Avis Car Rental
Palm Springs

Having a car is one of the easiest ways to get from Palm Springs International Airport to most hotels and resorts because many properties don’t offer airport shuttles. It also makes it much simpler to explore beyond your hotel without relying on ride-hail pricing or limited local options. Renting a car is strongly recommended for most Palm Springs trips.

Some areas—especially around downtown Palm Springs—can feel walkable for dining and short outings, but the region is spread out and many resorts sit a drive away from the main streets. If you plan to do more than stay on-property, a car makes your trip far more convenient. Renting a car is beneficial unless your plans are strictly downtown and resort-based.

Resorts can be self-contained, but getting to restaurants, shopping, and viewpoints usually requires driving because distances add up quickly. Since many resorts charge for parking, you’ll want to weigh that cost against frequent ride-hail trips. Renting a car is usually worth it if you’ll leave the resort more than once or twice.

Many popular places to stay are only a short drive from PSP (for example, some properties are about 7 miles away), but that still means arranging transportation on arrival and departure. Without a hotel shuttle, having your own car often ends up being the simplest and most predictable option. Renting a car is recommended for smooth airport-to-hotel transfers.

Ontario is roughly 79 miles away and LAX is about 131 miles away from Palm Springs-area resorts, which makes ground transportation a bigger commitment. A rental car can turn that long transfer into a straightforward drive rather than coordinating pricey one-way rides. Renting a car is highly recommended if you’re not flying into PSP.

Palm Springs is generally a straightforward driving destination with wide roads and a layout that’s easy to navigate for most travelers. The bigger factor is that attractions and neighborhoods are spread out, so driving saves time and hassle. Renting a car is beneficial for getting around efficiently.

If you’re only doing a couple of short trips near your hotel, ride-hail can be fine, but costs can add up fast when you’re moving around a spread-out desert area. A car becomes a better value when you’re doing multiple outings per day or visiting areas outside the core. Renting a car is usually the better deal for active itineraries.

The Coachella Valley includes multiple communities that blend together, and many visitors bounce between them for dining, shopping, and events. Doing that with ride-hail can get expensive and inconvenient compared to driving yourself. Renting a car is recommended if you plan to explore beyond one neighborhood.

Parking is usually manageable, but costs and rules vary a lot by hotel and venue. Many resorts and higher-end properties offer paid self-parking and valet, so you should budget for it. Renting a car is still beneficial, but plan on paying for parking at many properties.

Some travelers assume shuttles are common, but at least some major properties explicitly do not provide airport shuttle service. That means you’ll need a plan for airport transfers and getting around town. Renting a car is recommended if you don’t want to rely on taxis or ride-hail for every trip.

Paid parking can change the math, especially if you’re mostly staying on-property. But if you’ll be dining out, taking day trips, or moving around the valley, parking fees may still be cheaper than multiple daily ride-hail trips. Renting a car is optional for resort-only stays but beneficial for exploring.

The main advantage is freedom: you can easily get from the airport to your hotel and move around a spread-out area on your own schedule. It also simplifies early-morning starts and late returns without depending on app availability or surge pricing. Renting a car is beneficial for most travelers.

The most common downside is paying for parking at resorts and popular hotels, especially if you don’t plan to drive much. You may also prefer not to drive if you plan to spend most time at the pool or on-property. Renting a car is optional if your trip is mostly hotel-based.

Airport pickup is convenient because you can land and start your trip immediately, which matters if your hotel doesn’t run a shuttle. Off-airport pickup can work, but it typically requires arranging transportation first. Renting at PSP is usually the most convenient choice.

At PSP, the rental counters are located in the terminal area near baggage claim, and cars are close by, which can make pickup relatively quick after landing. That convenience helps you avoid waiting around for a ride to an off-site lot. Renting a car at PSP is a practical time-saver.

PSP has clear rental car return signage, and after-hours return options are commonly supported by major operators. That makes it easier to catch early departures without complicated drop-off logistics. Renting a car is still convenient even with early flight times.

If you’re staying right near downtown, walking and short ride-hail trips may be enough for evenings. If your hotel is farther out, relying on rides both ways can be inconvenient and more expensive. Renting a car is optional for downtown stays but beneficial for resort-area stays.

Yes—Palm Springs is set up well for short drives to desert viewpoints, trailheads, and nearby towns without needing complicated navigation. Many of the best experiences involve getting out of the downtown core and into the surrounding Coachella Valley and desert areas. If you’re planning a road-trip feel, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

A weekend can still include airport transfers plus multiple short drives that add up quickly without a car. If you’ll mostly relax at your hotel and do one dinner out, you can skip it, but most weekend itineraries include enough movement to justify a car. Renting a car is usually beneficial for weekend trips.

On longer stays, you’re more likely to explore beyond your immediate area, run errands, or take multiple outings where ride-hail costs stack up. Having a car also gives you flexibility to change plans day by day. Renting a car is strongly recommended for longer stays.

