About Palm Desert

Palm Desert is located in Coachella Valley, approximately 14 miles (23 km) east of Palm Springs, 121 miles (195 km) northeast of San Diego and 122 miles (196 km) east of Los Angeles. The city has been one of the state's fastest growing since 1980.

A major center of growth in the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert is a popular retreat for "snowbirds" from colder climates (the Eastern and Northern United States, and Canada), who swell its population by an estimated 31,000 each winter. Palm Desert has seen more residents become "full-timers", mainly from the coasts and urban centers of California, who have come for both affordable and high-valued homes.

What is known in Palm Desert?

A popular resort city for many years, Palm Springs is known for its natural hot springs, hotels, restaurants, golf courses, and sunny weather. It's been a favorite destination for Hollywood stars since the 1930s, and many celebrities maintain homes in the Palm Springs area.

Popular activities here include hiking, picnicking, viewing wildlife, and more on over 20,000 acres of desert wilderness and hiking trails. There is a rustic visitors center called the Palm House, which offers basic services. Docent guides lead free guided hikes several times a week.

What makes Palm Desert attractive to visit?

Situated in the heart of Greater Palm Springs, Palm Desert has metamorphosed from a sandy cove at the foot of the Santa Rosas into a sprawling shopping, entertainment, and recreation mecca. Catch a show at the McCallum Theatre , a state-of-the-art performance venue that has hosted some of the world’s top entertainers, as well as touring Broadway acts; feed a giraffe at the wonderfully wild Living Desert Zoo & Gardens , ranked one of the top zoos in the country; let inspiration strike while exploring public art along the city's famed shopping district, El Paseo; kick it into high gear on the Bump and Grind Trail (the 1,000-foot elevation gain pays off in breathtaking panoramic views); or play a round on an award-winning golf course.

El Paseo Shopping District , a tree-lined boulevard boasting public art pieces, upscale stores, and boutiques, is where you’ll find many favorite Palm Desert restaurants, serving everything from Californian and vegan fare to French, Japanese, and other international cuisines. Sign up for a cooking demonstration with a celebrity chef at the annual Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival, held here every March, or get a sneak peek of next season’s styles during Fashion Week El Paseo, the largest event of its kind of the West Coast.