3 Days in Palm Springs Itinerary (on a Budget)

Trying to plan a long weekend getaway — or easy addition to your Southern California trip — that actually feels worth it without overspending? Palm Springs might be exactly what you’re looking for. 

I recently visited for the third time, and got to experience even more of the city — from one of the most incredible hikes I’ve ever done, to the cutest botanical garden that’s been around for decades. 

And while Palm Springs does seem kind of bougie, I promise it’s all doable on a budget! 

Here, I’ve narrowed down the very best of my three visits — from gorgeous desert scenery to hidden springs just minutes outside of the city. 

If you’re a first-time visitor trying to experience Palm Springs without spending $300/day, this is for you. This 3-day Palm Springs itinerary will help you plan the perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, and culture, without wasting money or time figuring it all out yourself.

To follow this guide, I recommend getting a hotel in the Downtown area (I’ve got a couple of recommendations for you at the end of this itinerary), and renting a car. While you won’t need a car within Downtown, it will give you way more flexibility (and help you save a ton of money on Ubers!).

Day 1: Moorten Botanical Garden, Agua Caliente Cultural Center, Downtown

Moorten Botanical Garden

This is truly one of the city’s gems, and has become one of my favorite affordable things to do in Palm Springs. Start off your day here, before the weather gets too hot. Moorten’s has been around for over 70 years, and costs just $7 to visit, making it the perfect budget-friendly excursion. 

At first glance, the garden doesn’t seem huge. But you could easily spend an hour meandering, reading all the little notes about the various cacti, taking photos, and browsing the ceramics and plants for sale. 

🚗 Parking: There’s a free lot with plenty of space right outside of the garden. In the event that it’s full, you should be able to find street parking. 

Lunch

When I was planning my own recent trip, I didn’t even realize that El Mirasol is just a couple minutes away from the garden — so I was pleasantly surprised by how perfect of a lunch choice it ended up being!

This is a cute Mexican restaurant that’s been around since 1985. Prices aren’t the lowest, but portions are large, and it was a really satisfying meal. I had enchiladas, while my husband got crispy tacos, and we both enjoyed our meals. 

Alternative: Gabinos is also right around the corner and is another budget-friendly option that I’ve heard good things about. They serve crepes with interesting combinations like chicken caesar. It’s kind of easy to miss — you order from a little window nook, but it’s just a few steps away from El Mirasol, down a little alleyway.

Visit Agua Caliente Cultural Center

By this time of day, the heat is probably getting a bit intense, so let’s head indoors.

Agua Caliente Cultural Center, located in Downtown Palm Springs, is entirely dedicated to the local Indigenous tribe and their history starting with their creation story, leading up to today. 

Particularly if it’s your first time in Palm Springs, this museum will give you so much important context to the region and its people. I visited for the first time on my most recent trip, and I walked away with way more appreciation for the local history.

I’m so glad my husband and I came here before going to hike in Indian Canyons (which is coming up on Day 2 of this Palm Springs travel guide). 

This museum offered a ton of fascinating context about the area, including the spiritual and cultural significance of the surrounding land. This cultural center really made me appreciate the hike on a new level — so if you need to reorganize things for your own three-day Palm Springs itinerary, I’d still recommend making it to this museum first!

The museum is $10, or $5 with a student ID, and is closed on Mondays.

🚗 Parking: You’ll find tons of free parking all around Downtown Palm Springs. Coming from LA County, I was truly shocked, but there are giant lots all around that offer unlimited parking, as well as plenty of street spots.

(While I highly, highly recommend coming here, I get that not everyone’s a museum person — so if that’s you, just spend this time exploring Downtown or relaxing at your hotel pool!)

Explore Downtown

While some cities that are known as vacation destinations can have really touristy downtowns, Palm Springs strikes that balance between tourist-friendly and still cool.

You’ll find tons of different shops to pop into, but one of my favorite things about Downtown is the public art you’ll find scattered around the city, like the 26-foot-tall Marilyn Monroe statue, or the two statues of Agua Caliente women, near the cultural center. 

Depending on when you visit Palm Springs, you may also find some cool events going on. Every Thursday evening throughout the year is Village Fest, when three blocks of Palm Canyon Drive in Downtown shut down to cars for a street fair, filled with food, art, and shopping vendors.

Somehow my time in Palm Springs has never coincided with a Thursday — but I can never resist a street market, so I’ll definitely make it next time.

