Should You Visit Palm Springs for Thanksgiving?
Quick Answer
Yes, you should consider visiting Palm Springs for Thanksgiving if you want to trade cold weather, crowded holiday cities, and traditional Thanksgiving scenery for sunshine, outdoor activities, resort pools, spas, great restaurants, and a relaxed desert getaway.
Palm Springs doesn’t have the Thanksgiving identity of Philadelphia, New York City, or Plymouth.
That’s actually part of the appeal.
You aren’t coming to Palm Springs for America’s most famous Thanksgiving parade or because it was central to the holiday’s origins.
You’re coming because Thanksgiving is an excellent excuse to escape to the desert.
Late November is one of Palm Springs’ most comfortable times of year. Average November highs are around 79°F, with lows around 52°F, though conditions can vary.
That means Thanksgiving can look very different here.
Instead of:
- Cold mornings
- Heavy coats
- Holiday crowds
- Early sunsets
- Indoor sightseeing
you can potentially have:
- Sunshine
- Outdoor dining
- Pool time
- Hiking
- Golf
- Spa treatments
- Palm trees
- Desert scenery
- Mid-century architecture
- Restaurants and nightlife
And Thanksgiving dinner can still be the centerpiece of the holiday.
Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley also offer plenty of Thanksgiving dining options, from traditional turkey dinners to prix-fixe meals and resort experiences.
The trade-off is important.
Nonetheless, Palm Springs offers something those destinations can’t: A Thanksgiving vacation that can feel like a warm-weather escape.
Palm Springs for Thanksgiving at a Glance
| Category | Rating |
| Thanksgiving Atmosphere | ★★★★☆ |
| Thanksgiving Tradition | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Thanksgiving History | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Family Friendly | ★★★★☆ |
| Things To Do | ★★★★★ |
| Food & Dining | ★★★★★ |
| Holiday Atmosphere | ★★★☆☆ |
| Outdoor Recreation | ★★★★★ |
| Crowds | Moderate to High |
| Cost & Value | Average / Expensive |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Overall Fit for a Warm-Weather Thanksgiving | ★★★★★ |
What Makes Thanksgiving in Palm Springs Different?
Palm Springs approaches Thanksgiving from almost the opposite direction of New England.
You’re not coming for autumn. You’re coming to escape it.
By late November, much of the country is experiencing cold temperatures, shorter days, and increasingly wintry weather.
Palm Springs is entering one of its most comfortable seasons.
The destination’s tourism organization describes Greater Palm Springs as having more than 300 days of sunshine, and November as a season of outdoor events, art, food, and recreation.
That creates a different kind of Thanksgiving vacation.
You might spend Thanksgiving morning:
- Hiking
- Sitting by the pool
- Playing golf
- Riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Exploring the desert
- Shopping
- Getting a spa treatment
- Walking through downtown
Then have Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant or resort.
The holiday becomes part of a desert vacation, rather than the entire reason for the trip.
That’s Palm Springs’ biggest Thanksgiving advantage.
The 3 Biggest Reasons to Visit Palm Springs for Thanksgiving
Palm Springs doesn’t have a famous Thanksgiving parade or a direct connection to the holiday’s origins. Its appeal comes from something different: Thanksgiving is one of the best times of year to be in the desert.
1. The Weather Can Be Excellent
November is dramatically different from summer in Palm Springs.
The extreme summer heat has passed, while winter hasn’t fully arrived.
Average November highs are around 79°F and average lows are around 52°F.
That makes it possible to plan a Thanksgiving trip around outdoor activities that would be uncomfortable most of the year.
You can:
- Eat outside
- Sit by the pool
- Hike
- Golf
- Explore neighborhoods
- Walk downtown
- Visit outdoor attractions
- Spend time in the desert
Weather is never guaranteed.
But compared with many traditional Thanksgiving destinations, Palm Springs gives you a much better chance of having a warm, outdoor-friendly holiday.
2. Thanksgiving Becomes a Real Vacation
Some Thanksgiving destinations are built around one major event.
