Palm Springs, California is located about 100 miles east of Los Angeles in the Coachella Valley area of the Sonoran Desert. As a popular resort city for many years, Palm Springs is known for its natural hot springs, hotels, restaurants, golf courses, sunny weather, and - of course - dog-friendliness.

Downtown Palm Springs is always evolving, with new shops, restaurants, hotels, and neighborhoods, like the development of the north end as the Uptown Design District. The annual Coachella and Stagecoach Festivals have brought attention to the desert cities, and the January Palm Springs International Film Festival attracts top names and a growing number of visitors.

"Greater Palm Springs" encompasses eight cities in addition to Palm Springs: Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, LaQuinta, Indio, and Coachella. Tourism is the area's largest contributor to the local economy. I would recommend staying in Palm Springs and exploring these other cities by car. Palm Desert has a nice outdoor shopping mall and Indio / Coachella can be great for photo ops or if you’re attending a festival (without your dog).

We’ve visited a lot of dog-friendly places and when I say Palm Springs is the most dog-friendly city we’ve visited - I mean it! It’s hard to explain, but there was just a feeling of welcoming no matter where we went with Ruby and hopefully that comes through in this comprehensive guide.

when is the best time to visit Palm Springs

The weather in Palm Springs is arguably nice all year round, but there is a particular time that is considered the best to visit during - winter and early spring. Palm Springs feels extra special in the winter months, which occur November - January, because while the rest of the country is dealing with cold temps and snow Palm Springs is putting on a show with sunshine and 65-75 degree temps.

When traveling to Palm Springs with your dog, I would not recommend visiting anytime after March. Unless your only plan is to be by a pool the whole time during your visit. Summer temperatures are typically around 100℉ and can reach as high as 115℉, with humidity less than 10%.

where to stay in palm springs

Lodging in Palm Springs and the surrounding desert areas are a total vibe and one of my favorite things about visiting this city. I’m a huge fan of mid-century modern architecture and desert luxe, so I’d be in heaven just hotel and home rental hopping around this area.

If you’re looking to stay in downtown Palm Springs, there are several dog-friendly hotel options on and around Palm Canyon Dr. and Indian Canyon Dr. that are optimal for walking to the shops and restaurants. Check out ARRIVE Palm Springs, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs, The Colony Palms Hotel & Bungalows, and The Saguaro Palm Springs.

If a home rental is your preferred lodging - we’re always fans of a kitchen and direct outdoor access - then head to AirBnB or VRBO and toggle on the pet feature. These are some of the home rentals I have saved on my wish list. The below photos were taken when we stayed at Mesa Tavira in Joshua Tree for a weekend. You can find our full home tour on Instagram.

Dog-friendly Things to Do Around Palm Springs

Palm Springs has always been a dog loving city and with 354 days of sunshine each year there’s plenty of things to do that will welcome your dog with open arms.

dine at dog-themed restaurant Boozehounds Palm Springs & cafe 4 paws coffee co.

Boozehounds Palm Springs was started by three friends for one simple reason… they loved dogs and dreamed of owning a place where people could take their pups, enjoy an awesome cocktail or fab meal, and socialize in style. It’s the dog-friendliest restaurant we’ve ever been to for two reasons: 1) the dog menu is elite and offers fresh food options that accommodate common protein allergies, and 2) dogs are allowed inside in their atrium for dining, which is perfect when visiting in the winter months. We loved dining here for brunch and you can get an inside peek at our visit on Instagram.

4 Paws Coffee Co. is another dog-themed establishment in Palm Springs that you should check out. We were greeted with open arms as soon as we walked in the door and the cafe is decked out in dog-centric decorations and merch. We got to enjoy our pastry and coffee inside the cafe with Rue while she was spoiled with a pup cup. Purchases from the cafe help support their effort to give back to the local shelters and also reinforce their goal of bringing great coffee, food, and connections to the Palm Springs community.

explore moorten botanical garden & the World’s First Cactarium

Moorten Botanical Garden is a privately owned arboretum that was created to share the beauty and extraordinary varieties of desert plants with everyone who visits. The featured desert trees, plants, and cacti come from around the world and range in size from miniature to giant. They are home to the world’s first cactarium - my favorite area of the garden - and allow dogs on leash throughout the garden.

