The Best Time to Visit Palm Springs California + When I Wouldn’t Visit Palm Springs (2026)

I feel like knowing the best time to visit has never been quite as important to me as it was when I realized I was literally driving into the desert to visit Palm Springs.

We just got back from a weekend in Palm Springs, and after experiencing it for ourselves, I definitely have a much better idea of when I’d want to visit again and, maybe more importantly, when I probably wouldn’t.

Because when you’re planning a trip to Palm Springs, there are actually quite a few things to think about. How hot is it going to be? Is it going to be so hot that you can barely spend time outside? What about cooler winter nights? And then you’ve also got the tourist crowds, festivals, hotel prices and all the other things that can completely change what your trip feels like.

So, to give you a better idea of what to expect than I had before going, I put together this guide on the best time to visit Palm Springs California, including when I’d personally come back, when I’d think twice, and how to avoid the worst combination of heat, crowds and high prices.

The Best Time to Visit Palm Springs – My Quick Answer

We literally just got back from a weekend in Palm Springs, and because we planned this trip pretty spontaneously, we ended up visiting in July, right in the middle of summer.

And pretty much everyone we talked to told us that was the worst possible time to visit because of the heat. But to be honest? We had a great time!

I guess being from Texas means I’m already pretty used to the heat, so it didn’t bother me nearly as much as I expected it to. We just adjusted our schedule a little bit. We explored Palm Springs in the early mornings and later in the evenings when it was cooler, and then spent the middle of the day hanging out by the pool.

On top of that, July came with some pretty nice perks. Hotel prices were much cheaper, restaurants were easy to get into, and the whole town felt way quieter than I imagine it does during the busier months.

However, I know not everyone wants to spend their vacation sweating their ass off, so if I came back and wanted to avoid the extreme heat without paying the really high prices you can get during peak season, I’d probably look into November or March.

Palm Springs by Season

Spring (March, April & May)

Spring can definitely be one of the best times to visit Palm Springs, especially early spring. After visiting in July, I wished it had been at least a little cooler, and March in particular sounds pretty damn perfect to me.

By this point, the bigger winter crowds have started to disappear, temperatures are much more comfortable, and if you get a little lucky, hotel prices may have come down as well.

There is one big exception, though: April.

This is when huge music festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach take over the area, and Palm Springs can get absolutely slammed. Hotels book up months in advance and prices can go through the roof, so if you’re planning an April trip, I’d definitely check what’s happening before you book.

Summer (June, July & August)

Yes, it was super hot when we visited in July. We were dealing with around 100°F (38°C) most days, with basically no clouds in the sky, while riding bicycles around in the middle of the desert.

Not exactly ideal conditions.

But it also wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever done. We just had to plan our days around the heat. We explored early in the morning, went back to the pool during the middle of the day, and then headed back out again in the evening when things cooled down.

And there were some pretty nice advantages to visiting in summer. Hotels were basically empty, prices were super cheap, restaurants were easy to get into, and the whole town felt very quiet.

However, summer temperatures can easily climb to 110°F (43°C) or even higher, and at that point I really don’t want to be outside either. So I’d say summer is definitely a bit of a gamble.

Fall (September, October & November)

Fall is when Palm Springs starts becoming much more appealing again, especially later in the season once temperatures finally start to cool down.

This is when being outside becomes a lot more enjoyable, which is especially important if you’re planning on doing some hiking. If you want to explore Indian Canyons or take a trip out to Joshua Tree National Park, I’d much rather do that in fall than in the middle of summer.

In July, we had to get up ridiculously early just to hike before the heat became unbearable. Once temperatures cool down in fall, you can actually spend your day outside .

Winter (December, January & February)

Winter is basically peak season in Palm Springs.

While other parts of California can get fairly chilly during the winter, Palm Springs stays relatively warm and sunny, which makes it a very popular escape for people looking to get away from colder weather. A lot of people even spend the entire winter here, especially if they have a second home in Palm Springs.

The downside is that everybody else knows this too.

Winter is when Palm Springs gets much busier and more expensive, especially around popular weekends and events. Hotels can be significantly more expensive, restaurants are busier, and you’ll probably want to plan a little further ahead than we did during our very quiet July visit.