Palm Springs doesn’t need one.
You can use the holiday weekend to actually relax.
Spend Thanksgiving morning doing very little, have a long lunch, book a spa treatment, take a hike, sit by the pool, and then have a nice Thanksgiving dinner.
For travelers who find Thanksgiving stressful rather than relaxing, that can be a major advantage.
Palm Springs lets you make the holiday feel like a vacation.
3. Palm Springs Has Plenty to Do Beyond the Holiday
Thanksgiving gives you four or five days in the desert.
There’s plenty to fill them.
You can explore Palm Springs’ mid-century modern architecture, ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, hike in the surrounding mountains and desert, visit museums, explore nearby communities, play golf, shop, relax at a resort, or take a day trip through the Coachella Valley.
Greater Palm Springs also has a busy November event calendar, with seasonal festivals, food events, arts programming, and outdoor activities taking place throughout the region.
That means the destination doesn’t shut down around Thanksgiving.
It remains a functioning vacation destination.
The 3 Biggest Downsides of Visiting Palm Springs for Thanksgiving
Palm Springs is appealing precisely because it isn’t a traditional Thanksgiving destination. But that also creates some limitations.
1. Thanksgiving Doesn’t Feel Especially Traditional
If you’re looking for:
- A Thanksgiving parade
- Fall foliage
- Colonial history
- Historic Thanksgiving traditions
- Snow
- Classic New England atmosphere
Palm Springs isn’t the answer.
Thanksgiving here is more likely to feel like a resort vacation with a Thanksgiving dinner.
For some travelers, that’s exactly what they want.
For others, it may feel like Thanksgiving has been removed from Thanksgiving.
2. Palm Springs Can Be Expensive Over Thanksgiving Weekend
Pleasant November weather is one reason Palm Springs is attractive.
It’s also one reason demand can be strong.
Hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, restaurants, golf, spas, and activities can all become expensive during holiday periods.
And Palm Springs has a particularly large concentration of upscale resorts and boutique hotels.
You can find different price points, but the classic Palm Springs Thanksgiving with nice hotels, pools, spas, restaurants, cocktails, and activities can become an expensive getaway.
3. You May Need a Car
Palm Springs itself is relatively easy to explore in parts, particularly around downtown.
But the broader destination spans the Coachella Valley.
If you want to explore:
- Palm Desert
- Rancho Mirage
- Indian Wells
- La Quinta
- Joshua Tree
- Desert Hot Springs
- Other desert attractions
a car becomes considerably more useful.
That can add another expense to an already potentially expensive holiday weekend.
What Is Thanksgiving in Palm Springs Really Like?
Thanksgiving in Palm Springs is less about the holiday itself and more about how you want to spend the holiday.
There probably won’t be a giant Thanksgiving morning spectacle.
Instead, you might:
- Wake up to sunshine
- Have breakfast outside
- Spend a few hours by the pool
- Take a hike
- Explore downtown
- Get a massage
Then dress up for Thanksgiving dinner.
The following day, you can continue exploring the desert.
That’s the Palm Springs Thanksgiving experience.
It’s relaxed, warm, and outdoors-oriented.
And it’s very different from the Thanksgiving vacations offered by Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, DC.
Planning Your Palm Springs Thanksgiving Trip
Palm Springs is relatively easy to plan, but Thanksgiving changes the equation in one important way:
You’re planning a holiday weekend rather than simply a city break.
That means you should arrange accommodations and Thanksgiving dinner before you arrive.
Best Things to Do in Palm Springs During Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving gives you a great opportunity to enjoy Palm Springs’ mix of outdoor recreation, architecture, food, relaxation, and desert scenery. Build the trip around the experiences that make late November such an appealing time to be here.
Relax by the Pool
You don’t have to fill every hour. Thanksgiving is a vacation.
Use it that way.
A resort pool can be the destination.
Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you from the desert floor into the San Jacinto Mountains.
The temperature difference can be dramatic.