Dinner

You have plenty of choices in Downtown, depending on what cuisine you’re into. Lulu California Bistro offers lots of fresh salads, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, and more. It wasn’t the cheapest meal out there, but I found the quality to be good, and the portions were filling. There’s also an all-day happy hour if you sit in the bar area.

Day 2: Indian Canyons, Architecture Tour

I’d suggest getting an early start on Day 2. The bulk of the day will be spent hiking, and you want to 1) avoid the heat 2) not get turned away (more on that in a second). 

Breakfast

I’d seen L’Autelier pop up on numerous Reddit threads for its high-quality meals and unique combinations, and knew I had to check it out. It did not disappoint! It’s a pretty small place — we grabbed one of the couple tables outside on the sidewalk (in shade), and it looked like there were just a couple of tables inside, so keep that in mind.

I had a delicious omelette, with brie, tomatoes, spinach, and caramelized onions, but there are a range of quiches, crepes, and sandwiches. Everything looked so good!

Hike Indian Canyons

Somehow, I didn’t even know about this on my first two trips to Palm Springs, but this ended up being the absolute highlight of my most recent visit.

Indian Canyons is part of the local tribe’s reservation, and is home to one of my all-time favorite hikes I’ve done.

Divided into a few different sections, we went to the Palm Canyon section, because this area is home to the largest California fan palm oasis in the world. (I also found out this is the only palm species that’s native to the western U.S., weirdly enough!) 

My husband and I followed the Victor Trail, a loop that took around three hours to complete, with frequent water and snack breaks. I found the trail itself to not be difficult, but the heat did make it a challenge (it was over 90 degrees at this point, and the dry desert heat is something I don’t think I’ll ever be totally used to). 

But, the views of the massive palm trees were seriously awe-inspiring, and seeing the rocky surrounding mountains was also incredible.

At the trailhead, there’s also a small shop selling some drinks and light snacks (we stocked up on some cheese sticks, and got an Italian ice at the end of our hike), along with some gift items.

We were told that the Andreas Canyon section has an easy one-hour trail that leads to a creek you can swim in, that I wish we’d had time to check out. Next time, I also want to make it to Tahquitz Canyon, a seasonal 60-foot waterfall that also has rock art. 

If you need any more convincing, it’s also one of the best budget-friendly things to do in Palm Springs.

It costs just $12, or $7 with a student ID, to enter Indian Canyons, and from that point, you can access any of the trails, and park for free. I’d read online that they check to make sure every person has a water bottle with them — they didn’t check when we visited, but still, it’s definitely a good rule to follow anyways.

⏰Tip: We arrived at the hiking trail around 10:45 a.m. on a Monday, and were told it was closed to capacity and to return at 12:30. We did, and it was still 100% worth it, but it did put us right at the hottest part of the day, plus we ended up not able to eat again til the late afternoon. 

(Kind of a risky move to go hiking hungry, but we lived to tell the tale.)

I’m not sure if the capacity issues are common, or it was just because it was spring break, but it’s something to keep in mind!

🚗 Parking: Parking is readily available, and included in your admission fee, at the entrances for each of the three main sections (Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, and Murray Canyon).

Lunch

Ok, I’m sure you’ve worked up an appetite after that hike, so it’s time for a big lunch. Sherman’s is basically a local institution — every time it’s not included in a list of Palm Springs recommendations, I can swear I see at least 10 comments referencing it.

It’s a New York-style Jewish deli, and as somewhat of a diner aficionado coming from New Jersey, I have a high bar.

It’s been around since 1963, and is home to a massive selection of sandwiches and entrees (there’s also a big breakfast menu). I tried the gefilte fish and brisket sandwich, served on rye with cole slaw (or potato salad), and I’m pleased to report they all passed my high standards.

Prices are a little steep — most things are at least $20. But portions were big, and it was honestly worth it in my opinion, especially considering how much of a beloved local spot it is. I would 100% come back my next time in Palm Springs, and save room for one of their desserts!

Take a self-guided architecture tour

For a relaxing afternoon, take yourself on a little architecture tour of Palm Springs. It’s really one of the things that make Palm Springs so one-of-a-kind, since the midcentury modern movement really stemmed out of this area back in the 1930s, both as an adaptation to the harsh desert weather, and due to the immense wealth that was coming into the area, as it became somewhat of a playground for Hollywood elite.

