Southern California family guide

Things to Do in Palm Springs with Kids

Palm Springs is the desert playground — ride the Aerial Tramway from the desert floor to alpine forest 8,500 feet up (30-plus degrees cooler at the top), walk the palm-oasis trails of the Indian Canyons, and get face-to-face with flyable warbirds at the Air Museum. It's a resort town, but the bones of it are pure family adventure.

Curated by Punita Patel

Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.

💡 Local tip: Summer here is brutal — anything outdoors (canyons, gardens, the tram base) is a morning-only activity, and several spots cut back to weekend hours June through September. Always carry more water than you think you need.

Things to do in Palm Springs

Parks & Hiking

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The world's largest rotating tramcars carry you from the desert floor to Mountain Station at 8,516 feet in about ten minutes, where it runs 30–40°F cooler than town. Bring a jacket even in summer, and go in the morning to beat the heat and crowds. The tram closes for annual maintenance early September into early October.

Adults $36.95, kids 3–10 $20.95

Museums & Learning

Palm Springs Air Museum

One of the largest collections of flyable WWII, Korea and Vietnam-era warbirds, with many aircraft you can walk right up to and volunteer veterans happy to share stories. Kids under 12 get in free, and much of the collection sits in air-conditioned hangars for a cool afternoon. Check the schedule for occasional flight demonstrations.

Adults $24; kids under 12 free

Parks & Hiking

Indian Canyons

Managed by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, these palm-lined canyons offer shaded, family-friendly hikes — Palm Canyon's easy trails wind past the world's largest California fan palm oasis and a seasonal creek. Go early and carry plenty of water; summer temps soar. In peak summer it's only open Fri–Sun, last vehicle in at 4pm.

Adults $12, kids $6, seniors/military $7

Parks & Hiking

Moorten Botanical Garden

A charming, family-run 1938 garden packed with more than 3,000 desert plants along a short, stroller-friendly loop, including a greenhouse 'Cactarium' kids love. It's small, cheap and quick — an easy add-on to a morning downtown before the heat peaks. Summer hours are limited to weekend mornings, so plan around them.

Adults $7, kids 5–12 $3, under 5 free

Seasonal & outdoors near Palm Springs

The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Palm Springs.

Toddler spot · 9 miChildren's Discovery Museum of the Desert Pumpkin patch · 30 miRiley's Farm

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Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.