Town in California, United States
Getting around Palm Springs
How to get around Palm Springs
The downtown core is walkable, but most hotels, trails and attractions need a car or rideshare. SunLine buses serve the valley.
Ways to get around Palm Springs
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| SunLine Transit buses | 1 USD | Routes through Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley; limited evenings |
| Rideshare | 12–25 USD | Most visitors' main alternative to a car |
| Rental car | 40–90 USD per day | Needed for Joshua Tree and canyons |
| Palm Springs Aerial Tramway | About 30–40 USD | Rotating cable car to the mountain-top trails |
Ride-hailing apps in Palm Springs
A 5 km ride costs about $12–22 ($12–22).
- Taxis exist but apps are cheaper. Festival weekends bring surge pricing and waits; book a return ride early.
Arriving in Palm Springs
Palm Springs International (PSP)
Rideshare or taxi to downtown 12–20 USD, about 5–10 min; compact airport with direct flights from many US cities.
Ontario International (by road) (ONT)
About 1.5 hours by car; Los Angeles airports are 2–3 hours.
Driving and onward travel
- Scooters: Shared e-scooters and e-bikes appear downtown; heat and car traffic limit use.
- Driving: on the right. Foreign licences work for visitors in most states; carry an IDP if yours isn't in English. Under-25s pay rental surcharges.
- Onward travel in United States: Distances are long, so domestic flights are usually fastest. Amtrak works well in the Northeast Corridor; buses are cheapest. Outside big cities you often need a car.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Palm Springs?
Yes. Apps that work here: Uber, Lyft.
What's the best way to get around Palm Springs?
The downtown core is walkable, but most hotels, trails and attractions need a car or rideshare. SunLine buses serve the valley.
How do I get from the airport to Palm Springs?
Rideshare or taxi to downtown 12–20 USD, about 5–10 min; compact airport with direct flights from many US cities.
Is Palm Springs walkable?
Walkable center.
More about Palm Springs
Going to Palm Springs solo?
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Sources
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.