 17 HUGE Tourist Mistakes to Avoid in Los Angeles

Once you get to Los Angeles, you can visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame, head to Universal Studios and CityWalk, hike to the famous Hollywood sign, or explore the Getty Center Museum. I personally love visiting Venice Beach, then taking a nice stroll on the Santa Monica Pier.

If you like shopping and fine food, head to The Grove in Miracle Mile and take a drive along Sunset Boulevard before heading back to the desert.

➡️ Tours I recommend:

7. Wine Tasting & the Old West in Temecula

best day trips from palm springs - temecula — wine tasting in temecula

Temecula Valley is just over an hour’s drive from Palm Springs and home to some of southern California’s best wineries. Even if you’re the designated driver, and can’t try the wines, the scenery and experiences are still worth it as there are plenty more things to do.

Firstly, there are around 50 wineries offering tastings of delectable California Syrah wines, Chardonnay’s, and Cabernet Sauvignons.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Solo Travel Palm Springs: Is it a Good Destination to Travel Alone?

If wine tasting is not for you, you can soar WAY above the vineyards in a hot air balloon or explore Old Town Temecula. The historic town streets are lined with buildings reminiscent of the old west from the 1880s. Charming shops sell artisan crafts and antiques and there are craft breweries and restaurants offering farm-to-table dining.

➡️ Tours in Temecula I recommend:

8. Balboa Park & Delectable Dining in San Diego

best day trips from palm springs - balboa park and san diego — BALBOA PARK

It takes approximately two hours to drive from Palm Springs to San Diego. There’s much to see and do on a day trip, too. You can spend a day relaxing on pristine beaches, visit the USS Midway Museum, check out Liberty Public Market and Balboa Park gardens and museums. There are hundreds of dining options in Downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy, or you can book a tour to learn more about the city’s history.

If you’re wondering what is between San Diego and Palm Springs, you can choose from a couple of routes for your drive. The scenic route passes through Cathedral City, along the edge of San Jacinto State Park before joining the I-15 at Temecula. It takes around 2 hours 45 minutes total.

➡️ Tours I recommend in San Diego:

9. Spend a Lazy Day at Lake Havasu, AZ

Usually, I wouldn’t add a three hour drive into a list of day trips from Palm Springs, but so many people ask me what is there to see between Palm Springs and Grand Canyon!

To answer that question, I would say Lake Havasu! The lakeside beaches are pristine for sunbathing, you can barbecue, and some are even pet-friendly so you can bring your furry pal.

There are boats to rent on the lake, breweries to visit in Lake Havasu City and even London Bridge to see – originally built in 12^th century England.

History and culture lovers can visit Lake Havasu Museum of History which tells stories of the Mojave Native Americans or marvel at nature in Rotary Community Park amid towering palm trees.

This is a great stop-off point if you are continuing your vacation in the Grand Canyon after a stay in Palm Springs.

10. Chill Out in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (@anzaborregodesertsp)

Another of my best day trips from Palm Springs is to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This, the largest state park in California, is just an hours’ drive and renowned for its blooming spring flowers, slot canyons, and other-worldly landscapes.

It’s a great place to visit in winter as the weather is temperate, but it does get pretty hot in summer. There are over 100 miles of trails including “The Slot” – a short hiking route where you squeeze through canyon walls like an action adventure hero. The rock formations are breathtaking, and you’ll feel like you’re the only person in the world as you navigate the remote pathways.

Highlights include the almost five mile trail from Hellhole Canyon (yes, it’s really called that) to Maidenhair Falls passing waterfalls and a natural oasis dotted with palm trees. Then there’s the Palm Bowl, with over 100 trees along a two-mile jaunt and the Pumpkin Patch Rocks. If you have kids, they’ll love the huge metal sculptures at Galleta Meadows so don’t forget to make a stop!

I hope this day trips from Palm Springs guide has been helpful! Are you ready to pack your bags? Let me know in the comments!

Want tips on the best hotels in Palm Springs? Check out my guides on the Most Instagram-Worthy Hotels in Palm Springs.