Shopping in the Coachella Valley: Malls, Districts & Outlets Worth the Trip
From The Shops at Palm Desert to El Paseo and the Cabazon Outlets
PalmSpots Editors · Published Sep 4, 2026 · Updated Oct 11, 2026
Shopping in the Coachella Valley splits into four very different experiences: an enclosed mall, open-air lifestyle centers, a luxury boulevard, and one of the best outlet malls in the West. Here is what each one actually offers, with the hours and details people search for.
The valley's shopping is spread across four cities, so picking the right destination before you get in the car matters — especially in summer, when the difference between an air-conditioned mall and an open-air center is the difference between a good day and a short one.
The Shops at Palm Desert — the valley's enclosed mall
The only traditional enclosed shopping mall in the Coachella Valley, anchored by Macy's and JCPenney with roughly 150 stores — Apple, H&M, lululemon, Sephora, and the usual national lineup — plus a food court. The mall's own movie theater, Palm Desert 10 Cinemas, closed permanently in 2023, so for a film head to Cinemark Century at The River in Rancho Mirage instead. Mall hours are typically 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. on Sundays, but individual stores and holiday hours vary, so check the mall's site before a special trip. In July and August this is the smartest shopping destination in the desert: fully air-conditioned with a parking garage.
El Paseo, Palm Desert — the luxury boulevard
The "Rodeo Drive of the desert": a mile of designer boutiques, galleries, jewelers, and some of the valley's best restaurants. Open-air, so it is a November-through-April pleasure and an early-morning-only proposition in summer. We have a full dedicated guide — start there for the store-by-store picture.
The River at Rancho Mirage — dining and strolling
An open-air lifestyle center built around a man-made river, fronted by the Rancho Las Palmas resort across Bob Hope Drive. The draw here is less the shops than the combination: restaurants with patios, a movie theater, fountains, and evening events. It is the best "shopping plus dinner out" answer in the mid-valley, especially after dark in season.
Rancho Las Palmas Shopping Center — the practical stop
Right across from The River, this is the valley's everyday workhorse center: grocery, pharmacy, national casual chains, and services. Not a destination in itself, but genuinely useful if you are staying in Rancho Mirage or Palm Desert and need the practical stuff.
Downtown Palm Springs and the Uptown Design District
Palm Canyon Drive mixes souvenir shops with genuinely good local boutiques, and Thursday's VillageFest street fair closes the street to traffic in the evening (in season). Ten minutes north, the Uptown Design District is the vintage and mid-century furniture capital — the place for modernist antiques, and a must if the architecture tour got you inspired.
Desert Hills Premium Outlets, Cabazon — the big one
Twenty minutes west of Palm Springs on I-10: 180 stores including Gucci, Prada, Burberry, and Saint Laurent alongside Nike and lululemon. Consistently rated among the best outlet centers in the country. Go on a weekday morning; Saturday afternoons in season are gridlock.
Seasonal wildcards
- College of the Desert Street Fair (Palm Desert): hundreds of vendors on weekend mornings, October through May. Part flea market, part craft fair, all local color.
- Certified farmers markets: Palm Springs (Saturday), Palm Desert (Wednesday and Saturday), and La Quinta (Sunday) in season — produce, dates, and desert honey.
FAQ
- What are The Shops at Palm Desert mall hours?
- The Shops at Palm Desert is typically open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. on Sundays. Individual store and holiday hours vary, so check the mall website before visiting.
- What is the best shopping in the Coachella Valley?
- It depends on the goal: The Shops at Palm Desert for an enclosed mall, El Paseo for luxury boutiques, The River at Rancho Mirage for shopping plus dining, the Uptown Design District for vintage and mid-century finds, and Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon for outlet deals.
- Is The River in Rancho Mirage worth visiting?
- Yes, especially in the evening — it combines restaurants with patios, a movie theater, and fountains along a man-made riverfront. It is the best shopping-and-dinner combination in the mid-valley.
- Where are the outlet malls near Palm Springs?
- Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, about 20 minutes west on I-10, has around 180 stores including Gucci, Prada, and Burberry. The smaller Cabazon Outlets sit directly across the street.
- What is the Rancho Las Palmas shopping center?
- A practical open-air center in Rancho Mirage across from The River, with grocery, pharmacy, and national casual chains — the everyday shopping stop for the mid-valley rather than a tourist destination.
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