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Palm Springs Spots

Day trips

Beyond Palm Springs

These towns are not part of Greater Palm Springs. They sit outside the Coachella Valley — high desert, mountain, or lakebed — and they change the character of a trip completely. Everything here is a drive from a valley base, or a night or two on its own.

Staying in the valley? Start with hotels in Greater Palm Springs and things to do in the valley. The nine core cities are listed on our cities page.

Where to go

The four day trips we cover

Joshua Tree, California

Joshua Tree

National park day trip an hour north

Drive from Palm Springs: about 45–60 min

Pioneertown, California

Pioneertown

Old film-set street and Pappy & Harriet's

Drive from Palm Springs: about 1 hr 10 min

Idyllwild, California

Idyllwild

Pine forest an hour up the mountain

Drive from Palm Springs: about 1 hr 15 min

Salton Sea, California

Salton Sea

Strange, stark shoreline south of the valley

Drive from Palm Springs: about 1 hr

Where to stay

Stays outside the valley

Desert cabins, motels and campgrounds in the gateway towns — separate from our Greater Palm Springs hotel list.

What to see

Things to do beyond the valley

National park stops, art sites and lakebed landmarks that need a dedicated day, not an afternoon.

Where to eat

Food on the way out there

Small-town kitchens and roadhouses. Hours change with the season, so call before a long drive.

Cafe Aroma

Italian · Idyllwild · $$

Art-covered cafe with live jazz, wine and a shaded garden patio under the pines. Cafe Aroma is a italian spot in Idyllwild. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. It works for a date night. Kids are comfortable here. Best for lunch, live music. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Cafe Aroma
PatioBrunch

Crossroads Cafe

American · Joshua Tree · $$

The climbers' canteen: big breakfasts, veggie-heavy plates and a permanent queue on weekends. Crossroads Cafe is a american spot in Joshua Tree. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. Kids are comfortable here. Best for breakfast before the park. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Crossroads Cafe
PatioBrunch

Ferro

Italian · Idyllwild · $$

Idyllwild's date-night Italian, pizza and pasta with a wine list. Ferro is a italian spot in Idyllwild. Prices sit in the mid range. Worth knowing: wine list, patio. Served here: dinner. Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-9pm. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. You get a view from the tables. It works for a date night. Best for dinner in the mountains. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Ferro
Patio

Gastrognome

American · Idyllwild · $$

Idyllwild's long-standing sit-down restaurant, with a fireplace and mountain-town portions. Gastrognome is a american spot in Idyllwild. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: brunch, lunch, dinner. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. It works for a date night. Kids are comfortable here. Best for dinner in the pines. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Gastrognome
PatioBrunch

Idyllwild Brewpub

American · Idyllwild · $$

Mountain brewpub with house beers, burgers and a big deck under the pines. Idyllwild Brewpub is a american spot in Idyllwild. Prices sit in the mid range. Worth knowing: craft beer, deck, mountain views. Served here: lunch, dinner, happy hour. Hours: Daily 11:30am-9pm. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. You get a view from the tables. Kids are comfortable here. Dogs are welcome on the patio. Best for lunch in the pines. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Idyllwild Brewpub
PatioHappy hourDog friendly

Joshua Tree Coffee Company

Cafe · Joshua Tree · $

Small-batch roaster and walk-up coffee bar on the way to the park. Joshua Tree Coffee Company is a cafe spot in Joshua Tree. Prices sit in the budget range — easy for a quick, cheap meal. Worth knowing: coffee, roaster, patio. Served here: breakfast. Hours: Daily 7am-4pm. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. Kids are comfortable here. Dogs are welcome on the patio. Best for coffee before the park. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Joshua Tree Coffee Company
PatioDog friendly

Joshua Tree Saloon

American · Joshua Tree · $$

Burgers, cold beer and live music a mile from the park entrance. Joshua Tree Saloon is a american spot in Joshua Tree. Prices sit in the mid range. Served here: breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. Kids are comfortable here. Best for post-hike burger and beer. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Joshua Tree Saloon
PatioBrunch

La Copine

Californian · Flamingo Heights · $$$

A cult high-desert restaurant in a converted roadside building, with a short seasonal menu. La Copine is a californian spot in Flamingo Heights, Joshua Tree. Prices sit in the upper-mid range. Served here: brunch, lunch, dinner. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. It works for a date night. Best for destination lunch, date night. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

La Copine
PatioBrunch

Natural Sisters Cafe

Vegetarian · Joshua Tree · $

Vegetarian cafe for breakfast burritos, smoothies and trail-ready sandwiches. Natural Sisters Cafe is a vegetarian spot in Joshua Tree. Prices sit in the budget range — easy for a quick, cheap meal. Served here: breakfast, brunch, lunch. There is outdoor seating, which is the point most of the year here — though patios are rough in July and August without misters. Kids are comfortable here. Best for breakfast before the park. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Natural Sisters Cafe
PatioBrunch

Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace

Barbecue · Mane Street · $$

Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace is the desert's most famous roadhouse: a honky-tonk built on a 1940s Western movie set in Pioneertown, 45 minutes north of Palm Springs near Joshua Tree. Mesquite-grilled barbecue and Tex-Mex come out of the kitchen, but the reason people drive out is the stage — a lineup that mixes local bands with genuinely major acts who play the 300-capacity room, plus the outdoor stage for bigger shows. The bar is open late, the crowd is a mix of locals, bikers, festival-goers and tourists, and the parking lot under the stars is half the experience. Pair it with a Joshua Tree day trip.

Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace
PatioBrunch

Ski Inn

American · Bombay Beach · $

The lowest bar and grill in the western hemisphere, papered in dollar bills. Ski Inn is a american spot in Bombay Beach, Salton Sea. Prices sit in the budget range — easy for a quick, cheap meal. Worth knowing: dive bar, burgers. Served here: lunch, dinner, happy hour. Hours: Daily 11am-8pm. Seating is indoors, a genuine advantage in high summer. Dogs are welcome on the patio. Best for a salton sea landmark stop. Desert restaurants change hours seasonally and some close for part of the summer, so call ahead between June and September.

Ski Inn
Happy hourDog friendly

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