It’s one of the best ways to understand Palm Springs’ unusual geography: desert below, mountain environment above.
Check weather and operating conditions before planning around the tram.
Explore Palm Springs’ Mid-Century Modern Architecture
Palm Springs is famous for mid-century modern architecture.
You can:
- Walk neighborhoods
- Take an architecture tour
- See famous homes
- Explore downtown
- Learn about the city’s architectural history
For architecture lovers, this can be a trip highlight.
Hike in the Desert
Thanksgiving is a particularly good time for outdoor recreation because the summer heat has subsided.
Potential options include:
- Palm Springs trails
- Indian Canyons
- Mountain trails
- Coachella Valley preserves
- Nearby Joshua Tree
Always check trail conditions, weather, water requirements, and operating hours before heading out.
Explore Downtown Palm Springs
Downtown gives you restaurants, shops, galleries, bars, architecture, and the city’s classic Palm Springs atmosphere.
It’s one of the easiest places to explore without turning the day into a major excursion.
Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum
If you want a break from the outdoors, the Palm Springs Art Museum provides an indoor cultural option.
Check its Thanksgiving holiday hours before planning around it.
Play Golf
Golf is another major reason Palm Springs works as a warm-weather Thanksgiving destination.
The Coachella Valley has numerous golf courses, and November’s temperatures are much more comfortable for spending several hours outdoors than the summer months.
Take a Day Trip to Joshua Tree
If you have four or five days, consider adding Joshua Tree National Park.
The desert landscape is dramatically different from Palm Springs, and the cooler Thanksgiving-period weather makes it especially appealing for exploring the park.
Don’t make this a requirement, though.
Palm Springs can easily fill a long weekend on its own.
Thanksgiving Dinner in Palm Springs
Thanksgiving dinner is one part of the trip that requires planning.
Palm Springs and the broader Coachella Valley have restaurants and resorts that offer Thanksgiving meals, including traditional turkey dinners and prix-fixe menus.
The important point isn’t which restaurant you choose.
It’s that you should choose one before you arrive.
Thanksgiving isn’t the night to improvise.
Restaurant menus, prices, hours, and availability can change, so confirm the details directly before booking.
When Should You Arrive?
Travelers who arrive on Wednesday give themselves time to settle into their accommodations.
It also gives you enough time to:
- Check into your hotel
- Explore downtown
- Have dinner
- Relax
- Start Thanksgiving morning without rushing
Arriving Tuesday makes sense if you want a longer resort vacation or want to add Joshua Tree or other desert excursions.
Ideal Trip Length
Palm Springs works for anything from a quick Thanksgiving escape to a longer desert vacation, but a few extra days can make a big difference because the destination is as much about relaxing as sightseeing.
2 Days: Quick Thanksgiving Escape
Two days can work if your priority is:
- Resort
- Thanksgiving dinner
- Pool
- Downtown
- One major activity
But it will feel short.
3 Days: Strong Weekend
Three days give you enough time for:
- Thanksgiving dinner
- Pool or spa
- Downtown
- One outdoor activity
- One major attraction
4 Days: Best Balance
Four days is probably the sweet spot.
You can have Thanksgiving itself without sacrificing the rest of the destination.
Add:
- Architecture
- Hiking
- Tramway
- Golf
- Museums
- Restaurants
- Joshua Tree
5 Days: Full Desert Getaway
Five days makes sense if you’re treating Palm Springs as a proper vacation, not just a Thanksgiving weekend.
You can slow down.
And that’s one of the biggest reasons to choose Palm Springs in the first place.
Where Should You Stay?
Where you stay depends on whether you want Palm Springs the city or Palm Springs the resort destination.
Downtown Palm Springs: Best for Restaurants and Walkability
Stay downtown if you want:
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Shopping
- Architecture
- Easy access to attractions
- A more urban Palm Springs experience
Best for: First-time visitors who want to explore the city.
Uptown Design District: Best for Architecture and Boutique Hotels
This area works well for travelers interested in Palm Springs’ design identity, boutique hotels, restaurants, and mid-century architecture.
