Planning a quick, easy family getaway that doesn’t require flights or a complicated itinerary? A trip to Palm Springs is one of the best options for busy moms looking to reset while still keeping things fun for the kids.

As a working mom, I’m always looking for trips that feel relaxing but still exciting for my daughter—and Palm Springs checks every box. With sunshine year-round, kid-friendly resorts, and simple activities, it’s the perfect destination for a 2-day family trip, especially in the spring and early summer before peak heat hits.

In this post, I’m sharing our real experience—including where we stayed, what we ate, what worked, and what I would do differently—to help you plan your own Palm Springs itinerary with kids.

☀️ Why Palm Springs is Perfect for Families

Palm Springs might have a reputation as an adult getaway, but it’s actually full of family-friendly experiences if you plan it right.

Here’s why it works so well for families:

🚗 Just about a 2-hour drive from Orange County (perfect for a weekend trip)
🏨 Resorts with pools = built-in entertainment
🌴 A slower pace (no over-scheduling needed)
☀️ Consistent sunshine for outdoor fun

Honestly, one of the biggest surprises? You don’t need a packed itinerary—Palm Springs is about slowing down.

With a promising 2 hours road trip from Orange County it checked off all the boxes. We made it our goal to schedule our visit before mid-June when the heat really begins to peak. Most important to us, was to find a family friendly hotel that would entertain our family. After some research, Margaritaville Resort met our needs.

🏨 Where We Stayed: Honest Hotel Review for Families

For our trip, we stayed at Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs, and I want to give you a real, honest breakdown as a mom traveling with a young child.

✔️ What Worked Well

Clean and comfortable room
Spacious bathroom (huge plus!)
Multiple pool areas
Relaxing evening atmosphere with fire pits

⚠️ What to Know Before Booking

Early check-in wasn’t honored (we waited longer than expected)
Pool cleanliness could have been better
Limited staff presence around the pool area
No room service available

Mom Tip:
If you’re traveling with kids, call ahead to confirm early check-in or plan an activity before heading to the hotel.

📅 Day 1: Road Trip, Coffee Stop & Pool Time

🚗 Morning: Easy Drive from Orange County

We left Orange County on a Saturday morning, and the drive took just under 2 hours—making this one of the easiest family getaways you can plan.

Before hitting the road:

Grab coffee
Pack snacks
Keep expectations flexible

This is not a rushed trip—it’s a reset.

☕ Afternoon Coffee Stop: Local Favorite

After arriving, we headed out for a quick pick-me-up at
👉 Cafe La Jefa

This spot had:

The cutest outdoor seating
Great coffee
A relaxed Palm Springs vibe

It’s the perfect first stop to ease into vacation mode.

The outdoor space was too adorable, and the coffee was good too! My husband picked up their specialty coffee and I opted for a refreshing caffeine beverage.

🏨 Check-In Reality (Mom Tip You Need)

We arrived early hoping for early check-in—which I highly recommend when traveling with kids—but it didn’t happen as expected.

👉 Lesson learned:
Always have a backup plan (coffee, lunch, or exploring nearby) so you’re not stuck waiting with kids.

🏊‍♀️ Late Afternoon: Pool Time = Main Activity

Once we finally got settled, we headed straight to the pool—which ended up being the highlight of the trip.

In Palm Springs, the pool isn’t just an activity—it’s the activity.

Research backs this up too: pools are one of the top family attractions in the area due to the desert heat.

We spent time:

Lounging poolside
Letting our daughter play
Relaxing (finally!)

🍽️ Dinner in Downtown Palm Springs

For dinner, we headed into downtown and ate at
👉 Las Casuelas Terraza

And honestly—this was one of the highlights of the trip.

Why I recommend it for families:

Authentic Mexican food
Lively atmosphere
Kid-friendly options

We ordered:

Enchiladas
Quesadilla for our daughter
Margaritas & micheladas for the adults

It had a local feel, which I always look for when traveling.

The restaurant ambience here exudes Mexican authenticity, I’m convinced any meal here is a hit. This was definitely a restaurant that the locals were visiting, and I would highly recommend for a family with young kids.

Margarita and Micheladas for the adults!

🌴 Evening: Downtown Walk + Pool Vibes

After dinner, we:

Walked around downtown
Headed back to the hotel
Relaxed by the pool again

The evening weather? Absolutely perfect.

After some exploring downtown, we knew we’d want to head back to the hotel and check out the pool area and lounge. After all, that’s what every kid looks forward to!

The hotel has two different pool areas and we decided to hang out by the one closer to our hotel room as it had fire pits and a good lounge area. I have to say it was definitely more adult-oriented. While we lounged at the pool, we enjoyed the music playing. Since it was later in the evening, most adults were out and about town leaving the pool for families and adults wanting some rest and relaxation time.

