The Palm Springs Tram: What is it Really Like?
Most visitors to Palm Springs have heard about the Palm Springs aerial Tramway but even some frequent visitors haven't tried it. Is it worth adding a tram ride to your your trip?
In this guide, we'll break down the pros and cons of the Palm Springs Air Tram, starting with the basics.
Where is it?
If you've driven into town on the 111, you've passed the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway sign.
When you arrive in town, you'll see our beautiful mid-century visitors center on the left, just before you hit the Uptown Design District. Hang a right and drive about 3 miles on Tram Road and you'll hit the parking lots. Voila! You've found it.
How long is the ride up the mountain?
It’s generally about a ten minute ride from the valley station at the bottom all the way to the top but it can take as long as fifteen minutes. That means that your total time commitment could be as little as one hour if you just wanted to pop up to the mountain station and come back down, including the time it might take to wait for a tram, and for people to get on and off.
However, there are many reasons to spend more time at the top and will get into those.
How much it cost?
Palm Springs tram tickets for adults are about $30 round-trip and kids under 11 are $18. You can buy tickets just before boarding the tram or buy tickets online.
Do online tickets cost more?
Yes. The tram charges $2 more per ticket when you purchase tickets for the tramway online. However, by skipping the long lines at the ticket counter, you're bound to save yourself much more than $2 worth of precious vacation time.
Does it go to the top of the mountain?
Kind of. The tram climbs all the way up 8,516 feet which is the top of one of the peaks of San Jacinto Mountain but not the top of the tallest peak which is more than 10,000 feet in altitude.
What is at the top of the Aerial Tram in Palm Springs?
There's something for everyone at San Jacinto State Park at the top of the tram. Besides miles of hiking trails, there are also activities for those that may not be so outdoorsy (read: food and booze), a gift shop, the ranger station, a natural history museum and much more. Here's a breakdown of what to expect.
Trees.
One thing that many people don’t know is that there is a massive state park and tons of pine trees at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Not only can you enjoy more than 50 miles of hiking through the Coachella Valley Preserve, but you may see people with backpacks that actually camp for nights at a time in San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness Preserve.
Wine.
If you’re like us, You’ll appreciate the fact that there is a full-service restaurant and bar right at the top of the tram! So, if you want, you can put your hiking shoes away, sip a glass of rosé at the Peaks Restaurant Palm Springs and soak up the views.
Views.
This may not come as a surprise, but the views of the Coachella Valley from the top of the tram are absolutely spectacular.
The observation decks attached to the building that the tram enters offer the best views upon arrival. You'll have no problem finding them, just follow the crowds! Once you leave the mountain station and venture into the pine groves, it can be quite a bit harder to find open vistas.
It’s also worth noting that the views of chino canyon from the tram itself are equally breathtaking. The tram car actually rotates 360° -- it's "the world's largest rotating tram" -- as it moves up the hill so there is not a bad or a good place to stand.
Snow.
When most visitors think of Palm Springs, snow is among the last things to come to mind. However, with weather at the tram in Palm Springs typically 30 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the desert floor below, you'll find snow at the top of the tram in the winter. When snow is in full effect, consider a wintry adventure, cross country skiing or maybe just a snowball fight.
In fact, there's an Annual Snow Guessing Contest where locals and visitors alike try to predict when the first flakes will fall at the top of our majestic mountain. We suggest you take part, but maybe while comfortably settled in the warm sunshine at your luxury Palm Springs vacation rental.
Is it scary?
I mean, does being suspended by a cable in a rotating capsule filled with strangers while dangling above craggy rocks and trees and ascending at a steep angle to the top of a mountain sound scary to you? Then, yes, it might be.
If you're a seasoned skiier or just good at closing your eyes and counting to 60 ten times, then you'll have no problems whatsoever. So, it’s all very subjective.
If you think you might be scared, one thing to do is to remember that it won’t take more than 15 minutes each direction and usually more like 10 minutes. You can do anything for 10 minutes, right? Also, there’s wine up there.
Is the Palm Spring Aerial Tram worth it?
Most likely, the answer is going to be yes. There's something for everyone up there, the Palm Springs Tram Weather is 30 degrees cooler than the rest of Palm Springs and the views are out of control. We hope you'll take advantage of this unique attraction during your stay in Palm Springs and, as always, let us know what you thought!