Best for: Design-conscious travelers and couples.
South Palm Springs: Best for Resort Atmosphere
South Palm Springs has a strong concentration of hotels and resorts.
Best for: Travelers who want a pool-and-relaxation vacation.
Palm Desert: Best for Resort Amenities and Golf
Palm Desert is a good alternative if you want access to golf, resorts, shopping, and the broader Coachella Valley.
Best for: Golfers, families, and resort travelers.
La Quinta: Best for a Quiet Desert Resort
La Quinta offers another desert getaway, with resorts, golf, restaurants, and access to outdoor activities.
Best for: Travelers who want a quieter resort experience.
Who Should Visit Palm Springs for Thanksgiving?
Palm Springs is particularly good for:
- Couples
- Families
- Resort travelers
- Spa travelers
- Golfers
- Outdoor enthusiasts
- Architecture lovers
- Food travelers
- Travelers escaping cold weather
- Travelers who don’t need a traditional Thanksgiving
- People who want a relaxing holiday
- Travelers combining Thanksgiving with Joshua Tree
Think Twice If You:
- Want a Thanksgiving parade
- Want traditional New England Thanksgiving atmosphere
- Want fall foliage
- Want Thanksgiving history
- Want a cold-weather holiday
- Prefer dense urban sightseeing
- Don’t enjoy resort destinations
- Want to minimize driving
- Are looking for the cheapest Thanksgiving getaway
Is Palm Springs Good for Families at Thanksgiving?
Yes, particularly for families who want to spend Thanksgiving outdoors.
Palm Springs gives families more opportunities to spend time outdoors than many traditional big-city Thanksgiving destinations.
You can combine:
- Pool time
- Hiking
- Tramway
- Outdoor recreation
- Downtown
- Restaurants
- Joshua Tree
- Family-friendly attractions
The main consideration is the type of hotel you choose.
A resort-focused property can work extremely well for families because the hotel itself becomes part of the vacation.
Is Palm Springs Good for Couples at Thanksgiving?
Yes. Couples can turn Thanksgiving into a long weekend built around:
- Boutique hotels
- Pools
- Spas
- Architecture
- Cocktails
- Restaurants
- Hiking
- Golf
- Desert sunsets
Instead of organizing the entire trip around a Thanksgiving event, you can make the holiday dinner one part of a romantic desert getaway.
Palm Springs or New York City for Thanksgiving?
These are almost completely different Thanksgiving vacations.
Choose New York City if you want:
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Major holiday spectacle
- Broadway
- World-famous attractions
- Christmas atmosphere
- Huge crowds
- A classic big-city Thanksgiving
Choose Palm Springs if you want:
- Sunshine
- Warm weather
- Pools
- Spas
- Outdoor recreation
- Relaxation
- Desert scenery
- A slower Thanksgiving
The simplest difference? New York makes Thanksgiving the event.
Palm Springs makes Thanksgiving the excuse for a vacation.
Palm Springs or Philadelphia for Thanksgiving?
Choose Philadelphia if you want:
- America’s oldest Thanksgiving Day parade
- American history
- Independence Hall
- The Liberty Bell
- Old City
- A compact historic city
Choose Palm Springs if you want:
- Warm weather
- Pools
- Hiking
- Spas
- Resorts
- Desert scenery
- A relaxing getaway
Philadelphia gives you Thanksgiving tradition + history.
Palm Springs gives you Thanksgiving + escape.
Palm Springs or Boston for Thanksgiving?
Choose Boston if you want:
- New England atmosphere
- Plymouth nearby
- Colonial history
- Thanksgiving origins
- Historic neighborhoods
- Cooler weather
Choose Palm Springs if you want:
- Sunshine
- Warm weather
- Outdoor recreation
- Resorts
- Pools
- Spas
- Desert scenery
Boston connects you to Thanksgiving’s story.
Palm Springs lets you escape November.
