Planning a family trip to Palm Springs? This sunny desert city is one of the easiest places in California to keep kids entertained, with everything from wildlife encounters to mountain trams and dinosaur photo ops. Palm Springs enjoys a huge amount of sunshine each year, so whatever time you visit, you’re likely to get outdoor days with your family. Here are our favourite fun things to do in Palm Springs with kids, plus a few tips for getting there and settling in.
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Palm Springs International Airport connects to a good number of major hubs across the USA and Canada, including New York, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta and San Francisco, so check current routes when you’re booking. If you’d rather drive, Palm Springs is around a two-hour trip from LA or San Diego, and there’s also an Amtrak station right beside the airport for train travellers.
Once you’ve landed, getting around is simple. A family-friendly trolley service runs to the main tourist stops, most resorts offer rental cars, and Uber is widely available. Much of downtown Palm Springs is walkable too, with good pedestrian access to the main attractions.
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Staying in Palm Springs
There’s accommodation to suit every family budget in Palm Springs, but a vacation rental is often the easiest option with kids. The choice of homes here is wide, and many come with their own swimming pool and other family-friendly touches that make a stay feel like a home away from home.
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Fun Things to Do in Palm Springs With Kids
#1. Visit the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens is home to a large collection of animals and desert plants, and kids can take part in supervised giraffe feeding sessions. There are also interactive experiences like camel rides and butterfly exhibits, plus an African biodiversity area to explore. The zoo runs regular family events and programmes, so it’s worth checking what’s on before you go.
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#2. Take a Jeep Tour
Curious what the San Andreas fault actually looks like? A guided jeep tour is a fun, hands-on way to find out. Dedicated tours will take your family out into the desert to spots like the fault line, the Joshua Tree National Park, or out under the stars for an evening of stargazing. If celebrity homes are more your thing, there are grand celebrity tours too. Whichever route you pick, it makes for a memorable family outing.
#3. Hike in The Tahquitz Canyon
Tahquitz Canyon is one of the prettiest spots in Palm Springs to explore on foot. There’s a two-mile hiking trail across Cahuilla Indian land that’s suitable for all ages and abilities, taking in striking rock formations and native artefacts, with a seasonal waterfall and pool to cool off in along the way. It gets hot out there, so pack sun hats, sunblock, water and snacks for everyone.
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#4. Take the Aerial Tram
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is one of the most popular family experiences in the area. It’s the world’s largest rotating tram, climbing high into the wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
At the top, you’ll find a visitor centre, a viewing platform and a natural history museum, plus restaurants where you can eat while taking in sweeping views of the desert below. Visit in winter and the kids can play in the snow or try skiing and snowshoeing; visit in summer and there are camping trips and miles of hiking trails to enjoy instead.
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#5. Pay a Flying Visit to The Palm Springs Air Museum
If anyone in your family loves aviation, the Palm Springs Air Museum is well worth the visit. It houses a large collection of World War 2 aircraft, with flyable and static planes spread across several hangars for kids to explore.
The museum is hands-on, with many planes open for climbing aboard, plus an F-16 flight simulator, an aviation science centre, and films to expand everyone’s aviation knowledge. Flights can also be booked in advance if you fancy taking to the skies yourselves.
#6. Experience Palm Springs on Horseback
Head to Smoke Tree Stables in the heart of Palm Springs to saddle up and explore the desert on horseback as a family. The stables are clean and kid-friendly, with experienced guides on hand to lead you along the local riding trails.
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#7. Get Hands On at The Children’s Discovery Museum
The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert is packed with interactive panels and hands-on activities for kids of all ages. It’s a great choice for the hottest part of the day, since most of the activities are indoors. Allow plenty of time, as kids tend to get properly absorbed in the exhibits here.
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#8. Cabazon Dinosaur Museum
Get up close to dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes at the Cabazon Dinosaur Museum. Take the paid tour and you can climb inside the mouth of a T-Rex or ride a brontosaurus, and kids can try their hand at digging for dino treasure. The two giant dinosaurs out in the car park also make for a fun family photo stop.
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Other Fun Things to Do in Palm Springs with Kids
Enjoy tasty treats at the Palm Springs certified farmer’s market, with chef demonstrations and entertainment for all ages.- Get your skates on at a local skatepark or ice rink.
- Cool off and splash around at one of the area’s water parks.
- Dream big at a sports park with mini replicas of famous ballparks.
- Jump as high as you can at a local trampoline park.
- Reach new heights at an indoor climbing wall or family entertainment centre.
- Play a round at one of the many golf courses in Palm Springs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palm Springs a good destination for young kids?
Yes. Palm Springs has a good mix of indoor and outdoor attractions, so families with younger children can balance active outdoor time with cooler, air-conditioned museums and play spaces during the hottest part of the day.
Do I need a car to get around Palm Springs with kids?
Not necessarily. Downtown Palm Springs is walkable, there’s a family-friendly trolley service for tourists, and Uber is widely available. A car does give you more flexibility for day trips out to places like Joshua Tree or Cabazon.
What’s the best time of year to visit Palm Springs with kids?
Palm Springs is a desert city, so summers are very hot and winters are much milder. Many families prefer to visit outside the peak summer heat, but it’s worth checking seasonal conditions and any activity closures before you travel.
Are the attractions in this guide suitable for all ages?
Most of the attractions listed, from the zoo to the museums and the aerial tram, are designed to be family-friendly and suitable for a wide age range, though it’s always worth checking each attraction’s current guidance for very young children.
Related Reads
Planning more family adventures? Take a look at our guides to free things to do with kids in New York City, Toronto, Seattle and Los Angeles, plus more active family holiday ideas and dinosaur museum experiences across the USA.
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Have you got other ideas for fun things to do in Palm Springs with kids? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!