Parking for the garden is on the corner across the street from the entrance on S Palm Canyon Dr. The entry fee is $5/person and dogs are free. This small garden can be explored within 30 minutes with a leisurely stroll around the property. We spent a bit more time here because I was obsessed with taking photos in the cactarium. If you visit during the week, you should get lucky with little to no crowds.

Walk amongst the wind turbines at sunset

Something unique about Southern California is all the fields of wind turbines. They actually have an official tour in Palm Springs to get a closer look at them, but I’m not sure if they allow dogs. We opted for self-exploration.

To get the backdrop seen below, head to Indian Canyon Drive and Garnett off the I-10. If you're driving north on Indian Canyon, turn left on Garnett and go for maybe 1/4 mile and you'll see some spots where you can park. There is little to no traffic in this area, so as long as you’re not blocking a major road you should be ok to park wherever you want to shoot.

I’d recommend going for sunset. The desert really shows off at sunset with cotton candy skies, but the sun does tuck behind the mountains early so make sure you arrive before the true sunset time. There is fencing around the turbines, but it’s not really noticeable with the mountain backdrop in the shade and shrubbery in the area. You just have to embrace it.

spend a day exploring Joshua Tree national park

While there are limitations when it comes to visiting Joshua Tree National Park with your furry bestie, there are still several dog-friendly activities that allow you to experience the various landscapes of the park when visiting with your dog. We’ve visited a few times with Ruby and have assembled the best Joshua Tree itinerary for making a half- or full-day visit to the park.

stalk mid-century modern homes in indian canyons

This mid-century community is a gem for those interested in mid-century modern architecture. Nearly all the homes in Indian Canyon were built in the mid-century fashion with large glass windows, sprawling porches, and ample accessibility to pools. Because of this it has a rich architectural history and amazing, unobstructed views of the Mountains.

You’ve probably seen some of these homes on Instagram with their beautifully groomed landscaping and colorful front doors. The best way to enjoy these homes is by parking and walking the streets. I particularly loved the homes on South Yosemite and South Camino Real.

enjoy the shops, art, and restaurants in downtown palm springs

The feeling of dog-friendliness really comes to life around Downtown Palm Springs. It’s a vibrant downtown littered with shops, restaurants, and unique art installments. We had so many people come up to us and share how well-behaved they thought Ruby was and every shop owner immediately gravitated towards Ruby wanting to give her pets, water, and offer treats. If you follow us on social then you know Ruby has a case of stranger danger, but she quickly obliged to the pets being offered.

There is so much to do downtown and the main drags are on Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive. I would recommend just making a loop and popping into whatever looks interesting. South Palm Canyon is a bit more kitschy and the northern area is more modern with its recent revival as the Uptown Design District.

Some store that were on my list to check out included: Ibis women’s boutique, Just Fabulous for Palm Springs souvenirs, Peepas, Out West Trading Co, Covet for permanent jewelry, and Destination PSP. Destination PSP had the best mid-century mod home ornaments.

Restaurants we enjoyed that were downtown were Boozehounds, 1501 Uptown Gastropub, Ice Cream and Shop(pe), and Tac/Quila (get the churro ice cream sandwich).

Besides shopping and eating your way around downtown, you can also spot some unique art displays scattered around the area, like the larger than life PS ❤️ You and Marilyn Monroe sculptures pictured above. If you have the time you can use this guide to find them all.

Pose in front of the greetings from palm springs mural at the visitor center

As you can already tell Palm Springs has a thriving art scene, and beyond large and obscure sculptures there are also several murals throughout the city. My favorite is the Greetings from Palm Springs mural at the Visitor Center.

It’s in a bit of an odd location on the wall of the bathrooms, but there is an overhang above the mural so you can snap some shaded pics. To me, this mural just encapsulates the feeling of Palm Springs: Vibrant with a lot to offer.

hike Butler-Abrams Trail

Experience this 2.4-mile out-and-back trail near Rancho Mirage. It’s an easy, paved-route that takes an average of 45 minutes to complete. The trail is open year-round and offers a nice palm tree filled park at the trailhead with plenty of parking. There is also a dog waste station and trashcans at the trailhead. The trail is only partially shaded, so I would not recommend hitting the trail in the summer afternoon heat.

