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Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs, CA
AttractionsIconicOutdoor Adventure

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.

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  • #tramway
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  • #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

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Tahquitz Canyon

    Under $25

    A 1.8-mile loop trail on Agua Caliente tribal land in Palm Springs that climbs to a seasonal 60-foot waterfall, with a visitor center and ranger-led hikes.

    4.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • 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

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

    Under $25

    The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians tells its own story in a 48,000-square-foot museum on a 5.8-acre downtown Palm Springs plaza with a spa and oasis trail.

    4.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • 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

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Cabazon Dinosaurs

    Under $25

    Meet Dinny and Mr. Rex, two giant roadside dinosaurs off Interstate 10, then walk among more than 100 others.

    11 mi awayMore like this