There are definitely organized tours you can do (like this highly rated, 2-hour celebrity homes tour — we actually ran into one of their golf carts while on our own tour!), which I’m sure would be a lot more informative, but you could also totally DIY it like my husband and I did.

Some neighborhoods to check out are:

• Twin Palms Estate and Canyon View (both neighborhoods are close to each other)
• Then, about 15 minutes away, Vista Las Palmas and Old Las Palmas, which are also next to each other.

Our tour basically consisted of us driving around and me yelling “stop!” every time we wanted to take a photo. But if it’s not crazy high temperatures when you visit, these areas would also be nice to walk around!

All of these areas have some gorgeous, really unique designs, which are made even more special by the mountain and palm tree scenery. Some homes have even belonged to celebrities (hence the celebrity tour), like Frank Sinatra, and more recently, Leonardo diCaprio, and have appeared in movies like “Don’t Worry, Darling.”

If you’re not super into architecture, you can skip this and just spend more time relaxing in Downtown — but if you are, this is one of the most unique parts of Palm Springs.”

Downtown

Within Downtown, you’ll also find plenty of interesting architectural gems. 

I accidentally stumbled upon the Aluminaire House, a completely metal home built in the 1930s. It was meant to be an affordable, easily replicable design — and even though we’re not all living in metal houses these days, it’s still considered one of the most architecturally significant buildings of the last century. 

It’s owned by the Palm Springs Art Museum, which also has a really cool design to it. It’s not included in this itinerary because it’s pricey for a museum ($25 or $17 with a student ID), but if you’re up for it, it’s supposed to be really cool, and this would be a perfect time to check it out. 

Hang out in Downtown for the rest of the evening, wandering around and checking out any places you didn’t make it to yesterday.

Dinner

This place was one of my favorite meals of my last trip. It was also by far, the most budget-friendly! 

Taqueria Tlaquepaque is conveniently located in Downtown, you just have to keep walking down the main street for a while, til you get to a quieter stretch of the street.

Some reviews were complaining about the ambiance, so I was expecting something shabbier, but I honestly liked it! Definitely not the fanciest place out there, some seats are a bit worn, etc, but it still felt cozy.

I had a giant milanesa torta (a Mexican sandwich with breaded steak) for less than $11, along with a massive, and delicious mango margarita for just a few dollars as well.

Day 3: Joshua Tree and Hot Springs

To make the most of today, try to get another early start! 

Breakfast

Cafe mon Amour is a super cute French cafe in Downtown Palm Springs. I loved the whole cozy vibe in there, and they had some outdoor seating as well. 

I had a smoked salmon croissant sandwich and would highly recommend it — it came with a salad, and felt like the perfect balance of filling but not too heavy. The coffee was great too, and all the employees were really sweet.

Joshua Tree

Located about an hour away from Downtown Palm Springs, this gorgeous national park is one-of-a-kind thanks to its combination of two desert ecosystems, the high Mojave and low Colorado. 

You’ll see a ton of interesting plant life, like its namesake, the Joshua trees, which are actually not technically trees, but are part of the agave family!

And while you could easily spend a whole weekend just in Joshua Tree, I think it’s still well worth it even if you just have a few hours. That’s exactly what I did during my visit, and although I only saw a small slice of what the park has to offer, I feel like I had a solid introduction to the park (and got some great photos).

The Nature Valley Trail is a short and easy option that will give you a great view of desert scenery, while the Boy Scout Trail leads you through the iconic Joshua trees.

If you’re feeling tired by Day 3, this is also the easiest thing to scale back — you can shorten your visit to just a scenic drive instead of doing multiple hikes. Just make sure to fill up your tank before entering the park, as you won’t find any gas stations within Joshua Tree.

Admission is $30 per vehicle.

If going with a guide is more your speed, this 5-star tour would also be a great option. It’s about four or five hours long, and gives you a solid overview of the park in a limited time, from the Hidden Valley to Keys View, which offers views of Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains, from 5,500 feet above.  (note that admission to the park is separate, and will be $15).

Lunch

I haven’t gotten to try it myself, but I’ve heard amazing things about La Copine. People rave about the food as well as the funky vibe. Prices are a little high, but the general consensus seems to be that it’s one of the best places to eat in the Joshua Tree area. 