This trail dips in and out of the Whitewater Wash and becomes divided on the other side into separate asphalt and dirt trails (for equestrians). As it continues between a residential area and Morningside Country Club, the trail ends at Country Club Drive (one block north of Highway 111).

see the cabazon dinosaurs

The World's Biggest Dinosaurs™ have long been regarded as one of the most iconic roadside attractions. The Cabazon Dinosaurs, Mr. Rex and Dinny, can be seen from the highway and are a great stop to make on your way in or out of Palm Springs. Both dinosaurs get painted in celebration of various holidays throughout the year and can be visited anytime. We’ve seen them “dressed up” for Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

The facility includes a dinosaur garden, robotic dinosaurs, and work from scientists around the world. Dogs are not allowed inside the dinosaurs.

take a day trip to salvation mountain and east jesus

In the middle of the Sonoran Desert, midway between San Diego and Los Angeles, you’ll find a community of people living off the grid with no official electricity, running water, sewers, toilets, law enforcement, or trash pick up service. The residents of Slab City make do with generators and solar panels for electricity and have formed their own art installations, churches, bars, and open-air nightclub with live music performances. It’s known as the last free place in the United States.

Slab City California, or The Slabs as it’s called, is a large snowbird community used by squatters and recreational vehicle owners from all over North America. The Slab City population rises to over a thousand residents in the winter months and maintains a permanent residence of about 150 people. The name Slab City came from the large concrete slabs left behind by the US Marine Corp who utilized the area as a training ground for field and anti-aircraft artillery units prior to the U.S. entering World War II.

There are two main attractions in Slab City: Salvation Mountain and East Jesus. This highly unusual and fascinating area is safe to visit, but please be respectful and keep to the areas mentioned. Remember, people do live here and the area has no official law enforcement.

Salvation Mountain is frequented by tourists and built to be to be appreciated. It’s a massive work of art created by local resident Leonard Knight. He began work on the piece in 1984, though his first version collapsed and it took quite some time to find materials strong enough to withstand the harsh environment. The artwork is made of straw, adobe, and thousands of gallons of lead-free, latex paint. It features multiple bible verses and murals painted with Christian sayings. Knight said God guided him in its construction.

There’s plenty of free parking outside Salvation Mountain. The area surrounding the mountain is flat and easy to walk around. Sometimes the path is open to walk up the mountain or go inside of it. Both times we’ve visited everything has been closed off for repair.

While Salvation Mountain is full of religious text and iconography, East Jesus actually has no religious connotations. Rather than referencing the lord and savior, East Jesus refers to “east of Jesus” a location in the middle of nowhere, off the grid, and operating without municipal utilities.

Back in 2007 Charlie Russell left his job in the tech industry, packed all his worldly possessions into a shipping container, and made his home in the middle of a trash-strewn field in Slab City. He slowly repurposed that trash into sculptures, which became the beginning of East Jesus. After his death in 2011, The Chasterus Foundation took over the curation and further development of East Jesus. What stands today is an experimental, sustainable, and livable art installation. Mixed media art made from various recycled materials covers the property.

If you enter through the main East Jesus sculpture garden, you should run right into one of the locals who will be more than happy to give you a bit of history about the area. As you explore on your own, be mindful of the signage and keep an eye on your surroundings. There is a carpeted walkway you can follow that I’d recommend for dogs. There are some loose materials on the ground from the installations.

Dog-friendly Palm Spring activities that are on our list for our next visit

While we experienced a lot of what Palm Springs has to offer, I know I already want to go back to experience more. And when we do, here’s what else I’d add to our itinerary: Palm Springs Air Museum, a day trip to Anza-Borrego Desert, admire more mid-century modern homes and architecture with this self guided tour, explore Pioneertown and Yucca Valley, and more dog-friendly hiking. The one thing we did do that didn’t make our list to recommend is Villagefest. This was very crowded and hard to navigate with a dog, and we weren’t really impressed with any of the vendors.

Enjoy your visit to Palm Springs and leave us a comment if you did one of these activities and loved it or if there’s a dog-friendly activity we missed that our readers should know about!