A weekend here is the sweet spot. It is enough time to ride the tram up to alpine forest, walk through a mid-century neighborhood, eat a long brunch under a misting fan, and still have a Sunday morning to hike a canyon waterfall. After 15,000+ stays hosted across the desert, at Apek Rentals we have a pretty clear sense of what guests squeeze into 48 hours and what they wish they had skipped.
This is our local guide to spending Palm Springs for the weekend: where to start, where to eat, what to see, and where to come back to when the sun gets too high. Save the fancy itinerary for next time. Right now, you just want a great Saturday.
Why Palm Springs Works So Well as a Weekend Trip
Palm Springs sits about two hours east of Los Angeles and roughly three hours from San Diego, which makes it one of the easiest weekend escapes in Southern California. Flights into PSP are short and the airport is famously walkable, often you are at the rental car or rideshare line within ten minutes of touchdown.
The other reason it works: distance. The Coachella Valley is compact. From downtown Palm Springs, you can be at the foot of Mount San Jacinto in fifteen minutes, in Palm Desert in twenty-five, and at Joshua Tree National Park’s west entrance in under an hour. You do not lose half your weekend in the car.
For the trip itself, focus on three things: one outdoor experience, two great meals, and one slow afternoon by the pool. Build the rest of the weekend around those.
Top Things to Do in Palm Springs for the Weekend
These are the experiences guests come back raving about. You will not fit all of them into two days, and that is fine. Pick two for Saturday, one for Sunday morning, and leave the rest as an excuse to come back.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
If you only do one “tourist” thing the entire weekend, make it the tram. The world’s largest rotating tram car climbs more than two miles up the cliffs of Chino Canyon to Mount San Jacinto State Park, and the cabin slowly spins so every angle gets a turn at the view. In ten minutes you go from desert floor to alpine forest, often with a 30 to 40 degree drop in temperature. Bring a light jacket, even in summer.
- Rating: 4.8 (15,800+ reviews)
- Address: 1 Tramway Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262
- Hours: 10 AM to 8 PM weekdays, 8 AM to 8 PM weekends
- Phone: (888) 515-8726
- Tip: Buy tickets online in advance for weekend visits, the ticket line at the base station can run long by mid-morning.
“Fabulous trip from 98 degrees to 66 degrees in just ten minutes. Short drive from Palm Springs to enjoy the cooler temperatures and stunning views.” Fran Keal, Google Reviews
Tahquitz Canyon
A two-mile loop with a real waterfall at the turnaround, this is the easiest big payoff hike in Palm Springs. The trail sits on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation and is staffed by tribal rangers, which keeps it well-marked and safe. Most people finish in 90 minutes to two hours. The waterfall flows year-round but it is most dramatic from December through April.
- Rating: 4.6 (929 reviews)
- Address: 500 W Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, CA 92264
- Hours: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM daily (last entry around 2:30 PM)
- Phone: (760) 416-7044
- Tip: Go first thing on Sunday morning. The canyon walls are still cool, the parking lot is empty, and you will be back at the rental for brunch.
“Enjoyable hike to a beautiful waterfall. The hike was definitely worth the effort. It was absolutely beautiful when we arrived at the falls.” Ned Peterson, Google Reviews
Moorten Botanical Garden
A one-acre garden that has been growing on South Palm Canyon Drive since 1938, Moorten holds more than 3,000 varieties of cactus and succulents from around the world. It only takes 45 minutes to walk the whole thing, which makes it a perfect “before lunch” stop on a hot Saturday. The “Cactarium” greenhouse alone is worth the modest entry fee.
- Rating: 4.6 (717 reviews)
- Address: 1701 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264
- Hours: 10 AM to 4 PM daily, closed Wednesdays
- Phone: (760) 327-6555
- Tip: Combine this with a stop at the nearby vintage shops along South Palm Canyon for an easy afternoon loop.
