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Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

1 Tram Way · Palm Springs, CA

Why you should go…

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway carries visitors 2.5 miles up Chino Canyon in rotating tramcars, rising from the desert floor to Mountain Station at 8,500 feet inside Mount San Jacinto State Park. It opened in September 1963 and is operated by the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority, a public agency created by the California legislature in 1945. The mountain station offers hiking trails, restaurants, and observation decks overlooking the Coachella Valley.

  • #views
  • #tramway
  • #hiking
  • #iconic
  • #outdoor

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Iconic

    Palm Springs Art Museum

    $25–$50

    A large art museum in downtown Palm Springs with a collection spanning contemporary California, Native American, and modern European art.

    4.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Palm Springs

    Free

    Official visitor info for Palm Springs, from desert resorts and Palm Canyon shopping to the aerial tramway.

    4.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Five Star Adventures Tours

    $50+

    Guided sightseeing tours past Palm Springs celebrity homes and midcentury modern architecture.

    4.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Escape Room Palm Springs

    $25–$50

    Private, family-friendly escape rooms in Palm Springs with themes from bank heists to a wizard school.

    4.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Indian Canyons

    Under $25

    Palm oasis canyons on Agua Caliente tribal land near Palm Springs with hiking trails and a trading post.

    5.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Palm Springs Air Museum

    Under $25

    Living history museum with one of the world's largest flyable collections of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam era aircraft.

    7.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums