Palm Springs, CA Travel and Things to Do Guide
Greater Palm Springs is Southern California's meeting oasis, an easy drive from Los Angeles and San Diego. Nine distinct cities make up the destination, from Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage to Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta, giving planners cosmopolitan convenience in a calm desert setting. At its heart is the Palm Springs Convention Center, a modern anchor for conventions, tradeshows, and large meetings.
The vibe is relaxed but sharp: midcentury modern design, a strong culinary scene, and roughly 300 days of sunshine a year beneath the 10,833-foot Mount San Jacinto. Meetings mix easily with hikes, golf, and cultural stops, so the experience rarely stays in the ballroom.
The destination has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in meetings infrastructure, from convention facilities and renovated hotels to air service. The result: deep, flexible event space in Palm Springs backed by walkable hotels and an airport minutes from downtown.
Why Palm Springs is ideal for event planning
Downtown Palm Springs is genuinely walkable. The convention center connects directly to its headquarters hotel and sits a short stroll from restaurants, shops, and about 1,600 guest rooms, so attendees spend less time in transit and more in sessions.
Logistics are simple by design. Palm Springs International Airport sits about two miles away, with Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ontario airports within a two-hour drive for more lift. Warm weather, resort-style properties, and a compact core pair a productive agenda with memorable desert experiences.
Major convention centers
Palm Springs Convention Center
The region's primary meetings venue, rising out of the desert in the heart of downtown.
• About 245,000 square feet of total flexible space
• Up to 112,000 square feet of carpeted exhibit space
• A 20,000-square-foot ballroom plus 18 breakout rooms
• An 18,000-square-foot lobby with panoramic Mount San Jacinto views
• High-speed Wi-Fi, rigging points, floor-accessed power and water, and a nine-bay loading dock
• Connected to the 410-room Renaissance Palm Springs and walkable to downtown
It hosts conventions, tradeshows, and large corporate and association meetings, accommodating groups from about 12 to 12,000 in one easy-to-navigate setting.
Accessibility and connectivity
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is the Coachella Valley's only commercial airport, about two miles from the convention center. It offers nonstop service to roughly 29 to 31 airports at peak season across 11 airlines, with one-stop connections to more than 300 cities worldwide. Its open-air layout and short lines set an easy tone for arriving attendees.
• Rideshare, taxis, and hotel shuttles, plus a walkable downtown core
• Rental cars for group excursions across the nine cities
For Southern California groups, Los Angeles, San Diego, John Wayne, and Ontario airports are within roughly a two-hour drive.
Headquarters hotels and accommodation
Palm Springs offers about 6,700 guest rooms, roughly 1,600 within walking distance of the convention center, spanning full-service resorts and stylish downtown properties.
• Renaissance Palm Springs: The headquarters hotel, connected to the center, with 410 rooms and about 30,000 square feet of meeting space
• Hilton Palm Springs: One block away, with 260 rooms and roughly 18,000 square feet of meeting space
• Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs: A rooftop-pool downtown hotel about a half-mile away, with 153 rooms and around 17,000 square feet of event space
• Hyatt Palm Springs: An all-suite property a few blocks from the center
• Thompson Palm Springs: A midcentury-modern hotel with a 6,200-square-foot ballroom, under a mile away
• Riviera Palm Springs: A resort with 398 rooms and about 45,000 square feet of space for larger programs
Many sit within an easy walk of the center, keeping room blocks and sessions close together.
Unique event venues
Several attractions double as memorable event spaces.
• Palm Springs Air Museum: A 50,000-square-foot space among one of the nation's largest WWII aircraft collections, with private events for up to 3,000
• Cabot's Pueblo Museum: An 1883 handmade pueblo, ideal for intimate gatherings
• The Dinah Shore house: A private 1.3-acre midcentury estate in Old Las Palmas
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: A mountaintop setting with alpine views for standout functions
Dining and culinary experiences
Palm Springs pairs polished dining with plenty of private-event options.