“This was a really special place to visit while in Palm Springs, especially if you are a plant or nature lover. It was impeccably kept and super calming to walk through.” Mirah Smith, Google Reviews
Palm Springs Art Museum
Set inside a 1976 modernist building by E. Stewart Williams, the Palm Springs Art Museum is small enough to enjoy in 90 minutes and big enough to feel like a real museum visit. The contemporary collection rotates often and the desert-facing sculpture garden is free to walk through. Right behind the museum, the Museum Trail trailhead climbs into the foothills if you have an extra hour.
- Rating: 4.7 (3,300+ reviews)
- Address: 101 N Museum Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
- Hours: Thursday 12 to 8 PM, Friday through Monday 10 AM to 5 PM, closed Tuesday and Wednesday
- Phone: (760) 322-4800
- Tip: Thursday evenings often have free admission and live music, easy to pair with a downtown dinner reservation.
Forever Marilyn
Standing 26 feet tall in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum on Museum Way, the Forever Marilyn statue is the most photographed thing in town for a reason. It is free, it is right downtown, and it pairs naturally with a stroll on Palm Canyon Drive. Sunset light hits the statue beautifully, so plan a quick stop on your way to dinner.
- Rating: 4.8 (1,699 reviews)
- Address: Museum Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
- Hours: Open 24 hours (best light: golden hour)
- Tip: There is usually a short line for the front-on photo. Walk around the back too, the silhouette against the mountains is great.
“A good photo opportunity. It is a great quick stop before heading into the art museum. Loved to finally see the Marilyn Monroe statue.” T.S., Google Reviews
Palm Springs Air Museum
If your weekend group includes anyone who likes history or aviation, this museum punches well above its weight. Multiple hangars hold WWII, Korea, and Vietnam-era aircraft, many of which still fly. Volunteer docents (often veterans) make the tour. CNN has named it one of the top air museums in the world.
- Rating: 4.8 (4,500+ reviews)
- Address: 745 N Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92262
- Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM daily
- Phone: (760) 778-6262
- Tip: Check the schedule, on certain weekends you can book “flight experience” rides in restored warbirds.
Where to Eat in Palm Springs This Weekend
Palm Springs eats well above its size. The dining scene leans into outdoor patios, mid-century rooms, and a serious cocktail program. Reservations matter on Friday and Saturday nights, even at casual places. Book early.
Cheeky’s Palm Springs
The brunch institution. Cheeky’s has been on every “best breakfast” list in the desert for over a decade and the bacon flight (yes, a flight) is the reason. Expect a line on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but it moves quickly and there are vintage shops on Palm Canyon to wander while you wait. Everything is from-scratch and seasonal.
- Rating: 4.2 (2,000+ reviews)
- Address: 622 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
- Hours: 8 AM to 2 PM daily
- Phone: (760) 327-7595
- Order: The bacon flight, the green eggs and ham, and any pancake on the seasonal menu.
“First-time visiting. I discovered this restaurant through the Michelin Guide and chose it to celebrate my son’s birthday.” Pelumi Olaleye, Google Reviews
Norma’s at The Parker
Inside The Parker hotel, Norma’s is the splurge brunch. Expect over-the-top plates, attentive service, and a poolside-adjacent room that feels like a 1970s movie set. It is open all day but the morning menu is the draw. Reservations are essentially required on weekends.
- Rating: 4.2 (611 reviews)
- Address: 4200 E Palm Canyon Dr, inside The Parker, Palm Springs, CA 92264
- Hours: 7 AM to 10 PM daily
- Phone: (760) 770-5000
- Order: Braised beef and potatoes Benedict, the pancake stack for the table.
“Yummmmmo! Norma’s was hands down one of the most delicious brunches I have had in a long time. Still thinking about the braised beef and potatoes Benedict.” Cat About Town, Google Reviews
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
The dinner reservation that gets passed around among locals. Workshop sits inside a 1920s-era former El Paseo building on North Palm Canyon, with a long concrete dining room and a courtyard patio that is one of the best in town. The menu is modern Californian, the cocktail list is excellent, and the room feels designed.
