El Paseo

El Paseo runs parallel to Highway 111 for about a mile, lined with independent galleries, sculpture on the median and restaurants that put their tables outside from October through May. It is the part of Palm Desert where you can park once and spend an evening on foot.

Hotels sit either directly on El Paseo or a short drive north on Highway 111. Staying here suits travellers who want dinner and browsing without a car, and who are happy to drive 20 minutes for Palm Springs nightlife or 15 minutes for golf at Desert Willow.

Sunday brings the strongest crowds in season; midsummer sees shortened hours and some galleries closed entirely.

El Paseo is one of the areas we track in Palm Desert. This page pulls together everything on PalmSpots that sits inside it, so you can judge whether it is the right base for your trip rather than guessing from a map pin.

Where to stay in El Paseo: Hotel Paseo, Autograph Collection. Rates in this part of Palm Desert follow the same pattern as the rest of the valley — highest from January through April and on festival weekends, softest in July and August.

Eating and drinking nearby: Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Cafe, Cuistot, Pacifica Seafood Restaurant, Pierre's Steakhouse. Reservations matter in high season, and several kitchens shorten their hours in late summer.

Things to do in and around El Paseo: El Paseo Art in Public Places, El Paseo.

Getting around: distances in the Coachella Valley are deceptive. Neighbouring areas look close together but the valley runs about 45 miles end to end, so plan on a car for anything outside a walkable downtown core, and budget more driving time on festival weekends when Highway 111 and the I-10 back up.

The free El Paseo courtesy shuttle runs in high season and saves circling for parking on Saturday evenings.