• Melvyn's at the Ingleside Inn: Classic American fare across four intimate dining rooms
• Cuistot: French cuisine and award-winning wine, with a private wine room built for group dinners
• Wally's Desert Turtle (Rancho Mirage): Continental cuisine with two private and two semi-private dining rooms
• Palm Canyon Drive: A walkable downtown strip of restaurants and bars
Entertainment and outdoor activities
There's plenty to do between sessions.
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: The world's largest rotating tramcar, climbing toward Mount San Jacinto and cooler alpine trails
• Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon: Palm oases, waterfalls, and well-marked hikes on Agua Caliente lands
• Golf, tennis, and spas: Dozens of desert courses, including championship layouts
• Agua Caliente casinos and downtown VillageFest: Evening entertainment and a weekly street fair
With Joshua Tree National Park and the wider Coachella Valley close by, it's easy to extend the experience beyond downtown.
Event planning support services
Visit Greater Palm Springs helps planners source venues and build programs across the nine cities.
• RFP distribution to the hotels and venues that fit your requirements
• Recommendations for facilities, attractions, and transportation
• Itinerary planning for group activities, golf, and off-site functions
• Site-visit support through siteFLIGHT and siteDRIVE programs
The team supports everything from small executive meetings to citywide conventions.
Climate and best time for events
• Spring (March to May): Warm, sunny days in the 70s to 90s Fahrenheit; peak season for conventions and outdoor functions
• Summer (June to August): Hot, dry days often above 100 Fahrenheit; best for value-driven indoor meetings with early or evening activities
• Autumn (September to November): Cooling from the 90s into the 70s; great for tradeshows and outdoor receptions
• Winter (December to February): Mild days in the 60s to low 70s; ideal for incentives and holiday events
Conclusion: Palm Springs as an event destination
Palm Springs gives planners a rare combination: a modern convention center, walkable hotels, a well-connected airport, and a desert attendees want to explore. Logistics stay simple while the experience stays memorable. For groups of nearly any size, event space in Palm Springs comes backed by strong hospitality, easy access, and a lifestyle that keeps attendees engaged from arrival to close.
The vibe is relaxed but sharp: midcentury modern design, a strong culinary scene, and roughly 300 days of sunshine a year beneath the 10,833-foot Mount San Jacinto. Meetings mix easily with hikes, golf, and cultural stops, so the experience rarely stays in the ballroom.
The destination has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in meetings infrastructure, from convention facilities and renovated hotels to air service. The result: deep, flexible event space in Palm Springs backed by walkable hotels and an airport minutes from downtown.
Why Palm Springs is ideal for event planning
Downtown Palm Springs is genuinely walkable. The convention center connects directly to its headquarters hotel and sits a short stroll from restaurants, shops, and about 1,600 guest rooms, so attendees spend less time in transit and more in sessions.
Logistics are simple by design. Palm Springs International Airport sits about two miles away, with Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ontario airports within a two-hour drive for more lift. Warm weather, resort-style properties, and a compact core pair a productive agenda with memorable desert experiences.
Major convention centers
Palm Springs Convention Center
The region's primary meetings venue, rising out of the desert in the heart of downtown.
• About 245,000 square feet of total flexible space
• Up to 112,000 square feet of carpeted exhibit space
• A 20,000-square-foot ballroom plus 18 breakout rooms
• An 18,000-square-foot lobby with panoramic Mount San Jacinto views
• High-speed Wi-Fi, rigging points, floor-accessed power and water, and a nine-bay loading dock
• Connected to the 410-room Renaissance Palm Springs and walkable to downtown
It hosts conventions, tradeshows, and large corporate and association meetings, accommodating groups from about 12 to 12,000 in one easy-to-navigate setting.
Accessibility and connectivity
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is the Coachella Valley's only commercial airport, about two miles from the convention center. It offers nonstop service to roughly 29 to 31 airports at peak season across 11 airlines, with one-stop connections to more than 300 cities worldwide. Its open-air layout and short lines set an easy tone for arriving attendees.
• Rideshare, taxis, and hotel shuttles, plus a walkable downtown core
• Rental cars for group excursions across the nine cities
For Southern California groups, Los Angeles, San Diego, John Wayne, and Ontario airports are within roughly a two-hour drive.