- Rating: 4.3 (1,358 reviews)
- Address: 800 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
- Hours: 5 to 10 PM weekdays, 5 to 11 PM Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM Sunday brunch
- Phone: (760) 459-3451
- Order: The wood-fired flatbreads, anything off the seasonal pasta section, the negroni.
“Workshop Kitchen + Bar delivers a sleek, modern vibe that immediately draws you in. The patio is hands-down one of my favorite dining spots.” Abhijeet Dangi, Google Reviews
Where to Drink: Palm Springs Bars Worth Building a Night Around
The Palm Springs bar scene leans into two things, mid-century glamour and tiki kitsch, sometimes both in the same block. These three places anchor a great Saturday night.
Bar Cecil
Bar Cecil is the reservation that defines the modern Palm Springs night out. Tucked into a strip on South Palm Canyon, the room is decked in art (real Calder gouaches), the lighting is flattering, and the martinis are large. Get the caviar deviled eggs for the table.
- Rating: 4.5 (541 reviews)
- Address: 1555 S Palm Canyon Dr, Unit H-104, Palm Springs, CA 92264
- Hours: 5 to 10 PM daily
- Phone: (442) 332-3800
- Order: Caviar deviled eggs, the Cecil martini, the burger if you are eating.
“Bar Cecil is easily one of the best spots in Palm Springs. The vibe is classic but relaxed, with a cool old-school feel that makes the whole place fun from the moment you walk in.” Drew, Google Reviews
Melvyn’s at the Ingleside Estate
A glamorous holdover from the Sinatra era, Melvyn’s has been pouring martinis on the grounds of the Ingleside Estate since 1975. The garden setting is genuinely transporting and the piano lounge runs late on weekends. Come for one drink dressed up, even if you are eating dinner elsewhere.
- Rating: 4.2 (1,063 reviews)
- Address: 200 W Ramon Rd (Ingleside Estate), Palm Springs, CA 92264
- Hours: 5 to 9 PM weekdays, 5 PM to midnight Friday and Saturday, 3:30 to 9 PM Sunday
- Phone: (760) 325-2323
- Order: A dirty martini, the steak Diane tableside if you stay for dinner.
“Historic setting and superior service. The catch of the day was truly awesome.” Paul Mackley, Google Reviews
Bootlegger Tiki
In the same building that housed the original Don the Beachcomber in 1953, Bootlegger Tiki is the kitsch counterpoint to Melvyn’s. Twenty-something seats, glowing pufferfish lamps, and rum drinks that taste like the Polynesian Pop they are paying tribute to. The patio seating opens later in the night.
- Rating: 4.3 (778 reviews)
- Address: 1101 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
- Hours: 3 to 11 PM Sunday through Thursday, 3 PM to 1 AM Friday and Saturday
- Phone: (760) 318-4154
- Order: Mai Tai, Jet Pilot, the daily punch bowl if your group is up for it.
“Bootlegger Tiki is a nice little tiki bar in the general downtown Palm Springs area. Since the indoor seating only holds about 20-22 people, reservations are highly recommended.” Tom S., Google Reviews
A Two-Day Palm Springs Weekend Itinerary
If you want a copy-paste plan, here is the one we hand to first-time guests at our Palm Springs rentals.
Friday evening
Land, drop bags at the rental, and pour something cold by the pool. Walk or rideshare downtown for a stroll along Palm Canyon Drive, snap the Forever Marilyn statue at golden hour, and head to dinner at Workshop Kitchen + Bar. Cap the night with a tiki drink at Bootlegger.
Saturday
Brunch early at Cheeky’s (or Norma’s if you booked ahead), then drive 15 minutes to the Aerial Tramway base station. Spend two to three hours at the top, ride down before lunch, and return to the rental for the famous Palm Springs nap. Late afternoon, walk through Moorten Botanical Garden or shop the vintage stores along South Palm Canyon. Dinner at Bar Cecil, drinks at Melvyn’s.
