14 Fun Things To Do In Palm Springs At Night (2024)
Wondering what fun things there are to do in Palm Springs at night? You’re in the right place!
Palm Springs is one of the best resort cities in the country. When I traveled to Palm Springs for the first time, I spent time hiking and trying out the famous date shake.
But there is much more to Palm Springs than just hiking. Crystal shops, live music venues, scenic tram rides, you can find it all.
To help you have fun and plan your next trip, here’s my list of the 14 best things to do in Palm Springs at night.
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14 Fun Things To Do In Palm Springs At Night
1. Attend The Palm Springs Village Fest
Head to the Palm Springs Village Fest to enjoy arts, food, music, and entertainment.
It’s held every Thursday evening along Palm Canyon Drive in the heart of downtown Palm Springs.
From kiosks selling soap, candles, and jewelry to live music and street food, you definitely won’t want to miss stopping by.
This is the largest street fair in Palm Springs, so the streets are closed off for the event. For free parking, there is a free parking garage across the street from the Art Museum, and another on Indian Canyon.
Palm Canyon Drive 100 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA, United States. Oct.– May 6pm to 10pm, June – Sept, 7pm to 10pm.
2. Ride The Aerial Tramway During Sunset
The Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tram car and a must visit for anyone in Palm Springs.
Ride the tram car during sunset for unbeatable views of the Coachella valley during sunset!
The tram car travels over the Chino Canyon, and ascends up to 5,783 feet into the San Jacinto mountains.
You can take a tram in the evening, or the last tram at 8pm for amazing views of the city lights.
At the top, enjoy dinner and panoramic mountain sunset views at the Peaks restaurant. There is also a bar, gift shop, and observation decks to take photos.
Tickets are $30 USD. Drive North Palm Canyon Drive to reach the Valley Station. It’s around a 15 minute drive from downtown Palm Springs, and 30 minutes from Palm Desert. Open 10am to 8pm weekdays, 8am to 8pm weekends. https://pstramway.com/
3. Solve An Escape Room With Friends
After dinner, grab a group of friends or family to solve an escape room. You’ll get 60 minutes to solve puzzles and games with clues at Palm Springs Escape Rooms.
From bank heist to Titanic themed rooms, these escape rooms are fun for groups of all ages. They are typically open till 7 to 8:30pm. Keep in mind that hours vary, so you’ll want to book in advance.
2500 N Palm Canyon Drive. Next door to the Inn at Palm Springs. 2 miles from Palm Springs Visitor Center down North Canyon Drive. $39 per person. 3-10 people limit https://escapeps.com/
4. Try An Iconic Date Shake
The famous date shake is a must-try for anyone visiting Palm Springs.
This shake was invented all the way back in 1924 by Floyd Shields in Palm Springs, who mixed date puree, vanilla, ice cream, and milk.
You can try a date shake from Shields Date Garden & Cafe in Indio, but they’re only open till 5pm.
Fortunately, you can find this iconic date shake at many cafes and restaurants in Palm Springs.
Great Shakes in downtown serves one of the best date shakes in the city, and they add a mini donut on their straws!
160 S Palm Canyon Dr A. Shakes cost $6.25 to $9.75. Open 12 to 9pm Sunday-Friday, 12 to 10pm Saturdays.
5. Ride A Carriage Through The Desert At Sunset
Get scenic sunset views of the desert on this unique wagon tour.
You’ll get to ride a mule-drawn carriage through the desert at sunset, learn about desert flora, and enjoy a BBQ dinner at the ranch.
Corn hole, live music, barn dancing, this a great activity for families or anyone looking to experience the desert’s charm.
Just a 30 minute drive from Palm Springs on the I-10. Exit the 10 Freeway at Washington St. in Palm Desert. The ranch is 4 miles north of the Freeway exit on Washington and 2.5 miles past Del Webb Blvd. Starts at 4 PM. 3 hour tour. Around $139 for adults and $114 for children.
6. Have Dinner At The Farm
Stop by the Farm for dinner at one of the best restaurants in Palm Springs. This restaurant serves creative French inspired dishes with farm to table ingredients.
From French toast to duck confit, this is a must-try restaurant for anyone visiting. With live jazz music, this is a great place for a romantic night out as well.
The restaurant’s in downtown Palm Springs, right next to Great Shakes.
6 La Plaza, Palm Springs. Open Wed-Thurs 8am-2pm. Fri-Tues 8am-2pm, 5:30-9:30pm.
7. Go Stargazing At Joshua Tree
The Joshua Tree national park is an 800,000 acre park beloved for its Joshua trees and beautiful desert flora.
At night, the Joshua tree has dark, clear skies, making it the perfect place to go stargazing.