On the other hand, winter is also a great time for all kinds of festivals and events, from art and music to other events happening around town.

Events in Palm Springs

Palm Springs Modernism Week (February)

I’ve probably mentioned this about 500 times by now, but I’m obsessed with the mid-century modern architecture in Palm Springs. I just think it’s so damn cool and so chic, and basically the peak of it all is Palm Springs Modernism Week.

This is an event I’m actually dying to go to myself because there are hundreds of different shows and events celebrating the architecture, design and whole Palm Springs aesthetic.

You’ve got everything from themed pool parties and walking tours to vintage car shows and even tours inside some of the most iconic houses around Palm Springs.

Palm Springs International Film Festival

The Palm Springs International Film Festival is another major event that brings a lot of attention to the city every year.

It’s a pretty big deal in the film world and is often part of the awards-season circuit, with the festival usually starting with a big awards gala attended by plenty of Hollywood names.

But it’s not just about the red carpet stuff. Throughout the week, there are film screenings, events and opportunities to see all kinds of international and upcoming films, so if you’re into movies, this could be a really fun time to visit Palm Springs.

When I Would NOT Visit Palm Springs

Music Festivals: Coachella & Stagecoach

I’ve already mentioned this when talking about spring, but personally, I wouldn’t plan a Palm Springs trip around April.

That’s when Coachella and Stagecoach take place nearby in Indio, and even though Indio isn’t exactly next door to Palm Springs, a lot of festival-goers stay in Palm Springs during these weekends.

And you can definitely feel it.

Hotels get booked up, prices go absolutely crazy, and the whole area gets much busier. I actually checked hotel prices for the Coachella weekend next year, and quite a few places were already completely booked out.

When It Gets TOO Hot

I know I’ve spent this entire guide telling you that we visited Palm Springs in July and actually had a great time, but there’s a little bit of context to that.

When we were there, we had highs of around 100°F (38°C), with mornings starting around 85°F (29°C). That’s hot, obviously, but I could deal with it.

The problem is that Palm Springs can get much, much hotter than that. Summer temperatures can climb well above 110°F (43°C), and at that point, I personally wouldn’t want to be outside for very long either.

FAQs About When Should I Visit Palm Springs

When Is the Worst Time to Visit Palm Springs?

I’d say the two times I’d probably avoid are April during festival season and the middle of summer when temperatures can get well above 100°F.

April can get incredibly busy because of Coachella and Stagecoach, while the summer heat can make it pretty difficult to spend much time outside during the middle of the day.

Is Palm Springs Expensive to Visit?

I actually didn’t think it was, at least when we visited in July. Our hotel was really nice and newly renovated, and we paid less than we did in many other cities during our California road trip.

Prices can definitely go up during the winter high season, but outside of that, I thought Palm Springs was actually fairly affordable compared to a lot of the rest of California.

Is Coachella in Palm Springs?

No! Coachella is actually in Indio, which is about a 30–40 minute drive from Palm Springs.

However, plenty of people stay in Palm Springs when they’re attending the festivals, so you can definitely feel the impact here. Hotels book up really quickly and prices can get ridiculously expensive.

Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! I loved Palm Springs, and it ended up being one of my favorite places I visited in California.

It just felt so different from all the coastal towns we visited in Southern and Central California. You’ve got the desert landscape, huge mountains, palm trees and all that incredible mid-century modern architecture, and that combination is just so damn cool.

What Is There to Do in Palm Springs?

We spent a lot of time hanging out by the pool, but we also rode our bikes around the famous mid-century modern neighborhoods, went hiking in Indian Canyons, and took the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up toward Mount San Jacinto.

Final Thoughts on the Best Time to Visit Palm Springs

I think Palm Springs is such a great place to visit, especially if you haven’t been to California before and want to see a completely different side of the state.

We did a four-week road trip down the coast from San Francisco to San Diego, and after seaside town after seaside town, I really loved having this little detour into the desert.

So if you’re planning a trip here, just keep the timing in mind. Avoid the festival weekends if you don’t want the crowds and crazy hotel prices, and be prepared for some real bad heat if you visit in summer. Get those things right, and Palm Springs can be a really fun little California detour.

I hope this guide on the best time to visit Palm Springs gave you a good idea of when to come and how to plan your next trip.