If you’re new here, we’re a fulltime travel family of five, and we recently had the absolute pleasure of spending a month in the Palm Springs area. So today I’m going to share some of our favorite things to do in Palm Springs with kids!

Truthfully, Palm Springs with kids hadn’t really been on my radar, and we only ended up there because we were hoping to meet a bunch of other fulltime RV families. Which we did! The Thousand Trails RV park in Palm Springs is a fulltime travel family hot spot in winter. Mission accomplished!

But we actually thoroughly enjoyed Palm Springs as a family destination in itself! There are so many things to do in Palm Springs with kids that we didn’t even finish our whole list after a month. If you’re planning a family road trip, I can’t recommend our Yoto players enough as a family travel lifesaver. Now let’s get to the Palm Springs ideas!

Things to do in Palm Springs: Cultural Experiences

Palm Springs Art Museum

The Palm Springs Art Museum is small, but mighty! It’s got a bunch of fun modern art and works by local artists. They even offer free admission on Thursday nights! Just be sure to register in advance.

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is a brand, new museum dedicated to the area’s original inhabitants. We always prioritize learning about the Indigenous people of the areas we visit, and this museum is really great opportunity to do so. It’s a small museum that will take just a couple of hours max. Keep an eye on the calendar for special events and family days.

Moorten Botanical Garden

The Moorten Botanical Garden is an adorable, family-run garden that costs just $5 to get in. The indoor cacti are particularly amazing, dubbed “the world’s first cactarium.” Go early in the day if you want cactarium pictures without other people in them.

Robolights

Robolights is an amazing outdoor art exhibit created by local homeowner Kenny Irwin. You can see the giant sculptures from outside the fence, or you can text Kenny in advance for an appointment to come inside. Be aware that Kenny expects a purchase or donation at the end of the tour. These sculptures are amazing, though!

Palm Springs Air Museum

The Palm Springs Air Museum is a fun stop for any kiddos who love things that go. Adult admission isn’t super cheap, but kids 12 and under are free!

Rent Bikes to Explore the Colorful Sights

Downtown Palm Springs is SO colorful and retro that just admiring the fun and funky colors is an outing in itself! Rent bikes (or bring your own) and jaunt around town checking out the street art, the famous Saguaro Palm Springs hotel, and the residents’ colorful doors. Here are a few brightly colored doors to mark on your list (be sure to be respectful and stay off of their lawns and walkways!):

• 2396 S Sierra Madre
• 2439 E Via Lazo
• 2455 E Via Lazo
• 2297 S Camino Real
• 1099 E Sierra Way
• 2344 S Yosemite
• 2063 Madrona Drive
• 1500 Lobo Way
• 1947 Cadiz Circle

To make it even more fun for the kids, consider printing out a rainbow scavenger hunt so the kids can check off door colors as you find them! My kids find any “adult” activity more fun if there’s a scavenger hunt involved.

Things to do in Palm Springs: Hiking

Palm Canyon

Palm Springs has a surprising amount of gorgeous hiking nearby, and this hike was our favorite! The hike in Palm Canyon is as long or as short a hike as you want to make it, and it’s relatively flat once you walk down into the canyon. It’s on the Agua Caliente reservation so you do have to pay to enter, but I promise that it’s worth it!

Willis Palm Oasis

Willis Palm Oasis is right outside of Palm Springs and is a super easy hike in the Coachella Valley Preserve. If you’re looking for even easier and free-er than Palm Canyon, this hike is a good one. We did not complete the whole loop because we were with friends; we just walked to the second oasis and back.

Ladder Canyon

Ladder Canyon is about an hour from Palm Springs, but totally worth the drive! It’s by far the hardest hike on this list; my phone clocked us as walking almost 7 miles. There are also multiple tall ladders involved, so it’s not for toddlers unless you’re wearing them. The drive out is bumpy and we appreciated having 4 wheel drive for it, although we did see sedans parked at the trailhead. All that said, the slot canyons are amazing and super fun if you’re up for a challenge! As always with slot canyons, don’t go if it’s raining anywhere nearby. Flash floods are dangerous!

Things to do in Palm Springs: Food Experiences

San Marcos Date Farm

San Marcos Date Farm is just outside Palm Desert and a super fun stop for families interested in where our food comes from. You can purchase local dates and take a guided tour of the farm for a nominal fee. City kids will especially love seeing the animals on the farm.

Canyon Creek Mushrooms

Canyon Creek Mushrooms is a less rural stop, but in the same vein of learning how food is grown! You can take a tour of the facility and then purchase fresh mushrooms to take with you.

Great Shakes

Great Shakes is right on the main drag in Palm Springs and has super fun milkshakes that kids of all ages will love! It’s a must-stop while in town with a family.

Cafe La Jefa

This adorable coffee shop is less for the kids and more for the grown-ups who need to refuel to take care of said kids. The adorable interior is super instagrammable, and the coffee is yum! Stop in for a coffee break here, you deserve it.

Things to do in Palm Springs: Day Trips

Joshua Tree National Park

If you’re headed to Palm Springs and you haven’t yet been to Joshua Tree National Park, it’s a must! You could spend days just in this park admiring the joshua trees (did you know they inspired Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax?) and climbing fun boulders. If you’re short on time, we recommend the following stops:

• Rock climbing at Skull Rock
• Walk the short Hidden Valley Nature Trail and hope to spot some wildlife
• Check out Arch Rock and Heart Rock for fun photo opps
• Stroll the magical Cholla Cactus Garden at sunset

Don’t forget to stop at a visitor’s center so you can get your kiddos their junior ranger badges!

Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain is a fun art installation about 90 minutes from Palm Springs that’s worth the drive if you like funky outdoor art. It’s a SoCal icon, and it makes for super bright and bold pictures.

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I hope this guide to things to do in Palm Springs with kids was helpful as you plan your trip! If you need ideas for how we keep our kids entertained and busy on long road trips, check out our roadschooling list. For more of our adventures, check out these posts:

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