Day Trips & Short Getaways from the Coachella Valley

Looking for easy day trips or short getaways from the Coachella Valley that don’t require vacation days or a color-coded itinerary? This guide focuses on places you can realistically visit for a long day or a quick overnight, without turning the drive into the most memorable part of the trip.

These are destinations within reasonable driving distance of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and the surrounding desert. Some are familiar classics, others are slightly off the usual radar, but all work well when you want a change of scenery without committing to a full-blown travel project.

Most of the spots below are best done in a single day or with one night away. A few push that boundary, and we’ll tell you when they do. If a place requires major planning, crowds, or an early-morning pep talk, it probably doesn’t belong here.

Use the guides below to explore nearby desert towns, mountain escapes, and oddball detours that actually make sense as short trips from the Coachella Valley.

Part of our Coachella Valley Local Guides.