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A Palm Springs weekend getaway for two adults costs about $98 in attraction fees, per the posted prices below. Downtown Palm Springs and Sunnylands Center and Gardens fill day one; Indian Canyons and the Aerial Tramway fill day two. The single most useful fact: the tramway closes every September for annual maintenance. So check that before you book anything else.
I’ve lived in Southern California long enough to know how fast desert heat sneaks up on an afternoon plan. So I build any Palm Springs weekend around the cooler morning and early-evening hours instead of the midday sun. I also did the long Chicago-to-California drive once. It’s exactly the kind of trip that teaches you to check a park’s hours before you show up.
Palm Springs weekend at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Trip length | 2 days, one overnight |
| Base yourself | Downtown Palm Springs, walkable to Palm Canyon Drive |
| Attraction cost for two | About $98, not counting food, gas or lodging |
| Book ahead | Nothing required, but buy tramway tickets online to skip the line |
| Best season | The cooler months from October through April |
Palm Springs Weekend Getaway
A Palm Springs weekend getaway for two runs about $98 once you add the fees below. That’s before food, gas or a hotel room. The single biggest line item is the Aerial Tramway. It charges by the person, so it costs the same whether the desert floor is 70 degrees or 100.
| Stop | Fee | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Palm Springs / Palm Canyon Drive walk | Free | — | Shops, galleries and midcentury architecture |
| Sunnylands Center and Gardens | Free | Sunnylands’ own site | Wednesday–Sunday, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Indian Canyons | $12/adult ($24 for two) | Indian Canyons’ own admission page | Friday–Sunday only in late summer/early fall; daily the rest of the year, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Palm Springs Aerial Tramway | $36.95/adult ($73.90 for two) | Tramway’s own ticket page | Closed annually for maintenance each September |
Add it up: $24 for two Indian Canyons tickets, plus $73.90 for two tramway tickets. That’s about $98 for two adults across both days, since the downtown walk and Sunnylands cost nothing.
Palm Springs Weekend Itinerary
Split the two days between the valley floor and the mountain. The temperature swing between them is the whole point of a tram ride, so give each its own half of the trip.
Downtown Palm Springs Things to Do
First, walk down Palm Canyon Drive in the morning, before the heat sets in, to see the shops and the midcentury-modern storefronts downtown. From there, it’s roughly a 15-minute drive to Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage. The gardens are free to enter and open Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., per Sunnylands’ own site. Break for lunch somewhere air-conditioned around midday, because the desert sun peaks in the early afternoon. Finally, head back downtown for dinner in the evening while the temperature drops.
Indian Canyons Palm Springs
First, get an early start at Indian Canyons, about a 10-minute drive from downtown. Admission runs $12 per adult, and in late summer and early fall it’s open Friday through Sunday only, per the canyons’ own hours page. Hours run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m. That weekend-only schedule still works fine for a Saturday visit. After the canyons, plan a midday break before the final stop.
Then drive about 15 minutes to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for the ride up into Mount San Jacinto State Park, home to more than 50 miles of trails and, at 10,834 feet, the highest peak in the California State Park System, per California State Parks. But confirm the tram is open first, since it closes every September for scheduled maintenance, per the tramway’s own site. Leave the dog at the hotel for this stop, too — pets aren’t allowed on the tram or in the wilderness area, aside from service animals, per California State Parks.
Do you need a car to get around Palm Springs?
None of the drives above run much past 15 minutes in light traffic. However, Highway 111 through the valley can slow down on weekend evenings when everyone heads downtown for dinner at once. So plan the Sunnylands and tramway drives for midday, and save the short downtown hop for later. Also build in extra time at the tramway’s base station, because the ticket line moves slowly on a busy Saturday.
Where to Stay in Palm Springs Downtown
Downtown Palm Springs is also the simplest base. Day one starts there, and it puts the Palm Canyon Drive walk within reach on foot. A hotel with a pool is worth the extra cost here, because a midday swim is the easiest way to handle desert heat between stops. Staying in Rancho Mirage or Cathedral City instead saves a short drive to Sunnylands, but it adds one back into downtown for dinner. Either way, book a room with air conditioning confirmed, not just implied, since not every older Palm Springs property has central air.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Closed
Skip the Aerial Tramway entirely if your dates fall in early September; it’s closed for maintenance, and no ticket workaround exists. Also skip a midday hike at Indian Canyons in summer. The marked trails offer little shade, so a cooler morning start covers the same ground more safely. Finally, don’t try to add a Joshua Tree National Park day to a two-day Palm Springs trip. It deserves its own dedicated visit instead of a rushed afternoon add-on.
Best Time to Visit Palm Springs
The cooler months from October through April make this Palm Springs weekend getaway far more comfortable than the peak-summer stretch. Daytime highs regularly top 100 degrees in summer. That window also lines up with Indian Canyons’ daily schedule, instead of the Friday-through-Sunday-only hours that apply in late summer. Still, if you can only travel in summer, lean on the tramway for cooler air. Then keep outdoor time to the early morning or evening.
Where to Park in Palm Springs
Downtown Palm Springs has metered street parking along Palm Canyon Drive. It also has several free public lots just off the main strip. Sunnylands and Indian Canyons both fold parking into the admission price, so there’s nothing extra to pay once you’re through the gate. The tramway’s base station has its own free lot, though it fills up fast on weekend mornings. So arrive early, or expect a short wait for a spot.
If a coast day also fits your Southern California trip, the parking, dog hours and tide pools at Corona del Mar State Beach make a good contrast to the desert stops above. For more desert and Southwest guides, browse the Southwest & Desert category instead.
Palm Springs Weekend Guide
I’ve lived with Southern California’s desert heat long enough to say the order above works: downtown and Sunnylands first, then Indian Canyons and the tramway while the morning is still cool. It keeps the hardest heat of the day reserved for air-conditioned stops. Still, swap the tramway for a longer Indian Canyons hike if your dates fall during the September closure. Just confirm the canyons’ weekend-only schedule first.
Palm Springs Weekend Packing List
Sunscreen and a wide-brim hat matter more here than almost anywhere else, because the desert sun is intense even on a cool-feeling morning. Bring a light jacket too — the tramway’s mountain station typically runs 30 to 40 degrees cooler than the desert floor, per the tramway’s own site. Also pack more water than feels necessary for a short walk. Desert dryness pulls moisture out of you faster than the heat alone would suggest, so refill bottles at every stop that offers it.
Frequently asked questions about a Palm Springs weekend getaway
How many days do you need for a Palm Springs weekend?
Two days is enough for downtown Palm Springs, Sunnylands and one desert stop like Indian Canyons or the Aerial Tramway. It’s not enough to also add a full Joshua Tree National Park visit without rushing both places.
Do you need a car in Palm Springs?
Yes — Sunnylands, Indian Canyons and the tramway base station are each a 10-to-15-minute drive from downtown. Public transit in the Coachella Valley doesn’t connect them closely enough for a tight two-day trip.
Is Palm Springs Aerial Tramway open?
No — the tramway closes each September for annual preventative maintenance, per the tramway’s own site. Confirm current hours before building a visit around it.
What time does Indian Canyons open?
Hours depend on the season. The canyons are open daily from October through early July, and Friday through Sunday only from July through early October, per Indian Canyons’ own hours page.
Is Sunnylands free?
The center and gardens are free to enter, open Wednesday through Sunday. Only the guided house and open-air tours carry a separate fee.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the park, operator or provider before you go.
Updated September 23, 2026.