Palm Springs was one of those places I kept saying we should visit. So we finally packed up the car, brought Rocket, and headed east from LA. By the drive home, I was already thinking about our next visit.
Andy and I spent three nights there with our dog, and we found a few places we went back to every day. There was the wrap at Nature’s, coffee near our hotel, and a room setup that made bringing Rocket feel easy. We also explored Indian Canyons and took the aerial tramway into the clouds.
This three-day Palm Springs itinerary brings those experiences together with the planning details I’d want before going. I’ve adjusted the order in a few places and made some stops optional, so you can use it to plan your own trip instead of feeling like you need to recreate every meal we ate.
Disclosure: This trip was hosted by Visit Palm Springs. They arranged our stay and gave us a budget for food and activities, but we chose every place in this itinerary ourselves. This article also includes affiliate links (Booking.com, GetYourGuide and the Steller app); I may earn a commission if you book or download through them, at no extra cost to you.
If you’d rather watch first, here’s our trip in one Reel.
Watch our 3-day Palm Springs Reel on Instagram
Three days in Palm Springs at a glance
- Day 1: Downtown breakfast and photo stops, Nature’s for lunch, Moorten Botanical Garden, and dinner at Boozehounds. Add VillageFest if it’s Thursday.
- Day 2: Indian Canyons in the morning, a lunch stop, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in the afternoon, and dinner at Tac/Quila.
- Day 3: A slower downtown morning, a favorite café, pool time if your hotel schedule allows, and a date shake before leaving.
- Optional extra: Joshua Tree Coffee Company in Joshua Tree town. It’s a separate detour, not a quick stop in downtown Palm Springs.
Want these spots saved on your phone with my notes? I put the whole trip into a free guide on the Steller app. If the app opens to its home screen, search “gracefkim” to find it.
If you’re planning roughly 72 hours in Palm Springs, this gives you a mix of town, food and time outdoors. For three full sightseeing days, arrive the evening before day one. If your first day includes the drive from LA and hotel check-in, start with lunch or the garden and move the breakfast stops to day three.
You don’t need to fit every café into the trip. Pick the places that sound good to you and keep a little time open. Some of my favorite moments happened when we weren’t rushing to the next stop.
Before you go
Getting there and around
We drove from Los Angeles. Check your route for your actual departure time rather than building the day around a guaranteed two-and-a-half-hour drive.
Coming from out of state? Skip LAX and fly straight into Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), about 10 minutes from downtown. It has nonstop flights to around 30 airports, with more routes in the fall and winter.
A car is useful for this particular itinerary: downtown is one cluster, Moorten and Ace are farther south, and the tramway is a separate drive into Chino Canyon. You can walk between some downtown stops, but this is not an entirely walkable three-day route. If you’re relying on rideshares, check pickup arrangements for the canyons and tramway before setting out.
When to visit
Our trip was in October. Fall through spring generally makes more sense for this mix of outdoor exploring and patio meals; summer needs a different pace around the desert heat. Keep outdoor plans flexible, carry water, and check conditions before committing to a hike.
Pack a layer for the tramway even when it’s warm in town. The hotel-pool part of your trip and the mountain part can feel very different.
Check the days, not just the places
VillageFest is a Thursday-night event. Moorten’s current October–May schedule is 10 a.m.–4 p.m., closed Wednesdays. The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is closed Mondays. If your dates don’t match this order, swap the days around.
Planning update checked November 1, 2026: Indian Canyons has announced a November 15–22 closure. Check its official notices before making plans. Temporary closures, attraction hours and menus can change.
Bringing a dog
Rocket joined us for parts of the trip, including Moorten and dinner at Boozehounds, but this is not an entirely dog-friendly itinerary. The aerial tramway permits service animals only, and Indian Canyons does not allow pets.
Arrange suitable dog care for those outings, or replace them with a slower day of approved patios and time at your hotel. Confirm the hotel’s unattended-dog rules instead of assuming you can leave your dog in the room. Ask each venue about current pet seating and leash requirements, too. For more places that welcome dogs, see Visit Palm Springs’ guide to pet-friendly Palm Springs.
Where we stayed: Ace Hotel & Swim Club
We stayed at Ace Hotel & Swim Club with Rocket, and the outdoor setup made such a difference. Our ground-floor room had a patio with a fire pit, and it was easy to step outside for bathroom breaks or hang out together near the room. Rocket loved going between the room and the patio.
The pool was close by, which also made it easy to pop back to the room. I’d look for a room with outdoor space again, while confirming the exact category and dog-friendly availability directly with the hotel.
A little hack if you drive an EV: Ace has free Tesla charging for hotel guests, and it isn’t really advertised. I asked at the front desk, and they said it’s first come, first served. Ask when you check in, since a spot isn’t guaranteed.
