Palm Springs Windmill Tours: Which Tour Should You Book?

You have driven past the windmills. You have probably photographed them through a car window. At some point, someone in the car has offered a very confident explanation of how they work.

Palm Springs Windmill Tours lets you replace that explanation with an actual tour. The main choice is whether you want to drive yourself around the wind farm or ride with a guide.

Choose the self-driving tour if you want to set the pace

You bring your own vehicle and follow a marked, ten-stop route with an audio app. The visit begins at the tour center with a video and exhibits, then continues along gravel paths. The operator suggests roughly 90 minutes, depending on your pace.

Download the app before arriving. Once downloaded, it works without cellular internet. Leashed dogs are welcome on this tour, according to the operator’s how-it-works page.

This is the option we would choose for a group that likes to linger over displays—or conduct a small family debate about when it is time to move on.

Choose a guided tour if you want someone to answer questions

The guided tour uses an electric golf cart with a wind-energy guide. Standard bookings can include other households; a separate VIP option offers a private tour.

Check the child requirements before booking: the operator says children on the guided golf-cart tours must weigh at least 40 pounds and be accompanied by an adult.

Before you go

The tour center is at 62950 20th Avenue in Palm Springs. Use the operator’s booking calendar for your date’s available departures and total price. Schedules change by season, and different parts of the website display different pricing and hours.

Pick the format first, then compare the actual booking totals for your group. “We’ll figure it out when we get there” is a fine approach to choosing a snack. It is less useful for a scheduled tour.