🌵 Plan a Trip
Palm Springs with kids
Curated by Simir Shah
🥵 Read this first — the desert heat
Greater Palm Springs is a desert, and the desert doesn't negotiate. From roughly late May through September, daytime highs routinely hit 105–115°F+ — for kids that's a genuine safety issue, not just 'hot.' Several top attractions cut hours or close in summer for exactly this reason (the Living Desert shuts at 1:30pm, the Tramway closes for September maintenance, Sunnylands takes a summer hiatus). If you come in the warm months, flip your day: do hikes, the zoo and gardens at or before opening, retreat to the pool or an indoor stop midday, and come back out in the evening. Carry far more water than you think you need.
20 spots near Palm Springs — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
Palm Springs VillageFest
Palm Springs
Thursday-night street fair down Palm Canyon Drive with food, music and vendors — an easy evening once it cools.
🗓️ Thursday nights
Get directions →Tahquitz Canyon
Palm Springs · Free & outdoors
A 1.8-mile loop to a real 60-ft waterfall — a great payoff hike for kids; last hikers start mid-afternoon.
🗓️ Summer: Fri–Sun only
💵 Low entry fee
Get directions →Moorten Botanical Garden
Palm Springs · Free & outdoors
A tiny, walkable family-run cactus garden with a greenhouse 'cactarium' — 30–45 minutes of weird desert plants without a big hike.
🗓️ Closed Wed
💵 Cheap (~$5)
Get directions →Palm Springs Air Museum
Palm Springs · Museum & science
WWII and jet-era warbirds you can get close to, many still flyable; kids 12 and under are free, making it a value stop.
🗓️ Daily 10am–5pm
💵 Paid (kids 12 & under free w/ adult)
Get directions →Palm Springs Surf Club
Palm Springs · Water & pools
The valley's big water park (former Knott's Soak City site) — now a surf-and-slide park with a lazy river; fun but expensive.
🗓️ Seasonal
💵 Pricey ($100+ day passes)
Get directions →Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Palm Springs · Iconic & views
Rotating cars climb to 8,500 ft where it's 30–40°F cooler — kids can play in snow up top in winter.
🗓️ Closed early Sept–early Oct (maintenance)
💵 Paid ticket
Get directions →Indian Canyons
Palm Springs · Free & outdoors
Palm-lined desert oasis with a flat, stroller-tolerable streamside trail at Palm Canyon — shadier and easier than most desert hikes.
🗓️ Seasonal hours
💵 Low entry fee
Get directions →Boomers! Palm Springs
Cathedral City
Classic fun-zone with go-karts, three mini-golf courses, bumper boats, laser tag and an arcade — great once the sun drops.
🗓️ Best in the evening
Get directions →Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert
Rancho Mirage · Museum & science
Hands-on play museum aimed at under-10s — climbing structure, art studio and water tables; a great heat/rainy-day backup.
🗓️ Mon–Sat, closed Sun
💵 Paid admission
Get directions →Sunnylands Center & Gardens
Rancho Mirage
Nine acres of desert gardens with wide flat paths kids can run, plus a café; house tours cost extra.
🗓️ Summer hiatus (~June–early Sept)
Get directions →The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
Palm Desert · Animal & nature
The valley's top kid day — giraffe feeding, a carousel and shaded animal trails; go at opening since summer hours end early.
🗓️ Closes 1:30pm in summer
💵 Paid admission
Get directions →Coachella Valley Preserve / Thousand Palms Oasis
Thousand Palms
A surreal native fan-palm oasis with easy sandy trails; the boardwalk is storm-damaged and the main oasis often runs weekend-only.
🗓️ Check conditions (storm-affected)
Get directions →Get Air Palm Desert
Palm Desert · Theme/amusement
A big indoor trampoline park with foam pits, dodgeball and a ninja course — the best air-conditioned energy-burner in the heat.
🗓️ Year-round
💵 Paid by the hour
Get directions →Covington Park
Morongo Valley
A shaded community park with a playground and picnic tables right by Big Morongo — a handy free spot to let kids burn energy.