Menus are seasonal, and seating is mostly outdoors.

Hot Springs 

A vacation to Palm Springs just wouldn’t be right if you don’t spend at least some time relaxing. 

So while you could 100% spend the whole day exploring Joshua Tree, If you’re deciding between more hiking or this, I’d suggest wrapping up your three days in Palm Springs at another one of its most distinct natural features — its natural springs.

One of the most interesting things I took from my trip to the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum was how the springs, known as Séc-he (which translates to “the sound of boiling water”) are considered sacred. Not only do they play a role in the local tribe’s creation story, but it’s served as a place for healing for thousands of years.

A couple of years ago I spent a whole weekend at Miracle Springs Resort and Spa for my birthday, which is a little bit outside of Palm Springs.

It’s not the most luxurious springs experience out there, but it was really solid for the price, and has eight different mineral water pools. It also claims to be the only place that has both hot and cold mineral spring aquifers. 

And a day pool pass is just $20! A steal, honestly. 

From Joshua Tree/La Copine, Miracle Hot Springs Resort and Spa is around 40 minutes to an hour away.

Dinner

Miracle Springs Resort and Spa has an onsite restaurant, Capri Italian Restaurant, that I really enjoyed (This was the one and only trip I’ve ever been on where I never left the hotel — so I got to try a handful of menu options!), so you could eat there. Prices were also super reasonable, and overall more affordable than what you’ll find in the more touristy areas of Palm Springs.

But, if you’re looking for more options, you can easily head back into Downtown Palm Springs, which is just 20 minutes away.

Maracas Mexican Cantina serves great cocktails, and decent Mexican food with again, big portions, that somewhat justify the price. I’ve been here a couple of times, and as a Mexican food snob, I wouldn’t call it the most authentic out there, but it’s still enjoyable. I had some open-faced enchiladas on my last visit, and I’d recommend! 

Alternatively, Billy Reeds is a place I have my eye on for my next visit, since it seems to be pretty locally recommended. It’s been around since 1975 and still has that old-school vibe, with a menu to match. I have my eye on one of their burgers, and the desserts also are making me hungry as I’m writing this!

Where to Stay in Palm Springs

If it’s your first time in Palm Springs, where you stay can really impact your trip — especially if you’re trying to keep things budget-friendly without sacrificing location.

When it comes to accommodations, I’ve found that finding an affordable place to stay isn’t the easiest, but it’s not impossible to find a good deal, especially if you’re visiting during the hotter months.

I share a few more options in this guide — but if you’re in a rush, here a couple choices.

Hyatt Palm Springs

I personally used points from a travel credit card on my last visit to stay at the Hyatt Palm Springs. Its ratings are a little lower than I typically opt for, so I was a little hesitant, but it ended up being perfect for our quick trip.

Find more details in this Hyatt Palm Springs review, but in short, it’s located right in Downtown Palm Springs, but on a quieter stretch of the main street, so you still have lots of dining, shopping, and sightseeing, accessible, but it was a bit calmer. 

The design of the hotel was surprisingly cool, and I may or may not have forced my husband into an impromptu photoshoot (see above). But more importantly, the rooms were way more spacious than I was expecting, since as it turns out, every room is a suite. I also loved how there was a little balcony overlooking Downtown!

The only couple things I didn’t love was that the living room area was pretty dark, and the TVs weren’t smart TVs. But, honestly super minor complaints! It’s definitely a solid option for your budget-friendly Palm Springs getaway!

(You can also skip the expensive onsite parking they offer you, and just find a spot on the street.)

Stay right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs at the Hyatt.

The Saguaro Palm Springs

If your vibe is colorful, ‘70s style, you’ll love this one.

I stayed at The Saguaro Palm Springs on my first visit, and I’ve seen it come back on my radar multiple times since then, with great deals! The pool area is gorgeous, and its onsite bar and restaurant, El Jefe, was great too. It’s a little farther away from the main downtown area, but is still accessible to Palm Springs’ sightseeing. 

Book your Palm Springs stay in style here.

Head to one of these Palm Springs guides next

• 11 Best Things to Do in Palm Springs on a Budget
• 3 Days in Palm Springs Itinerary (on a Budget)
• Where to Stay in Palm Springs on a Budget
• Hyatt Palm Springs Review: Is it Right For Your Trip?
• Best Time to Visit Palm Springs (From a Repeat Visitor)