I’ve written more about our room, pool music and pet-policy considerations in our Ace Hotel Palm Springs review.
You can check rates for Ace Hotel & Swim Club here.
Ace lists check-in after 4 p.m. and checkout at 11 a.m. Ask about luggage storage, pool access and any late-checkout request separately so your arrival and departure days work with your reservation.
Day 1: Downtown, cacti and dinner with Rocket
Breakfast at FARM, with an optional matcha stop
We went to FARM for French toast and chilaquiles. The courtyard setting was lovely, and the staff made breakfast feel relaxed. It’s the sort of place where I wanted to sit a little longer rather than immediately move on.
If you want a second drink stop, Mentosa had matcha I really enjoyed. I don’t say that lightly. You can also save it for another morning instead of turning breakfast into a café checklist.
Forever Marilyn and the PS I Love You sign
We walked around downtown and stopped by Forever Marilyn and the PS I Love You sign. Forever Marilyn is a 26-foot sculpture inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s scene in The Seven Year Itch.
What I remember most about that morning was how many people were outside enjoying their coffee. Give yourself time to wander between stops. These work well as short additions to a downtown morning rather than the whole reason to plan a separate outing.
Lunch at Nature’s Health Food & Cafe
Nature’s is a health-food market with a vegetarian café, so it’s a great stop for vegans and vegetarians. Its spicy chicken-style wrap became the thing we kept going back for. I genuinely think it’s one of the best wraps I’ve had. We returned every day of the trip.
It’s a separate stop from the downtown walking circuit, so factor in getting there. If you want to try the Power Date Shake too, you can order it here or save it for the last day like we did.
An afternoon at Moorten Botanical Garden
I was so intrigued by the different kinds of cacti at Moorten. Rocket came with us, and I also ended up talking with Clark Moorten, who owns the garden, about his newly adopted 11-year-old dog. That conversation was such a sweet part of the visit.
Make this an earlier afternoon stop rather than something you leave until sunset. The garden currently lists a 4 p.m. closing time during its October–May season and is closed Wednesdays. Adult admission was listed at $7 when checked; confirm current hours and pricing before visiting.
Sunset at the Visitor Center, then Boozehounds
We caught sunset at the Palm Springs Visitor Center, with the mountains behind it. It was beautiful in that evening light. This is on the north side of town, so allow time for the drive rather than treating it as another downtown walk. I’ve also photographed an engagement session here, so if you’re planning photos of your own, here’s my Palm Springs engagement photo guide.
Dinner was at Boozehounds, where Rocket had his own dog menu. We ordered him the salmon teriyaki, and he finished it so quickly. Having a dinner stop that included him was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Confirm current dog seating and menu options when you book.
Thursday night: VillageFest
If your visit includes a Thursday, leave some room after dinner for VillageFest. Palm Canyon Drive turns into an outdoor street fair with food, art and local vendors. We enjoyed browsing for things to bring home.
If sunset, dinner and the market make the evening feel crowded, skip the sunset stop or shorten your browsing time. On another night, have a slower dinner instead; VillageFest is not a nightly market.
Day 2: Palm oases and a ride into the mountains
Start with Koffi South
Koffi South was right near Ace, and the Cold Brew Fusion was so good. This is an easy coffee stop before heading out from the hotel. If you’re staying elsewhere, use the location that makes sense for your route rather than driving across town only to start the day.
Indian Canyons in the morning
We explored the palm oases at Indian Canyons during our trip. Those groves of native California fan palms were something I’d been looking forward to seeing. The canyons are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; use the official trail information and respect the rules for visiting the land.
For this suggested itinerary, I’ve put Indian Canyons before the tramway. The current schedule closes the canyons at 5 p.m., with last vehicle entry at 4 p.m., so leaving it until after a mountain outing gives you less flexibility.
We parked at the Trading Post and took the Palm Canyon Trail, which led us straight down into the palms. Choose a route that fits your ability and the conditions. Allow a morning block for a short visit and extend it if you choose a longer hike. Bring water and suitable shoes; don’t assume every section is shaded.
Adult admission is currently listed at $12. Check the official trail maps, weather and closure notice before going. Pets cannot join this stop.
I wish we’d had time for the Indian Canyons Jeep and hiking tour. It pairs a guided walk along Andreas Creek with a stop at the Palm Canyon overlook. If you want to book the tour, you can find it here.
Choose lunch at Café La Jefa or MAKKA
At Café La Jefa, we loved the breakfast sandwich and lox bagel. We also returned for a chagaccino. If you choose this stop, Covet is next door; I found a cute pink pin there.
