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Major city · United States

Salton City

Skip Salton City as a base: it's a near-ghost town with few services. Drive through for the Salton Sea views and abandoned marina, then sleep in Indio or El Centro.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Salton City was planned as a resort town in the 1950s but the Salton Sea's decline left it with empty lots, abandoned buildings and a marina too shallow for boats. About 4,800 people live here now. There is one motel, a handful of rental houses and no real restaurant scene. Most travellers use it as a 30-minute photo stop on the way to Slab City or Palm Springs.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Nov–Apr
avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat, over 40°C (104°F))
Airports
PSP · SAN
Nights
0

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Salton City: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
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

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

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 Salton City911 ▾
  • Police, Fire, Ambulance911

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 Salton City, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
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.

Salton Sea shorelineAbandoned marinaGhost-town atmosphereCheap land
Airports
PSP Palm Springs International (About 1 h 15 min drive) · SAN San Diego International (About 2 h 15 min drive)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    35°C (95°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    40°C (104°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    42°C (108°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    41°C (106°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    38°C (100°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (42°C (108°F)), coolest Jan (6°C (43°F) low), wettest Jan (3 rain days), driest May (0). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Salton City: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

21°C (70°F)

6°C (43°F)

3 rd

Feb

23°C (73°F)

8°C (46°F)

3 rd

Mar

26°C (79°F)

11°C (52°F)

2 rd

Apr

30°C (86°F)

14°C (57°F)

1 rd

May

35°C (95°F)

18°C (64°F)

0 rd

Jun

40°C (104°F)

22°C (72°F)

0 rd

Jul

42°C (108°F)

26°C (79°F)

1 rd

Aug

41°C (106°F)

25°C (77°F)

1 rd

Sep

38°C (100°F)

21°C (70°F)

1 rd

Oct

32°C (90°F)

15°C (59°F)

1 rd

Nov

25°C (77°F)

9°C (48°F)

2 rd

Dec

21°C (70°F)

6°C (43°F)

2 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

Car is essential. No public transport within Salton City. The main road is CA-86 / S86.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Slab Citygo

Door to door: 30 min

CA-86 north then east on CA-111, about 20 min

Off-grid art community; check if Salvation Mountain is open.

El Centrogo

Door to door: 1 h

CA-86 south, about 50 min

County seat with services and restaurants.

Palm Springs

go

Door to door: 1 h 15 min

CA-86 north to I-10 west, about 1 h

Resort town with shopping and dining.

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.

Indio / Palm Springs

30–40 min drive; full hotel and restaurant options.

El Centro

About 50 min drive; budget motels.

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

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$0 (pass-through)
Mid
$0 (pass-through)
High
$0 (pass-through)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
No overnight stay2 × 3 nights × US$0US$0
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × US$1US$6
Trip total≈ US$1 per person per day, bed includedUS$6

2026 estimate; no overnight costs for a pass-through stop.

Prices of common things

Gas (Indio or El Centro)check$4–5 per gallon
Bottled water (convenience store)$2–3

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low crime but extreme heat and isolation are the real risks. No cell signal in parts of the area.
  • Summer heat: carry water, no shade at the marina.
  • Flash floods can wash out roads after storms.
  • No gas station in town: fill up in Indio or El Centro.
  • Many lots are private property; do not trespass.

Emergency numbers

Police, Fire, Ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Salton CitySalton City

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Emergency

  • Police, Fire, Ambulance911

Embassy

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Palm Springs → Salton City: about 1 h 15 min drive
  • El Centro → Salton City: about 50 min drive
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 Salton City. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat, over 40°C) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Salton City

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