Major city · United States
Desert Hot Springs
Go for 1–2 nights if you want mineral pools at your hotel; skip it as a sightseeing base — Palm Springs is 30 min away and has the restaurants.
Desert Hot Springs is a small Coachella Valley town built on hot mineral water: the wells run as hot as 140°F (60°C) and are cooled into soaking pools, and most hotels double as spas. There is almost no sightseeing beyond Cabot's Pueblo Museum and the Mission Creek Preserve, so you come here to soak, sleep and drive out to Joshua Tree. A car is effectively required.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- avoid Jun–Sep (110°F/43°C (109°F)+ days)avoid Jun–Sep (110°F/109°F (43°C)+ days)
- Airports
- PSP · ONT · LAX
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Desert Hot Springs911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Desert Hot Springs Police (non-emergency)760-329-6411
- Poison Control (24 h)1-800-222-1222
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Desert Hot Springs, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyLow street crime for a US town of its size; the genuine risks are desert heat, long unlit drives at night and dehydration.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 760-329-6411 Desert Hot Springs Police (non-emergency) · 1-800-222-1222 Poison Control (24 h)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPSP Palm Springs International (About 20–25 min by car via Indian Canyon Drive or Gene Autry Trail/Palm Drive.).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: the town is spread along Palm Drive and there is no useful local transit for visitors.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$4–6
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, per personTip 18–22% on the pre-tax total.$25–45
- Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$12–18
- BeerBeer at a neighbourhood bar$6–9
- Budget bedBudget motel or chain room, a night, per roomUS$90
- Mid-range bedBudget motel or chain room, a night, per roomUS$130
- High-end bedBudget motel or chain room, a night, per roomUS$180
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$320
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PSP Palm Springs International (About 20–25 min by car via Indian Canyon Drive or Gene Autry Trail/Palm Drive.) · ONT Ontario International (About 1 h 15 min by car on I-10 East.) · LAX Los Angeles International (About 2–2.5 h by car; I-10 East to the Palm Drive exit.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Feb
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Mar
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Apr
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
May
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jun
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Jul
Avoid
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
Aug
Avoid
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
Sep
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Oct
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Dec
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)), coolest Jan (6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C) low), wettest Jan (3 rain days), driest Jun (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Desert Hot Springs: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
3 rd
Feb
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3 rd
Mar
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2 rd
Apr
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
1 rd
May
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
Jun
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Jul
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
1 rd
Aug
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
1 rd
Sep
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
1 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Nov
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
2 rd
Dec
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
3 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: the town is spread along Palm Drive and there is no useful local transit for visitors. Palm Springs is about 30 min by car, Joshua Tree's west entrance about 30 min north on CA 62. Rideshare exists but waits can be long at night; taxis are few.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 30–40 min to the gate
CA 62 north to the west entrance near Joshua Tree village
Go at opening; summer afternoons are dangerously hot. Park entry is a per-vehicle fee — check current rates.
Door to door: About 30 min
Indian Canyon Drive or Gene Autry Trail north
Where the restaurants, nightlife and the aerial tramway are; easy dinner run.
Door to door: About 40 min
I-10 East
Mostly a festival and date-farm town; only worth it during events.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
CA 243 via Banning, mountain road
Pines and cooler air; a full day or an overnight in summer.
Door to door: About 1 h 45 min
I-10 East
Too far for a day return; a fuel-and-food stop on the way to Arizona.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Palm Drive corridor
The main strip: most spa hotels, the highest concentration of pools, walkable to a few restaurants and bars.
Two Bunch Palms Trail area
Resort cluster north-east of the centre; quieter, still a short drive to Palm Drive.
Around Desert View Avenue
Near Cabot's Pueblo Museum; residential and spread out, car needed for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $90–140 excl. bed
- Mid
- $150–250 excl. bed
- High
- $300+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Spa-hotel double room with pool access1 × 2 nights × US$220 | US$440 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$160 | US$640 |
| Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · check | US$70 |
| Joshua Tree entry, one vehicle1 × US$30 · check current rate | US$30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$122 |
| Trip total≈ US$336 per person per day, bed included | US$1,342 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax and resort fees extra. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $4–6 |
| Diner breakfast | $12–18 |
| Casual lunch or Thai main | $12–20 |
| Sit-down dinner, per personTip 18–22% on the pre-tax total. | $25–45 |
| Beer at a neighbourhood bar | $6–9 |
| Spa day pass at a hotel you are not staying atcheck; many resorts are guests-only | $25–60 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Summer heat is the real hazard: June–September days often top 43°C (110°F); carry water and do not hike at midday.Summer heat is the real hazard: June–September days often top 110°F (43°C); carry water and do not hike at midday.
- Some resorts are adults-only, clothing-optional or couples-only — confirm the policy before booking.
- Cell phones are banned in public areas at some retreat-style resorts; check the house rules.
- Distances between hotels and restaurants are longer than they look; plan to drive after dark.
- Sales tax is added at checkout, and spa resort fees are common: ask for the total nightly rate.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Desert Hot Springs Police (non-emergency)
- 760-329-6411
- Poison Control (24 h)
- 1-800-222-1222
Pocket card
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Desert Hot SpringsDesert Hot Springs
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Police non-emergency760-329-6411
- Poison Control1-800-222-1222
Embassy
No consulates here; nearest consulates-general are in Los Angeles. Check your country's embassy page for after-hours numbers.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- PSP airport → Desert Hot Springs by car: about 20–25 min; rideshare roughly $35–55 (check)
- Desert Hot Springs → Palm Springs: about 30 min by car
- Desert Hot Springs → Joshua Tree west entrance: about 30–40 min via CA 62
Say or show
- Where is the hot spring pool? — Where is the hot spring pool?
- Is the pool adults only? — Is the pool adults only?
- Do you have a day pass? — Do you have a day pass?
- Is the resort fee included? — Is the resort fee included?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is there water in the room? — Is there water in the room?
Carry more water than you think you need; summer daytime heat is the main risk.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Desert Hot Springs. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr · avoid Jun–Sep (110°F/43°C+ days) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for PSP: last-mile drive times, rideshare fallback, late-arrival check-in rules.
- Spa-hotel shortlist with verified soak hours, day-pass policy and adults-only or clothing-optional flags.
- Joshua Tree gate timing and heat cutoffs by month, so the day trip can go green or red.
- Eat pages for the Palm Drive strip with last orders and card-or-cash notes.
Sources
Ask about Desert Hot Springs
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