The Best Times to Visit Palm Springs for Beautiful Weather and Great Deals (2024)

Palm Springs has long beckoned travelers with its midcentury architecture, spas, and innumerable glittering pools. The desert city can get uncomfortably hot in the summer, so many residents say the best time to visit is during the cooler months from October through May.

“Nine months out of the year, we have the best weather in the world, though I am a little biased,”Stella Adena, owner of online retailer Rancho Relaxo, tells Travel + Leisure. “The fall is particularly spectacular, because the temperature can drop 50 degrees between day and night," explains Adena, who has lived in Palm Springs for more than a decade. "You can enjoy the pool year-round, and then at night hop into cozy sweaters for fireside relaxation.”

Weather aside, deciding when to visit Palm Springs depends on your budget, preference for crowds, and ideal activities. The city's tourism seasons fall into three main categories:

• High Season:January to April
• Shoulder Season:September to December
• Low Season:May through August

Ready to plot your Palm Springs getaway?Read on for more about the best times to visit this desert oasis.

Best Times to Visit Palm Springs for Smaller Crowds

More than 14.4 million people visit Palm Springs each year, according to Visit Greater Palm Springs, but you can find thinner crowds during the hottest months from May through August.

“Summers are actually amazing in the desert, in spite of the heat,” Adena says. “Crowds are minimal, and you can take advantage of off-peak pricing at resorts. Pools are plentiful to fight the heat, or you can make easy day trips to higher elevations to enjoy drops in temperature.” One of her favorite ways to cool down? “Taking the tram up to Mount San Jacinto.”

Greg Purdy, vice president of public affairs for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, agrees, and also recommends October. Both “Fall and summer are the slower seasons; I think October is the ‘undiscovered’ month here in Palm Springs.”

Best Times to Visit Palm Springs for Good Weather

Palm Springs is a great year-round getaway for warm-weather seekers. In winter, days are sunny and mild with average highs in the mid-60s to mid-70s, dipping as low as the 40s at night. While summer sees average lows in the 70s, the daytime temperature can hit triple digits. The coolest times are in the early morning and after nightfall, though if you're averse to sweating it out in toasty temperatures, it may be better to book a trip in the fall, winter, or spring.

“The best weather in the greater Palm Springs area is from October through May,” shares Liz Ostoich, owner of area restaurants like Farm and Tac/Quila. To avoid the high season months, she recommends October through mid-December. According to Ostoich, it's the "perfect time to visit and beat the crowds while enjoying temperate weather.”

Best Times to Visit Palm Springs for Lower Prices

Flights are typically lowest in the summer, which is also the best time to snag harder-to-get restaurant reservations. Savvy travelers can often score deals at the best Palm Springs hotels during the low and shoulder seasons. It's also worth considering a midweek trip. Even during the busiest times of the year, hotels tend to have more vacancies midweek, and they may extend deals to guests willing to stay Monday through Friday.

Best Times to Visit Palm Springs for Festivals

Palm Springs offers several annual events worth traveling for throughout the year. The Palm Springs International Film Festival is held over nearly two weeks each January, while Palm Springs Pride is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community every fall.

Travelers might recognize the Greater Palms Springs area as a music festival destination. Coachella brings together some of music’s biggest stars over two weekends every April. Stagecoach, the country music version, kicks off two weekends later.

But you don’t need to plan your visit around these well-known events to attend a party in the Palm Springs area. Every Thursday, the town hosts VillageFest in Downtown Palm Springs, restricting vehicles from Palm Canyon Drive so pedestrians can roam the fair, digging into delicious eats, listening to live music, and toasting to a vacation well spent alongside locals.

Worst Time to Visit Palm Springs

There's no bad time to visit Palm Springs, which can make travelers indecisive. If you dislike hot weather, you might want to avoid the summer months, but even potentially sweltering temperatures might not be a deal-breaker. Thoughtful scheduling — such as hiking in the early morning or near sundown, when temperatures are more manageable — can make a trip feasible in the low season.

“The winter months in Palm Springs provide an escape for folks who live in cold climates, but there really isn’t a season that I don’t enjoy our weather,” Purdy says, "as long as my air conditioner keeps working.”