Sunday
Get up early for Tahquitz Canyon (you will be glad you went before the heat). Stop at a bakery on the way back, slow morning by the pool, then a casual lunch downtown before heading home. If you have an extra hour, swing through the Palm Springs Air Museum or the Palm Springs Art Museum on your way out of town.
This itinerary mixes one big outdoor moment, two memorable meals, and a long pool afternoon. That is the recipe.
Tips for Making the Most of a Palm Springs Weekend
A few things we have learned from hosting more than 15,000 stays in the desert:
- Time your big outdoor activity for the morning. Tram up the mountain before noon, hike Tahquitz before 10 AM, walk the gardens before lunch. Save the afternoon for the pool, every time.
- Book Saturday dinner before Saturday morning. Workshop, Bar Cecil, Melvyn’s, and Norma’s all fill up. A reservation made on Tuesday is a much easier weekend than one made on Friday.
- Layer for the tram. It can be 100 degrees at the base station and 60 at the top. A light jacket or hoodie in the car saves the experience.
- Dress code is real at a few places. Melvyn’s leans glamorous. Bar Cecil leans put-together. Plan one outfit accordingly.
- Drive between cities, walk inside them. Downtown Palm Springs and parts of El Paseo in Palm Desert are made for walking. Move the car between zones, not within them.
- Hydrate twice as much as you think you should. The desert air evaporates everything. A water bottle in the car at all times.
Plan Your Palm Springs Weekend with Apek
Palm Springs for the weekend is one of those trips that consistently delivers, the desert light, the easy pace, the design-forward homes, the great food. The trick is having the right basecamp.
After 15,000+ happy stays and seven years hosting in the desert, our team knows what makes a Palm Springs weekend worry-free, a private pool that is actually warm, a kitchen stocked for late arrivals, fast Wi-Fi for the morning after, and a real human to text when you need a tip.
Browse our Palm Springs vacation rentals to start planning your weekend, or reach out and tell us what you are looking for. We will help you find the home that turns your 48 hours into a memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is two days in Palm Springs enough?
Two full days is plenty for a great first trip. With a Friday evening arrival and a Sunday afternoon departure, guests typically fit one big outdoor experience (the tram or a canyon hike), one museum or downtown stroll, two memorable dinners, and a long pool afternoon. Three days unlocks Joshua Tree as a day trip without rushing anything.
What is the best time of year to visit Palm Springs for the weekend?
October through May is the sweet spot, with daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s and cool evenings. February brings Modernism Week, March and April bring Coachella and Stagecoach festival traffic, and December through January is mild and quiet. Summer (June through September) is brutally hot during the day but rates drop significantly and pool weather is at its peak.
How far is Palm Springs from Los Angeles?
About 110 miles, which translates to roughly two hours of driving without traffic. Friday afternoon LA traffic can stretch the trip to three or even four hours. Many guests leave LA before noon or after 7 PM to avoid the worst of it.
Do I need a car for a Palm Springs weekend?
If you are staying right downtown and only want to walk Palm Canyon Drive, you can technically get by without one. For everything else (the tram, hiking, Palm Desert, Joshua Tree), a car or a rideshare budget is essential. Most guests rent at PSP airport.
What should I pack for a Palm Springs weekend?
Sunglasses, sunscreen, a light layer for the tram or evening, swimsuits, comfortable walking shoes, and one nicer outfit for dinner. Hiking shoes if Tahquitz Canyon is on the list. A reusable water bottle is invaluable, the desert dehydrates faster than people expect.
Is Palm Springs good for a weekend with kids?
Yes. The Aerial Tramway, the Air Museum, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (in Palm Desert), and Moorten Botanical Garden are all family-friendly. Many vacation rentals include private pools, which solves the entire afternoon. Our family activities in Palm Springs guide goes deeper if you are traveling with little ones.