Headquarters hotels and accommodation
Palm Springs offers about 6,700 guest rooms, roughly 1,600 within walking distance of the convention center, spanning full-service resorts and stylish downtown properties.
• Renaissance Palm Springs: The headquarters hotel, connected to the center, with 410 rooms and about 30,000 square feet of meeting space
• Hilton Palm Springs: One block away, with 260 rooms and roughly 18,000 square feet of meeting space
• Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs: A rooftop-pool downtown hotel about a half-mile away, with 153 rooms and around 17,000 square feet of event space
• Hyatt Palm Springs: An all-suite property a few blocks from the center
• Thompson Palm Springs: A midcentury-modern hotel with a 6,200-square-foot ballroom, under a mile away
• Riviera Palm Springs: A resort with 398 rooms and about 45,000 square feet of space for larger programs
Many sit within an easy walk of the center, keeping room blocks and sessions close together.
Unique event venues
Several attractions double as memorable event spaces.
• Palm Springs Air Museum: A 50,000-square-foot space among one of the nation's largest WWII aircraft collections, with private events for up to 3,000
• Cabot's Pueblo Museum: An 1883 handmade pueblo, ideal for intimate gatherings
• The Dinah Shore house: A private 1.3-acre midcentury estate in Old Las Palmas
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: A mountaintop setting with alpine views for standout functions
Dining and culinary experiences
Palm Springs pairs polished dining with plenty of private-event options.
• Melvyn's at the Ingleside Inn: Classic American fare across four intimate dining rooms
• Cuistot: French cuisine and award-winning wine, with a private wine room built for group dinners
• Wally's Desert Turtle (Rancho Mirage): Continental cuisine with two private and two semi-private dining rooms
• Palm Canyon Drive: A walkable downtown strip of restaurants and bars
Entertainment and outdoor activities
There's plenty to do between sessions.
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: The world's largest rotating tramcar, climbing toward Mount San Jacinto and cooler alpine trails
• Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon: Palm oases, waterfalls, and well-marked hikes on Agua Caliente lands
• Golf, tennis, and spas: Dozens of desert courses, including championship layouts
• Agua Caliente casinos and downtown VillageFest: Evening entertainment and a weekly street fair
With Joshua Tree National Park and the wider Coachella Valley close by, it's easy to extend the experience beyond downtown.
Event planning support services
Visit Greater Palm Springs helps planners source venues and build programs across the nine cities.
• RFP distribution to the hotels and venues that fit your requirements
• Recommendations for facilities, attractions, and transportation
• Itinerary planning for group activities, golf, and off-site functions
• Site-visit support through siteFLIGHT and siteDRIVE programs
The team supports everything from small executive meetings to citywide conventions.
Climate and best time for events
• Spring (March to May): Warm, sunny days in the 70s to 90s Fahrenheit; peak season for conventions and outdoor functions
• Summer (June to August): Hot, dry days often above 100 Fahrenheit; best for value-driven indoor meetings with early or evening activities
• Autumn (September to November): Cooling from the 90s into the 70s; great for tradeshows and outdoor receptions
• Winter (December to February): Mild days in the 60s to low 70s; ideal for incentives and holiday events
Conclusion: Palm Springs as an event destination
Palm Springs gives planners a rare combination: a modern convention center, walkable hotels, a well-connected airport, and a desert attendees want to explore. Logistics stay simple while the experience stays memorable. For groups of nearly any size, event space in Palm Springs comes backed by strong hospitality, easy access, and a lifestyle that keeps attendees engaged from arrival to close.
Weather and Seasonality
One of the most celebrated aspects about beautiful Greater Palm Springs is its fantastic weather. Boasting a typical warm, dry Southern California climate, Greater Palm Springs sees an average of 300 days of sunshine per year and less than 6 inches of rain each year.
| Month | High/Low °F | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|
| January | 69°/40° | - |
| February | 73°/44° | - |
| March | 79°/47° | - |
| April | 86°/52° | - |
| May | 94°/58° | - |
| June | 102°/64° | - |
| July | 108°/73° | - |
| August | 106°/71° | - |
| September | 102°/66° | - |
| October | 91°/57° | - |
| November | 79°/48° | - |
| December | 70°/42° | - |