The pool itself did not appear the cleanest. Again, after hosting a day of pool loungers I’m not sure you can blame the hotel for that. Likewise, I would have appreciated hotel staff availability to pick up towels and trash left behind by earlier visitors. While we hung out at the pool, we didn’t order any drinks or food as we had dinner earlier. Meanwhile, the weather in the evening was really perfect for the pool and we were right next to a fire pit that had a burning fire, so the ambience was truly relaxing.

As the sun set, we were back in our hotel room to wrap up the evening with nice shower and a movie to watch to call it a night.

We ended the night with:

Showers
A movie in the room
Early bedtime (mom win)

📅 Day 2: Slow Morning + Exploring + Outlet Stop

🌅 Morning: Relaxed Start

One of the best things about Palm Springs? You don’t need to rush.

We kept the morning simple:

Took our time getting ready
Walked around the property
Considered checking out the second pool

🏊‍♀️ Pool Check (Honest Review Continued)

The hotel had two pool areas:

One more adult-focused
One more family-friendly

We stayed near the quieter pool, but if you’re traveling with kids, I recommend checking both to find the best fit.

🛍️ Stop at Cabazon Outlets (Worth It!)

Before heading home, we made a stop at the
👉 Desert Hills Premium Outlets

This was such a good decision.

Why it’s worth adding to your itinerary:

Easy stop on the way home
Great mix of stores
Perfect quick activity before driving back

We only stopped at a few stores, but it was still worth it.

☀️ Spring & Summer Travel Tips for Palm Springs with Kids

This is one of the most important sections if you want your trip to go smoothly.

Palm Springs heat is no joke—summer temperatures can reach extreme highs, so planning ahead is key.

🌡️ Start Your Day Early

Plan anything outdoors before 10 AM.

💦 Embrace Pool Time Midday

Don’t fight the heat—lean into it.

🧴 Hydration is Everything

Bring:

Water bottles
Electrolytes
Snacks

🧢 Dress Smart

Lightweight clothing
Hats
Sunglasses

🌴 Choose the Right Hotel

Look for:

Shade
Family-friendly pools
Easy access to food

🍽️ Where to Eat in Palm Springs with Kids

Palm Springs has plenty of casual dining options that work well for families.

Look for:

Outdoor seating
Quick service
Kid-friendly menus

Many spots cater to families even in a traditionally adult-focused destination.

🎒 What to Pack for Palm Springs with Kids

Here’s what I’d absolutely bring next time:

Essentials:

Swimsuits (extras!)
Flip flops
Lightweight outfits

Mom Must-Haves:

Sunscreen (SPF 50+)
Electrolytes
Snacks
Water bottles
Cooling towels

Nice to Have:

Pool toys
Light sweater for evenings

💡 Real Mom Takeaways from This Trip

Here’s what I learned:

Don’t rely on early check-in
The pool is the main event
Keep your itinerary light
One activity per day is enough
Snacks = survival

As mentioned earlier, one of the things that I expected was an earlier hotel check in. The hotel could have followed up to let us know so that we would have not waited (or wasted time waiting) by reception. Next to that note, there was no welcome drink offered at check-in as you would expect from the hotel brand.

🌴 Final Thoughts: Is Palm Springs Worth It with Kids?

Yes—100%.

A 2-day Palm Springs itinerary with kids is one of the easiest and most enjoyable family trips you can take—especially if you’re a working mom who wants something simple but memorable.

Overall, we had a nice first time visit in Palm Springs and were able to do some really good exploring. I definitely want to return for a longer stay. I would recommend staying at this hotel at off-peak days and ensuring you bring pool toys to make the experience even more enjoyable.

It’s:

Relaxing
Easy to plan
Flexible
Actually enjoyable for parents too

And honestly, that’s rare.

💡 Travel Budget Planning Tips

We booked our hotel stay using Captial One Travel Portal and my Venture X card which allowed for A $300 hotel credit, which essentially paid for our hotel stay. (While this card has an annual fee, the benefits I receive outweigh the fee). Here’s my Venture X referral link: https://i.capitalone.com/GhUGJFxhu.

📌 Save This for Later

Planning your next family getaway?

✔️ Save this post
✔️ Pin it for later
✔️ Share with another mom

❓ FAQ: Palm Springs with Kids

Is Palm Springs good for kids?

Yes! There are plenty of family-friendly activities, pools, and restaurants.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and early summer are ideal before peak heat.

Is Palm Springs too hot in summer?

It can exceed 100°F, but planning early activities and using the pool makes it manageable.

How many days do you need?

Two days is perfect for a relaxing family getaway.

✨ Plan Your Next Family Trip

If you’re planning more family adventures, check out these helpful guides:

These are perfect if you’re balancing fun, structure, and real mom life.