It can be, especially if your hotel offers on-site EV charging, though availability may be limited and worth confirming in advance. If charging access isn’t reliable where you’re staying, an EV can become less convenient. Renting an EV is beneficial if you have dependable charging at your lodging.

Many properties offer both, and valet can be convenient for frequent in-and-out trips while self-parking can feel simpler if you prefer direct access to your car. Since both are often paid, pick the option that matches how often you’ll drive. Renting a car is still beneficial, but choose parking that supports your schedule.

Yes, because you’ll need a reliable way to get from PSP (or farther airports like ONT/LAX) to your hotel and back. Without a shuttle, a rental car often becomes the easiest all-in-one solution for both transfers and local mobility. Renting a car is recommended when your hotel has no shuttle.

It can be a friendly place to start because the area is generally easy to navigate and airport-to-hotel distances are short. The main thing is staying comfortable with U.S. driving rules and parking setups at resorts. Renting a car is beneficial if you’re comfortable driving in the U.S.

For most visitors staying in town, a compact or midsize car is easy to park and efficient for short drives around the valley. If you’re planning longer drives from ONT or LAX or traveling with more luggage, a larger vehicle may feel more comfortable. Renting a car is beneficial, and a standard car fits most Palm Springs trips.

For typical Palm Springs driving—hotels, downtown, and nearby communities—an SUV isn’t required. Choose an SUV mainly for space, comfort, or preference rather than necessity. Renting a car is beneficial, and an SUV is optional for most itineraries.

Day trips are much harder without a car because you’ll be coordinating long rides, timing, and potentially high costs. A rental car lets you leave early, stop where you want, and return on your own schedule. Renting a car is strongly recommended for day trips.

Yes, because it simplifies airport transfers, reduces waiting, and makes it easier to carry strollers, bags, and anything you need for outings. It also reduces the number of separate rides you need to book each day. Renting a car is strongly recommended for families.

If your celebration is mostly at the hotel—spa, pool, on-site dining—you can get by without a car and use a ride for one nice dinner out. If you want to explore different restaurants and viewpoints around the valley, a car makes it smoother. Renting a car is optional for stay-in plans but beneficial for going out.

Golf outings often involve moving between resorts and courses that aren’t always close together, and carrying clubs is easier in your own trunk than in multiple ride-hails. A rental car also helps you keep tee times without transportation delays. Renting a car is recommended for golfers playing multiple courses.

Downtown stays can reduce the need for a car because you may walk to restaurants and shops. But you’ll still need a plan for airport transfers and anything outside the downtown area. Renting a car is optional downtown but beneficial for broader exploring.

If your hotel is outside the downtown core, you’ll likely be driving for most meals and activities, and repeated ride-hail trips can become a hassle. A rental car makes these routine trips easy and predictable. Renting a car is recommended for non-downtown stays.

Yes, because shopping and errands typically involve multiple stops across a spread-out area, and having a trunk makes the day much easier. Without a car, you’ll spend more time waiting and coordinating rides. Renting a car is strongly recommended for errand-heavy trips.

Many hotels and resorts charge daily rates for self-parking and valet, and those fees can meaningfully affect your trip budget. If you plan to keep the car parked most of the time, calculate whether parking plus rental beats a few ride-hails. Renting a car is beneficial, but only if you’ll actually use it enough to justify parking costs.

Some hotels offer EV charging on-site, but availability can be limited and may not be guaranteed when you arrive. Confirm your hotel’s charging details ahead of time if EV charging is important to your plans. Renting an EV is beneficial if you can count on charging access.

A rental car can make late arrivals simpler because you can go directly to your hotel without waiting for a ride, which is especially helpful if your property doesn’t run a shuttle. Airport rental setups are designed for arriving travelers, and returns can often be handled even outside peak times. Renting a car is recommended for late arrivals for easier logistics.

Most visitors find getting around manageable because major roads and airport routes are straightforward, and phone navigation works well for common destinations. The main planning point is knowing where you’ll park at your hotel and key venues. Renting a car is beneficial and generally not stressful for most drivers.

Yes—many travelers go car-free for resort relaxation days and rent for a day or two to handle errands or explore outside the immediate area. This approach helps reduce parking costs while still giving you flexibility when you need it. Renting a car is beneficial as a part-time strategy if you’re balancing costs and convenience.

Yes, because the desert setting rewards flexibility—being able to pull off for a quick stop is much easier when you control your own transportation. It also lets you avoid coordinating multiple pickups and drop-offs for short, spontaneous outings. Renting a car is strongly recommended for photographers and explorers.

You can skip a car if you’re staying right downtown or fully on-property, plan very few outings, and don’t mind using ride-hail for airport transfers. Most other travelers will find the area’s spread-out layout makes a car noticeably more convenient. Renting a car is unnecessary only for low-mobility, stay-put itineraries.