MAKKA was another place we enjoyed for a quick bite. The bowl I ordered had so much flavor. I’d treat these as lunch alternatives in your itinerary, even though we visited both during our trip. You’ll have more breathing room for the tramway, and you can always return to the other café on day three.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in the afternoon
The tramway was one of the experiences that surprised me most. The rotating car climbs nearly 6,000 feet in about ten minutes, reaching Mountain Station at 8,516 feet above sea level.
It was cloudy when we went, so we didn’t get the sweeping valley view you might see in photos. I still loved the atmosphere of being up in the clouds. If the view is your main reason for going, check the mountain weather and tram camera before booking or setting out.
Set aside a few hours overall for the drive, parking, possible queues, the rides and time at the top. That is a planning allowance, not a claim that the ride itself takes hours. A longer hike needs additional time.
Bring a warm layer. The operator says Mountain Station is typically 30–40°F cooler than the desert floor. Adult online tickets were listed at $36.95, including a $2 processing fee, when checked. Verify current fares and parking charges separately. Pets are not permitted; service animals are allowed.
We booked our tram tickets online ahead of time. If you want to book yours, you can get tram tickets here.
Dinner at Tac/Quila, with optional drinks afterward
We had dinner outside at Tac/Quila and ordered a margarita flight and aguachile. The aguachile had just the right amount of spice for me, and the Tres Agaves cocktail was so good that we went back to Tac/Quila every night of our trip. Tip: it’s even better not on the rocks.
We also visited Bar Issi for drinks with Rocket. If you still feel like going out after dinner, it’s an option to keep in mind; confirm current dog seating before bringing yours. You can just as easily end the evening after dinner if you’ve spent most of the day exploring.
Day 3: A slower morning and a few repeat favorites
Palm Canyon Drive and the Cultural Plaza area
On our last morning, we walked along Palm Canyon Drive and around the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum area, spending time in pockets of town we hadn’t reached yet.
We didn’t have time to go inside, but walking around it was just as beautiful. If you want to visit the museum’s exhibitions, plan that as an additional activity. The museum is generally open Tuesday–Sunday, with a Monday closure; check its current visitor page and book accordingly. Allowing one to two hours is the museum’s own suggestion for a gallery visit.
We returned to Café La Jefa for a chagaccino. This is also a good morning for Mentosa if you skipped it on day one.
Pool time and one more stop at Nature’s
We enjoyed the hotel pool one last time before leaving. For your trip, fit a swim in before checkout or confirm whether you can use the pool afterward; don’t assume your room reservation automatically covers the whole departure day.
Then we went back to Nature’s again. I got the Power Date Shake, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. That would be my first order on a return visit.
On our way out of town, we drove past the Palm Springs sign.
Optional detour: Joshua Tree Coffee Company
We couldn’t head home without stocking up on our favorite espresso beans at Joshua Tree Coffee Company. We left with a five-pound bag, which lasts us months.
This shop is in Joshua Tree town, so treat it as a separate detour and check the drive time against your route back to LA. If you only have three days and want an easy departure, skip it. You can enjoy this Palm Springs itinerary without adding a national-park trip.
If Joshua Tree National Park is a priority, give it its own time by replacing a major outing or adding another day. Our coffee stop on this trip should not be read as a national-park itinerary.
My Joshua Tree guide has what you need to plan a park day.
What to book and budget for
Book your hotel first, including any pet approval and the full total with fees. Check attraction availability and current operating notices next, then arrange restaurant reservations around those outings.
For one adult, the currently listed Indian Canyons admission ($12), Moorten admission ($7), and tramway online fare ($36.95) total $55.95. That is only those three admissions, not a complete trip budget. Parking, meals, lodging, pet fees, museum admission and any extra activities are separate. Our hosted arrangements also mean I’m not presenting this as what we personally paid.
I would put more room in the schedule before adding more attractions. Choose a few meals you’re excited about and leave the rest flexible enough to revisit something you love.
Quick questions about a three-day Palm Springs trip
Is three days enough?
Yes, for this city-focused mix of food, downtown exploring, Indian Canyons and the tramway. If you want a full Joshua Tree National Park day, a spa day and more hiking too, add time or replace activities. Arrival and departure travel reduce your sightseeing hours.
Do you need a car?
For this route, a car makes the separate attraction clusters easier to manage. Downtown walking covers only part of the itinerary. If you prefer not to drive, simplify the route and confirm transportation to and from the attractions in advance.
Can you follow this itinerary with a dog?
Only with changes or suitable dog-care arrangements. Rocket joined several stops, but the tramway and Indian Canyons do not admit pets. A pet-friendly hotel does not mean every activity in the area welcomes dogs.
What would I go back for first?
The Power Date Shake and spicy wrap at Nature’s, another Cold Brew Fusion from Koffi, and more time at Ace with Rocket. Those repeat stops were a big part of what made the trip feel like ours.
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