Yes, You Can Walk the Palm Desert Mall for Exercise

When the desert gets so hot that a walk around the block feels like a punishment, the mall starts making a lot of sense. A large, air-conditioned building designed to keep you walking? We should probably use that.

The Shops at Palm Desert welcomes mall walkers, so you can get your steps in without pretending you need anything from Macy’s. Pick a starting point, do your laps and enjoy the air conditioning. The difficult part is resisting the smell of Cinnabon and Sbarro.

What time does the Palm Desert mall open for walkers?

Doors open for walkers at 10 a.m. every day, according to the mall’s visitor information page. That’s an hour before its regular shopping hours begin.

The mall currently lists these regular center hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Hours checked September 23, 2026. Check the mall’s page before heading over, especially around holidays. Individual stores and restaurants keep their own hours.

For a first visit at 10 a.m., call mall management at 760-346-2121 to confirm which entrance to use. Ask about restroom and elevator access at that hour if those will affect your visit.

Where should you park?

The mall is at 72840 Highway 111 in Palm Desert. Parking is free, with covered garages near Macy’s and JCPenney. In summer, a roof over your car is a fairly compelling amenity.

Choose parking near the entrance you plan to use, and remember which one it was. Finishing your laps and then searching the parking lot for your car is an outdoor workout you did not sign up for.

Try to keep walking past Cinnabon and Sbarro

Cinnabon and Sbarro both list locations at the mall. Consider them a test of your ability to remember why you came here.

Both currently list 11 a.m. openings, so a 10 a.m. start gives your walking plan a head start on your lunch plan. If you do stop for a roll or a slice, fine. Just admit the outing has acquired a second purpose.

Keep the walking plan simple

Pick a recognizable starting point and decide how long you want to walk. Use your phone or watch if you want to track steps. You don’t need a precisely measured course to make another lap.

Leave room for shoppers, step aside when you stop and save the sprint finish for somewhere else. The mall’s guidelines call for walking rather than running, keeping entrances and corridors clear, and using headphones for music.

For a meal beyond the food court, browse our Palm Desert lunch guide. When the weather makes walking outside appealing again, our El Paseo guide has ideas for an afternoon of galleries, shops and wandering.