You can visit on your own, or book a tour to use night vision binoculars and lasers to spot objects in space.
It’s 40 miles east of Palm Springs. Drive north of Indian Canyon Drive, turn right on CA-62 E, once you reach the Utah trail, turn right and enter into the park. Open 24hrs a day. Standard entrance pass $15-$30 (valid for 7 days). https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/fees.htm
8. Stroll Downtown Palm Springs
Head to downtown Palm Springs to shop, and visit the iconic Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
The Walk of Stars is a sidewalk with over 400 stars embedded, honoring celebrities who’ve lived in Palm Springs.
Downtown Palm Springs also has small boutiques, crystal shops, souvenir stores, and the best restaurants in the city.
The Walk of Stars are located in Palm Canyon Drive, Museum Way, and Tahquitz Canyon Way right next to the Starbucks in downtown Palm Springs.
9. Go Bowling At Palm Springs Lanes
Stop by Palm Springs Lanes to enjoy a night of bowling with friends or family. This bowling alley has arcade games, pool tables, and a restaurant and bar.
They have cosmic bowling at night, and are just a 10 minute drive from downtown Palm Springs.
Keep in mind they have bowling leagues in session, so make sure to call ahead of time to ensure they’re open late.
68051 E Ramon Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234. Open weekdays 2 to 10pm, weekend’s 12 to 10pm. $30 bowling for 60 minutes. $60 cosmic bowling for 60 minutes. $5 shoe rentals. https://pslanes.com/
10. Visit The Palm Springs Art Museum
The Palm Springs Art Museum is a museum with sculptures, exhibits, and impressive art collections from Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and more.
With everything from modern to contemporary art, this is a must visit museum for anyone who admires art.
It takes around an hour to explore, and they have free admission on Thursdays from 4-8pm.
101 N Museum Dr, Palm Springs. Open Thursdays 12 to 8pm, and Fri-Sun 10 to 5pm. Free admission Thurs 4-8pm and every second Sunday of the month.
11. Tour The Palm Springs Windmills
Visit the Palm Springs Windmills for incredible photo opportunities of the windmills and skyline during sunset.
The Palm Springs Windmills are a wind farm with over 4000 windmills in the San Bernardino Mountains.
You can visit anytime, or go on a self guided tour during the day to learn about wind energy.
The self guided tours are 1 hour long, and they end at 2pm.
To get there, head north on N. Indian Canyon drive, cross the freeway, turn left on 20th avenue, and continue forward past motel 6. After a mile, you’ll see the green tour building on the right. Approximately 20 minutes or 6.5 miles from Palm Springs.
11. Go On A Silent Disco Tour
Dance as you stroll down the streets of Palm Springs on the Mogo Silent Disco Tour.
This unique disco tour is held on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 6:30pm, and lasts 50 minutes.
You’ll get to enjoy music wearing headphones as you stroll along downtown with a group of people. This is a fun way to meet new people, or enjoy a fun night out with friends.
Fridays and Saturdays only. Lasts 50 minutes. All ages are allowed. Costs $25 admission per person + $2 booking fee. 6:30pm tours start outside Seaplane at 1009 N Palm Canyon Drive. 8:00pm tours start outside Gay Mart at 305 E. Arenas Rd.
12. Hike The Indian Canyons At Sunset
With over 60 miles of hiking and biking trails, the Indian Canyons are one of the best places to explore if you love the outdoors.
If you visit Palm Springs during the winter, you can catch the sunset between 4:30-5:00pm. The Indian Canyons are open from 8am to 5pm, so they’re the perfect place for a sunset hike.
Keep in mind that they let the last vehicle in at 4pm, so you’ll want to arrive early.
There’s over 60 trails, but I recommend the Andreas Canyon trail if you’re visiting in the evening.
The Andreas trail is a moderately easy 1 mile loop that has spectacular views of the mountains. For a full list of trails, view their trail maps.
Admission: $12 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for children. 38520 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs. Oct.1-July 4: 8am-5pm. No hikes available July-September. https://www.indian-canyons.com/indian_canyons
14. Watch A Magic Show
Enjoy comedy and live magic at Marvyn’s Magic Theater in La Quinta. This 129 seat theater has a cozy, intimate environment so it’s ideal for a romantic night out.
They feature 75 minute performances, with pre-show piano music and entertainment. For their upcoming performances, view their schedule here.
The venue is 20 miles or around a 30 minute drive from Palm Springs.
Ages 21 and older. 46630 Washington St, La Quinta. https://www.marvynsmagictheater.com/
Summary
Whether you want to go stargazing at the Joshua Tree or on a silent disco tour, there’s no shortage of fun activities to enjoy at night in Palm Springs.