🗓️ Year-round
Get directions →Hadley Fruit Orchards
Cabazon
The other classic date-shake stop, right by the Cabazon Dinosaurs off I-10 — pair them for one easy break on the drive.
🗓️ Year-round
Get directions →Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
Morongo Valley
A surprise desert wetland with a flat, ADA-friendly boardwalk through a cottonwood marsh — shady, birdy and easy for little legs.
🗓️ Daily 7:30am–sunset
Get directions →Cabazon Dinosaurs
Cabazon
The giant roadside Dinny and Mr. Rex dinosaurs off I-10 — a quick, photo-friendly stop kids love on the drive in or out.
🗓️ Year-round
Get directions →Shields Date Garden
Indio
Home of the famous date shake — grab one, see the date-palm grove and the kitschy garden statues; a sweet, low-effort stop.
🗓️ Daily 9am–5pm
Get directions →Pioneertown & Pappy & Harriet's
Pioneertown
A walkable 1940s Western movie-set town near Joshua Tree — wander the Old West street, then eat at the legendary Pappy & Harriet's (reserve ahead).
🗓️ Year-round
Get directions →Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree · Free & outdoors
Easy kid hikes like Hidden Valley and climbable boulders at Skull Rock; about an hour from Palm Springs.
🗓️ Best early morning / near sunset
💵 $30 per vehicle (7-day)
Get directions →Best time to visit
November through April is the family season — daytime temps in the 70s–80s, cool evenings, and every attraction at full hours. March and April are especially nice. Winter is lovely and uncrowded midweek, with the bonus that you can play in snow at the top of the Tramway while it's shorts-weather in town. Skip June–early September with young kids unless your trip is built around a hotel pool.
Is Palm Springs good for kids?
Yes — especially as a focused 2–3 day add-on rather than a week-long destination. The valley's sweet spot is a combination almost nowhere else has: a great mid-size zoo, a genuinely cool aerial tramway, a hands-on children's museum, easy palm-oasis hikes, roadside dinosaurs and date shakes — and the hotel-pool culture that makes the hot middle of the day part of the fun. A classic kid itinerary is pool mornings or evenings, one 'big' attraction per day, and easy low-effort stops in between. It pairs naturally with a Joshua Tree day.
Book Palm Springs tours & tickets
Bookable via Viator · we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)Aerial tramway, desert jeep tours, and family experiences around Palm Springs — booked through Viator.
Free cancellationPalm Springs Aerial Tramway Admission Ticket
Free cancellationProfessional Stargazing Tour in Joshua Tree
Free cancellationJoshua Tree National Park Scenic Tour
Free cancellationJoshua Tree National Park Offroad Tour
Free cancellationJoshua Tree National Park Sightseeing Adventure Tour
Free cancellationLos Angeles: Private Transfer to/from Los Angeles LAX Airport
Where to stay in Palm Springs
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Palm Springs on one map — then book on your favorite site.
More experiences via GetYourGuide · we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)
Frequently asked questions
Is Palm Springs good for kids?
Yes, with some planning around the heat. Families enjoy the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in nearby Palm Desert, the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert, and hotel pool time, which is a big draw in a resort town. The flat, bikeable downtown is easy with kids in the cooler hours. It works best as a relaxed pool-and-a-few-outings kind of trip.
When is the best time to visit Palm Springs with kids?
The most comfortable months are roughly November through April, when daytime temperatures are pleasant for outdoor activities. Summer, from about June through September, regularly climbs above 100 degrees, so it's intense for young kids and outdoor plans have to happen early or late in the day. If you do visit in summer, plan pool time midday and save hikes or the zoo for the cooler morning hours.
How do families beat the heat in Palm Springs?
A classic move is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which climbs to a mountain station where temperatures often run 30 to 40 degrees cooler than the desert floor, with easy nature walks up top. Otherwise, schedule outdoor activities for early morning or evening, build in plenty of shaded pool and indoor time midday, and keep everyone hydrated. Indoor spots like the Children's Discovery Museum are good midday options.
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Timing the rest of your trip? See the best time to visit SoCal and our day trips guide. Attraction list verified 2026 — note the summer-closure flags above and confirm hours before you go.