Hertz Car Rental
Palm Springs

If you’re staying at a resort and only plan to relax, dine nearby, and use ride-shares, you can manage without a car. If you want to explore beyond your immediate area—especially for hikes, viewpoints, or day trips—having a car makes everything faster and simpler. For most visitors who plan to explore, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

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.

Parts of downtown Palm Springs are walkable for shops, restaurants, and nightlife if you stay nearby. But the overall area is spread out, and many hotels and attractions require a drive, especially in warmer months when walking long distances is uncomfortable. If you’re not staying right downtown, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

PSP is very close to Palm Springs, so a drive to many hotels is quick and straightforward. That convenience makes picking up a car at the airport an easy way to start your trip without waiting on rides. If you want flexible, immediate mobility, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Anything involving scenic drives, desert viewpoints, trailheads, and exploring different neighborhoods is significantly easier with your own vehicle. You’ll also have an easier time reaching restaurants or shops outside the downtown strip without stacking ride-share costs. For activity-focused trips, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

For a quick weekend centered on a single resort, a car can be optional if you plan to stay put and use occasional ride-shares. If you want to fit in multiple stops—views, shopping areas, or hikes—you’ll save time and hassle with a rental. For a “see more” weekend, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Ride-shares can work well for short hops to downtown dining and back, especially if your plans are limited. But costs add up quickly if you’re doing multiple outings per day or heading to farther trailheads and viewpoints. If you plan to explore beyond the resort, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Driving is generally straightforward with wide roads and a layout that’s easy to learn after a day. Most destinations are reached by simple surface-street routes rather than complicated city driving. For most travelers, renting a car is beneficial and low-stress in Palm Springs.

Compared with major metros, traffic is usually manageable, but it can spike during peak visitor weekends and event periods in the Coachella Valley. Plan extra time around popular dining hours and when big events are happening nearby. Even with occasional slowdowns, renting a car is still beneficial in Palm Springs for flexibility.

Expect busier roads during weekends, holiday periods, and major festival/event days in the region. Restaurant rushes and check-in/check-out windows can also create pockets of congestion near popular areas. If you want freedom to move around on your schedule, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Parking is generally doable, but prime spots near popular restaurants and shops can fill up during peak evenings and weekends. A short walk from a slightly farther spot often solves the issue without much stress. If you want easy access without relying on ride-shares, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Many hotels and resorts have dedicated parking, and some may charge a daily fee depending on the property. If your hotel charges and you don’t plan to leave the property much, a car can feel less worthwhile. If you plan to explore beyond your hotel regularly, renting a car is still beneficial in Palm Springs.

Parking at trailheads and scenic stops can fill up earlier on weekends and in pleasant-weather seasons. Going early in the morning is often the easiest way to get a spot and enjoy cooler temperatures. If hiking is a priority, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

A compact or midsize car is usually perfect for city driving, dining areas, and straightforward day trips. Choose an SUV only if you need extra space for people/gear or prefer a higher ride for desert drives. For most travelers, renting a standard car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Not for typical sightseeing and paved-road exploring—most major routes and attractions are accessible in a normal car. An SUV is mainly about comfort, cargo space, or certain rougher-access areas you may choose to visit. For standard itineraries, renting a regular car is beneficial and sufficient in Palm Springs.

A convertible can be fun in mild weather for scenic drives, but it’s less comfortable during very hot periods and can be impractical for longer daytime drives. If you’re visiting in cooler months and love the open-air vibe, it can add to the experience. As a practical choice, renting any car is beneficial in Palm Springs, and a convertible is optional.

In hotter months, cars become the most comfortable way to move around since walking and waiting outdoors can be unpleasant. Plan shorter outdoor stops and keep water in the car, especially if you’ll be parking and hopping between places. During heat, renting a car is especially beneficial in Palm Springs.

Many local drives around Palm Springs and nearby valley cities are short and easy. Longer drives usually come from day trips to surrounding desert areas or other Southern California destinations. If you want to add day trips, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Yes, because golf courses are spread out across Palm Springs and the wider Coachella Valley, and you’ll likely be moving between tee times, meals, and your hotel. A car also helps if you want to shop or dine in different areas after your round. For golf-focused trips, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Yes—Joshua Tree is typically done as a day trip, and having your own car makes it far easier to manage timing, stops, and viewpoints. It’s also much more practical than relying on multiple ride-shares for a desert park visit. For a Joshua Tree day trip, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

You can, but it’s inconvenient because the valley is spread out and many destinations aren’t clustered in one walkable zone. A rental makes it easy to hop between shopping districts, restaurants, and resorts across different cities. For exploring the Coachella Valley, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

A car can be helpful for flexibility, but event traffic and parking logistics can also be stressful and expensive around peak times. Many attendees prefer shuttles or ride-shares for the final approach while keeping a car for everything else. For event weekends, renting a car is beneficial for overall mobility, but plan to avoid driving right into the busiest venues.

