Palm Springs International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Palm Springs airport is small, open-air and just 5-10 minutes by car from downtown: here there's no real choice between airport and city, because all of Palm Springs is close to the runways. What matters instead is the neighborhood. Palm Canyon Drive, in the heart of downtown, puts restaurants and galleries within walking distance; the Uptown Design District, a few blocks further north, has a more vintage soul and furniture boutiques; near the convention center, just minutes from the terminal, you'll find practical chain hotels for anyone arriving late or who just needs to sleep before the flight.

Downtown and Palm Canyon Drive

City centre · 5-10 minutes by car or taxi from the terminal; on foot it's just over two miles, but with the heat almost nobody does it.

Best for: Anyone who wants restaurants, galleries and the evening life of the main street within walking distance.

Pros

Palm Canyon Drive and its restaurants reachable on foot from the hotel
Museums and Forever Marilyn just minutes away, handy for those with only half a day

Cons

In summer the temperatures make it uncomfortable to walk around during the day
On event weekends, traffic on Indian Canyon Drive gets complicated

Recommended hotels in this area

Hotel Zoso: In the heart of downtown on Indian Canyon Drive, with a large pool and a supper club with live music; you can walk everywhere without moving the car.
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel by IHG: A rooftop pool with a view of the San Jacinto mountains; reviews praise the staff and the proximity to the shops.
Best Western Plus Las Brisas Hotel: Ten minutes on foot from the Agua Caliente Museum and the Forever Marilyn statue, with breakfast included; a more affordable alternative to downtown's boutique hotels.

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Uptown Design District

Neighbourhood · Just a few minutes more than downtown: 10-15 minutes by car or taxi from the terminal.

Best for: Anyone looking for the vintage soul of the city, among mid-century shops and furniture boutiques.

Pros

Mid-century shops and design galleries just steps from the hotels
A quieter neighborhood than downtown proper, yet still close to everything

Cons

For downtown's restaurants you still need a car or a long walk in the heat
Less choice of hotels compared to Palm Canyon Drive

Recommended hotels in this area

Avalon Hotel & Bungalows Palm Springs, a Member of Design Hotels: Spanish-style bungalows with three separate pools, close to the art museum and the Design District; reviews praise the staff.
Movie Colony Hotel: An adults-only hotel with 16 rooms in the Design District, two minutes by car from the convention center; appreciated for its quiet and its garden with a hot tub.

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Convention Center area

Airport area · 4-7 minutes by car from the terminal, the shortest trip among all the areas in this guide.

Best for: Anyone arriving late, with a dawn flight, or in town for a trade show at the convention center.

Pros

The fastest trip from the terminal in the whole guide
Convenient for anyone who just needs to sleep before a morning flight

Cons

Few venues nearby: for dinner you need to head toward downtown
A less distinctive area compared to Downtown or the Uptown Design District

Recommended hotels in this area

Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel: Right next to the convention center, just minutes from the terminal; a heated pool and a bowling lane are among the amenities praised in reviews.

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