Palm Springs or Washington, DC for Thanksgiving?
Choose Washington, DC if you want:
- Presidential history
- Smithsonian museums
- National monuments
- American government
- Thanksgiving’s national story
Choose Palm Springs if you want:
- Sunshine
- Outdoor recreation
- Relaxation
- Resorts
- Pools
- Desert scenery
Washington gives you Thanksgiving context.
Palm Springs gives you Thanksgiving escape.
The Decision
So, should you travel to Palm Springs for Thanksgiving?
If you want a traditional Thanksgiving experience, probably not.
Palm Springs doesn’t have Philadelphia‘s parade, Boston‘s connection to Plymouth, New York City‘s holiday spectacle, or Washington, DC‘s presidential history.
But that’s not what Palm Springs is selling.
Palm Springs offers something different.
A chance to turn Thanksgiving into a vacation.
For travelers who want Thanksgiving to feel traditional, choose Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, or another destination with a stronger holiday identity.
For travelers who want to escape November, Palm Springs may be one of the better Thanksgiving choices in the country.
Come for the sunshine. Stay for the Thanksgiving dinner. Make the holiday your vacation.
3 Pros. 3 Cons. You Decide.
Palm Springs for Thanksgiving Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palm Springs worth visiting for Thanksgiving?
Yes, particularly if you want warm weather, outdoor activities, resorts, spas, golf, restaurants, and a relaxing alternative to traditional Thanksgiving destinations.
Is Palm Springs warm at Thanksgiving?
Usually, yes. November average highs are around 79°F, with average lows around 52°F, though individual days can vary.
Does Palm Springs have a Thanksgiving parade?
Palm Springs does not have a Thanksgiving parade comparable to the major Thanksgiving Day parades in New York City or Philadelphia.
Is Palm Springs crowded at Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a popular travel period, and Palm Springs can see increased demand for hotels, resorts, restaurants, and activities. The destination is generally a better choice for travelers seeking a resort getaway than for those looking for an empty desert retreat.
What can you do in Palm Springs on Thanksgiving?
You can relax at a resort, swim, hike, play golf, explore downtown, take in the architecture, ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, or enjoy a Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant or resort.
Are Palm Springs restaurants open on Thanksgiving?
Yes. Restaurants and resorts offer Thanksgiving meals, although individual menus and hours vary. Reservations are strongly recommended. Current 2026 offerings include Thanksgiving meals at several Palm Springs-area restaurants and resorts.
How many days do you need in Palm Springs for Thanksgiving?
Three to four days works well for most travelers. Four days provides enough time for Thanksgiving dinner, outdoor activities, relaxation, dining, and sightseeing.
Is Palm Springs good for families at Thanksgiving?
Yes. Families can combine outdoor activities, pools, hiking, museums, the tramway, restaurants, and nearby attractions.
Is Palm Springs good for couples at Thanksgiving?
Yes. Palm Springs is particularly well suited to couples who want a warm-weather getaway built around resorts, spas, restaurants, architecture, outdoor activities, and relaxation.
Should you visit Palm Springs or New York City for Thanksgiving?
Choose New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, holiday spectacle, Broadway, and major-city energy. Choose Palm Springs for sunshine, outdoor recreation, pools, resorts, and a relaxing Thanksgiving getaway.
Should you visit Palm Springs or Philadelphia for Thanksgiving?
Choose Philadelphia for America’s oldest Thanksgiving Day parade and American history. Choose Palm Springs for warm weather, outdoor recreation, resorts, and a more relaxed holiday.
Should you visit Palm Springs or Boston for Thanksgiving?
Choose Boston for New England atmosphere, Plymouth, and the early Thanksgiving story. Choose Palm Springs for sunshine, warm weather, and a resort-style Thanksgiving escape.
Should you visit Palm Springs or Washington, DC for Thanksgiving?
Choose Washington, DC for presidential history, museums, monuments, and the national story of Thanksgiving. Choose Palm Springs for warm weather, outdoor recreation, and relaxation.