Yes—Palm Springs is ideal for scenic drives because you can get from city streets to desert landscapes quickly. Even one day with a car can unlock viewpoints and areas you wouldn’t reach efficiently otherwise. For a dedicated scenic-drive day, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

It’s doable, but it’s a long day with significant driving time, so it’s best if you’re comfortable with highway driving and early starts. Many travelers prefer closer day trips, but a rental gives you the option if you want a big-city contrast. For long day trips, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs if you’re committed to the drive.

Downtown shopping is walkable if you stay nearby, but many popular shopping areas and larger retail zones are outside the central core. A car makes it much easier to cover multiple shopping stops without spending on repeated ride-shares. For serious shopping days, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Ride-shares are fine for a straight hotel transfer, especially if you won’t be moving around much afterward. A rental car is often the smoothest option if you want to start exploring right away and avoid repeated rides during your stay. If you plan multiple outings, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Airport pickup is usually the most convenient because you begin your trip immediately with transportation in hand. In-town pickup can make sense if you’re spending your first day or two staying local and want to avoid paying for unused car days. For most itineraries with exploring, renting from PSP is beneficial in Palm Springs.

A car becomes useful the moment you plan to leave the downtown area—especially for hikes, viewpoints, or visiting other valley cities. Even a single “exploration day” can justify a rental if you want to see more than the walkable core. For downtown stays with any day trips, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Yes—many scenic and outdoor areas, trailheads, and spread-out valley neighborhoods are not practical to reach efficiently without a car. If your itinerary includes nature stops or multiple towns, a vehicle is the easiest way to do it. For these plans, renting a car is necessary in Palm Springs.

Night driving is usually straightforward on well-marked main roads, especially if you stick to major routes between hotels and dining areas. As always, use extra caution on darker desert-adjacent roads and allow time to navigate parking. For evening flexibility, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Yes, you’ll notice fuller lots and more competition for convenient spots during popular weekends, holiday periods, and high-demand travel months. The workaround is simple: arrive a bit earlier and be willing to walk a few minutes. Even in peak season, renting a car is still beneficial in Palm Springs.

If everything is on-property and you’re not planning to explore, a car can be optional and you may be fine with a transfer plus occasional ride-shares. If you want to mix in dinners, shopping, or desert sightseeing, a car quickly becomes convenient. For a retreat-only stay it’s optional, but for added exploring renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Yes—families often have multiple daily stops, and a car makes it easier to manage timing, snacks, and gear without waiting around. It also helps you reach attractions and parks that aren’t in the immediate downtown area. For families, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

It can be, especially if you stay downtown and focus on nearby dining, cocktails, and relaxing at the hotel. But a car adds spontaneity for scenic drives and sunset viewpoints without coordinating rides. For couples staying downtown it’s optional, but overall renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

If you’re making multiple trips per day, visiting spread-out areas, or doing day trips, a rental often comes out cheaper and more predictable than stacking ride-share fares. If your plans are limited to a small downtown radius, ride-shares may be more cost-effective. For exploring-heavy itineraries, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Yes—Palm Springs gives you quick access to desert scenery and wide-open drives without needing to stay far from hotels and dining. That balance is exactly what makes it a strong base for short adventures. For desert exploring, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Most local driving around Palm Springs and the immediate Coachella Valley typically doesn’t revolve around toll roads, but routes toward other Southern California areas may vary. If you’re doing longer day trips, confirm your route settings before you go. For local use, renting a car is beneficial and toll concerns are usually minimal in Palm Springs.

Yes—the valley is well-suited to linking multiple stops because roads between Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and La Quinta are straightforward and relatively quick. A rental makes it simple to build a flexible day without locking into fixed pickup times. For multi-stop days, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.

Plan your “driving days” around hikes, scenic drives, and day trips, and use walkability and ride-shares for your downtown evenings. This approach can reduce parking costs and still give you freedom when it matters most. For split itineraries, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs even if it’s only for a few days.

Anyone planning day trips, outdoor stops, or exploring across the Coachella Valley will get far more convenience and better control of their schedule with a car. Travelers staying strictly downtown or fully on-property can treat a car as optional. For most visitors beyond a resort-only stay, renting a car is beneficial in Palm Springs.