Palm Springs with Teenagers: Things to Do & a Weekend Plan

Choose a main outing together

Ask each teen for one activity they would want to do even if it were the only booked stop that day. Use those answers to choose the hotel area and the main outing.

Keep the rest flexible. One substantial activity, a meal and hotel time can make a more enjoyable day than a long list of stops. Let interests guide the choice instead of assuming every teenager wants the same kind of adventure.

Use the family overview for the wider trip and the options below for a plan aimed at older children.

The Tramway: a mountain experience

The Aerial Tramway guide covers the ride and the mountain visit. Choose whether the outing is mainly about the station and views or also includes a walk.

Read the operator's hiking guidance and mountain forecast before selecting a route. Footwear, layers, terrain and current conditions matter even when it is warm at your hotel.

Give the outing its own time, including transport to Valley Station and the return. A mountain activity should not be squeezed between a late breakfast and an inflexible afternoon appointment.

Surf Club: book the right experience

Palm Springs Surf Club offers surf sessions by ability as well as a seasonal waterpark. General waterpark admission and a booked surf experience are different choices, so check what your purchase includes.

The operator's surf-pool rules require participants to be at least 42 inches tall and able to swim independently. A signed waiver is mandatory. Match the session to the surfer's experience, and check beginner availability for your dates.

Confirm equipment rentals, seasonal operations and the rules for everyone in the party before paying. A teen who wants to learn and an experienced surfer may need different sessions.

A private escape game for puzzle fans

Escape Room Palm Springs lists private, 60-minute games, with different themes and player minimums and maximums. This can give the group a shared challenge when you want an indoor activity.

Read the individual room description. Choose the theme, difficulty and group size together, and ask the operator about age suitability and participation requirements for the room you intend to book.

Allow time for arrival and the operator's briefing. The listed game duration is only one part of the outing.

Air Museum and Art Museum: check the actual age

The Air Museum's admission page lists ages 13–17 at $24, compared with $26 for adults 18–64. It also lists a family pack for two adults and two teens at $84. Confirm the right categories and checkout total for your group.

Use the Air Museum guide to plan the visit. A general admission ticket and a separately booked aircraft ride have different rules and inclusions.

At the Palm Springs Art Museum, admission is free for under-18s. An 18- or 19-year-old should check the adult or eligible discounted category. The main museum normally closes Monday–Wednesday.

The Art Museum guide covers the wider visit. Choose the exhibitions for the group's interests and leave room for a meal or a short downtown walk afterward.

A concert or game at Acrisure Arena

Check the event calendar for a concert or game that the group actually wants to attend. The arena visitor guide covers mobile tickets, bags, parking and the return journey.

Read the specific event's age and admission requirements before buying. A general impression that a venue is family-friendly does not establish the rules for every performance.

Make the evening's travel and meal plan before leaving the hotel. Keep phone battery for mobile tickets and the trip back.

A flexible two-night weekend

Arrival evening: check in, have dinner nearby and agree on the next day's main activity. Keep a late arrival simple.

Full day: choose one main outing from the list above, with transport and a meal built around it. Leave a hotel break afterward. An arena event can be the evening focus if the timing works for the group.

Departure day: choose breakfast and an optional nearby stop. Confirm the attraction's opening day before promising another museum, and keep the return journey in view.

For poor outdoor conditions, use the indoor activity guide. An indoor alternative should match the teenagers' interests too; the age focus of an attraction matters.

Hotel rooms, meals and the full cost

Compare the room's actual beds, occupancy, privacy and total price. A hotel room that technically sleeps four may not offer the sleeping arrangement your family wants. Check any connecting-room request directly with the property.

Use the area comparison to choose the base. If simple meal preparation matters, investigate hotels with kitchens and confirm the facilities in the specific room.

Add tickets using each person's actual age, plus transport and meals, with the trip-cost planner. The packing list helps distinguish hotel clothes from surf or mountain gear.

Activity and admission details checked October 15, 2026 against operator sources. Follow current schedules, session requirements and checkout terms.