Palm Springs is a short two-hour flight from Denver, making it an easy getaway for a weekend when you’re craving time with swaying palm trees and desert scenery.

This celebrated locale two hours east of Los Angeles has distinct high and low seasons that are reflected not just in the weather but also the prices for airfares and lodging. There are lower prices in the winter and summer, so if you don’t mind a little chill or some scorching heat, you can enjoy some possible savings.

There are nonstop flights available between Denver and Palm Springs on Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, but the bargains are found on Frontier Airlines. With a little planning during the offseason, you can likely scoop up a flight for under $100 per person between these destinations. In late 2024, Frontier announced 22 new nonstop flights from Denver, including Palm Springs (although this was not a new route, just one that had been paused since 2020).

Car rentals prices are a wild card in terms of getting a bargain, but it’s possible to find savings through various platforms, using AAA Travel, or points through a brand loyalty program. It is possible to get a ride from the airport to a hotel within easy walking distance of downtown. However, my recommendation is to get a car so you can explore beyond the city of Palm Springs.

Also, be aware of how various events in and around Palm Springs might impact pricing. Spring is the busy season here and the Coachella Music Festival in April brings the crowds and increased prices.

There are many swanky places to stay right in Palm Springs, and you can walk from your hotel to downtown where you can shop and dine and see stylish architecture. If you want to save money though, consider staying off the beaten track and selecting some free activities.

Free things to do in and around Palm Springs

One of my favorite stops in the Palm Springs area is Sunnylands, which is a short drive away in Rancho Mirage. It is free to explore the center, where there is a small art gallery, and the expansion gardens, where you can walk a labyrinth and see a variety of cactus. Note that Sunnylands is not open daily and it hosts public events, so check the calendar ahead of your visit. For a fee, there are also guided house tours on this sprawling estate.

The Visit Palm Springs website has a free self-guided architecture tour that includes business and residential examples of midcentury modern design. If you stop at the Palm Springs Art Museum downtown, you will several books about local design too. There are many guided tours you can pay to join, too, if you want that local insight.

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum in Desert Hot Springs, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs, is for folk art lovers. Built from reclaimed material by Cabot Yerxa where he homesteaded in 1913, this four-story pueblo-inspired place can be seen during a free walk around the exterior (during open hours), or for a fee, you can take a guided tour of the 35 rooms in this unique place.

Take a hike on the free, 2-mile Palm Springs Art Museum Trail, which takes you to a view of the city and surrounding areas. Or, take a drive to the Indian Canyons area and pay a fee to hike between towering palm trees and maybe see a waterfall or just pools of water. There are many hiking options in and around Palm Springs — some free and others with a trail fee. Always be prepared with water, sun protection and a plan to turn back if the heat is too much.

Joshua Tree National Park is about a one-hour drive from Palm Springs, depending on which entrance point you choose. There are fees to enter a national park and you will need to bring your own water for staying cool while exploring.

Places to stay on a budget in and around Palm Springs

During my most recent trip to Palm Springs, I discovered Tiki midcentury design, and a prime example is at Caliente Tropics Resort, where you can get a comfortable room for under $200 per night. They have a pool and are connected to Sancho’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, where you can get an affordable meal, and to the Reef Bar, which has even more Polynesian kitsch.

The Inn at Palm Springs is a colorful and funky hotel that is situated around a small pool, with rates as low as $150 per night. Breakfast for two is included in your room rate, and the hotel is dog-friendly.

Palm Mountain Resort & Spa will cost more than $200 per night, but is more centrally located and rooms can include patios with mountain views. Hotel guests can also borrow a bike to get around town.

If you don’t mind being slightly outside of Palm Springs proper, you can find some bargains in nearby Desert Hot Springs.

Hope Springs Resort has just 10 rooms, priced between $200 and $300 year-round, that encircle three pools. A breakfast buffet (along with snacks you can grab for your day out) are included with the rate, and there is kitchen access available.

The Getaway in Desert Hot Springs is a modern design with rooms accessorized with kitchens, and there’s a pool to cool off on those hotter days. Room rates range from $130 to $300.

And there are other places to explore — visit a date farm, play a round of golf, take a tram ride, mineral springs for soaking, and more — beyond this list, as this vibrant desert city has much to offer for a quick weekend getaway.