Southern California family guide
Things to Do in Indio with Kids
Curated by Punita Patel
Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Things to do in Indio
Shields Date Garden
This retro 1920s date farm on Highway 111 is a beloved local stop, and the walk through the 17-acre date grove is free. Splurge on the famous date shake at the old shake counter, then let the kids wander the shaded garden path. Go in the morning before the desert heat peaks.
Free to enter; date shakes ~$10
Coachella Valley History Museum
A small, friendly museum on Miles Avenue with date-farming history, a blacksmith shop and an old schoolhouse across shaded grounds. Time your visit for the first full weekend of the month when admission is free. It closes entirely in July and August for the heat, so this is a fall-through-spring outing.
Low admission; free first full weekend monthly
Miles Avenue Park
A well-equipped city park with two age-specific play structures, a splash/spray water-play area, a dog park and pickleball courts. The water jets make it a real summer lifesaver for local families. Bring shade and hit the splash pad early or near sunset when the pavement isn't blazing.
FreeCoachella Valley Preserve (Thousand Palms Oasis)
Just northwest of Indio, this preserve hides a genuine palm oasis fed by the San Andreas Fault, reached on the easy, mostly flat McCallum Trail. It's a magical spot for kids to see wild fan palms and desert wildlife. Come at cooler times and pack your own water, and skip midday in summer.
Free (donations appreciated)
Riverside County Fairgrounds (National Date Festival)
Home of the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, running since 1947 to celebrate the date harvest, with carnival rides, camel and ostrich races and a rodeo. The February–March festival is the classic family outing, but check the calendar for other events year-round. Buy tickets ahead and plan for parking crowds during festival weeks.
VariesDr. Carreon Park
A large neighborhood park on Dr. Carreon Boulevard with open green space, walking paths and picnic seating — an easygoing free stop close to the Indio Teen Center. Bring a picnic for the evening when the desert cools and the fields fill with kids and soccer games. Shade is limited midday, so aim for early or late.
FreeSeasonal & outdoors near Indio
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Indio.
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Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.