Getting Around Palm Springs: Downtown congestion and desert highways
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: what getting around Palm Springs really takes.
Holley, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Holley lives in Palm Springs, which still feels a little surreal after years of dreaming about desert life from afar. After moving across the country six times, she landed in the Coachella Valley for the palm trees, mountain views, and a history so layered it feels like it was built for her. She has worked at two presidential libraries, hosts a history podcast, and writes archival based stories that bring the past back to life, which makes a place steeped in Old Hollywood, politics, and quiet celebrity exactly her speed. When she’s not golfing or disappearing into another archive treasure hunt, she’s happily leaning into local life, and exploring the best date-shake stands. At Snappy Scout, Holley edits with a historians eye and a locals instincts, turning California from a postcard into a place with texture, memory, and meaning.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
How Do You Get Around Palm Springs?
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: the daily logistics nobody puts on the listing.
The time I spend getting to/from work every day is
seven blissful minutes, assuming a golf cart convention doesn’t intervene
Traffic congestion areas to avoid
Palm Canyon Drive during Modernism Week, when design devotees take over
Ability to get around without a car is
technically possible, if your life revolves around one resort and you’re on a first-name basis with every Lyft driver in the Coachella Valley
Locals dream of driving around in a
pristine ’60s convertible and unapologetic Rat Pack energy
The reality is that most locals drive
white luxury SUVs with tinted windows and a permanent layer of desert dust
Quirky local driving habit
stopping for roadrunners that refuse to hurry
The likelihood of finding parking is
embarrassingly easy, except when retirees descend on Whole Foods at 10 am
#1 driving tip
windshield sunshades aren’t optional unless you like branding yourself on hot leather
Where I Go for a Quiet Escape
Escaping the tourist-packed downtown and wandering back into the Movie Colony on a sunny spring day is one of my favorite resets. And if you need a quiet moment, step into the little Our Lady of Solitude Church on West Alejo. It’s so peaceful and allows you to recenter.
— Holley Snaith
California Local Expert
Ready to See If Palm Springs Fits You?
Compare neighborhoods, check the routes, or head back to the full Palm Springs guide for the bigger picture.