March and April is traditionally the time for spring breaks in schools so you need to get ready with a good family road trip itinerary. There are many places in California that make a perfect spring break travel destination and I have shared a lot of them on my blog. However one of my most favorite ones is San Francisco to Palm Springs road trip. Palm Springs area has one of the best spring seasons around: it is warm, but not hot (high 70s to low 80s), dry, no humidity with only a slight chance of rain and everything is in bloom.
How to Get There. San Francisco to Palm Springs road trip is roughly 500 miles depending on where you live. You may also fly, which will take 1 hour 20 min from SFO and will save you some time and effort but if you are up for saving money and viewing some cool attractions along the way then a road trip is your best bet. So once you decide to drive, I strongly suggest to split the trip down south (and back up) in 2 days.
Google Maps promises you a 7.5 hours’ San Francisco to Palm Springs road trip in perfect conditions but when are things perfect, especially with kids? It may take you just 1 hour to get out of Bay Area or you may get stuck in heavy traffic around Los Angeles. So do not press on for 1 day door-to-door and just enjoy a leisurely ride. There are 2 ways to drive South from SF Bay Area: HW 5 and HW 101. We drove down on HW 5 and returned on HW 101 to get the best of both.
San Francisco to Palm Springs Road Trip: Day 1
We usually break our trip South around Bakersfield. It has become a family tradition to stop at the same Best Western hotel which is right off HW 5 because we are Best Western loyalty program members (for more information on choosing lodging and hotel loyalty programs check my previous article HERE).
We go to the same yummy BBQ place for dinner (more details below) and do something fun in the area. We start our trip in the morning (driving out of San Francisco Bay area before 9 am on a weekend pretty much guarantees you a no-traffic journey) and arrive in Bakersfield within 4 hours near lunch time.
This time we packed a picnic lunch to save time and money going to a restaurant and headed to the California Living Museum which has picnic tables on premises. In essence it is a small zoo featuring native California animals and birds, with some unique tenants, like California condor. It is best for younger kids but I have to say that my then 9 year old enjoyed it too. It also has a train ride (which runs on weekends only and closes at 3 pm). The ride costs $1 pp in addition to the zoo entrance fee of $10 per adult and $7 for kids 3-12, under 3 is free. Unfortunately this zoo is not a member of an American Association of Zoos and Aquariums so if you have a membership card from an AZA member you cannot use it here for a discount.
For dinner we usually go to Willow Ranch BBQ, which is 5 minutes’ drive from the hotel. We stopped here many times and tried lots of different things on the menu and we were never disappointed. My personal favorites are ribs, fish and chips and desert pies. Do yourself a favor and try one of their pies and you will get a huge piece of heavenly homemade goodness. When we visited last time they had almost a dozen to choose from to satisfy any taste: fruit pies, lemon meringue, pecan, pumpkin and the list goes on.
The Tejon Ranch Commerce Center’s “Oasis on I-5” is another great destination for a stop on your North-bound or South-bound road trip. It is not only an ideal rest stop, but is also the perfect break to recharge, refuel, and shop! Home to the Outlets at Tejon, the Oasis has more than 40 of your favorite brand name stores, over 30 restaurants and other affordable food options, 100+ gas pumps, grassy areas for pets, convenience stores, and the world’s second largest Tesla Supercharger Station.
Located in between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, the Oasis on I-5 is also an excellent overnight stay to split up your road trip. Take a break from the heat or avoid heavy rain on the Grapevine by planning your stay at this centrally located retreat. Travel tip: plan ahead! When it rains at lower elevations, it sometimes snows on the Grapevine which can close the pass entirely – sometimes even overnight. To help you out, Oasis on I-5 has 3 quality lodging options for the perfect evening. This family friendly destination is definitely worth checking out. Be sure to add this stop to your itinerary.
San Francisco to Palm Springs Road Trip: Day 2
We went to bed relatively early on Day 1 so that we could get up early and head towards a small detour to see the fields of California Poppies in bloom. Disclaimer: you can only see the poppies in in their splendor from mid-February till May (we were there in early April and they were in full bloom since mid-March) but only if it was a year with good rainfall.
There are 2 ways to see the poppies bonanza:
1. In the Antelope Valley Reserve (their website will give you up-dates on whether or not this is a good year for poppies). Go there if you want to hike among the flowers and see the fields in bloom from above the hills (as in my photo below) but be aware that the Reserve will be crowded and you need to arrive really early because by 9 am all the parking is full and you will need to park along the road leading to the main entrance (it will save you a car entrance fee but it may be quite a walk, depending how far you find a spot)
2. If you just want to snap some selfies among the flowers you do not need to go to the Reserve itself, there are a lot of flowers in bloom along the roads leading to the reserve, CR-138 was perfect for that. We spent about 1,5 hours at the Reserve and then drove on to Palm Springs.
Arriving in Palm Springs
I planned our San Francisco to Palm Springs road trip itinerary so that we would arrive in Palm Springs early afternoon Sunday to be able to visit at least one attraction. Remember the picnic I mentioned earlier? We packed enough food for 2 days, to save money and time (we always travel with a cooler and stay in hotels with a mini-fridge – Best Western in Bakersfield does have a fridge) and we munched in the car on our way South till we arrived at Sunnylands Center and Gardens. Sunnylands is a huge private estate that was built as a winter retreat for the rich and famous, it has even been visited by many of the former U.S. Presidents.
What I like about Sunnylands:
1. it is free if you don’t plan to book an expensive tour of the whole estate (which I think is not appropriate for small kids);
2. It has a beautiful cactus garden with other plants blooming in spring;
3. Almost every Sunday from November to May (except for rare special events closures posted on their website) the Center organizes a free family event called “Sundays at Sunnylands”. Families are invited to the Great Lawn, “where toys, games, and activities are available to children of all ages. Find badminton, colorful blocks, hula hoops, ribbons, butterfly wings and more. Ask at the reception desk for our No-Tech Totes, a themed bag and blanket with toys and activity books to help kids and adults spend a few hours disconnected from electronic devices.” If you did not pack a picnic, Sunnylands has a café on site with a reasonable selection of salads and sandwiches.
So all in all Sunnylands is one of the best things to do in Palm Springs with kids.
San Francisco to Palm Springs Road Trip: Day 3
After 2 days of driving we decided to have a low-key Monday with tennis in the morning and hot springs in the afternoon at Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel. It is a good place for families with 8 natural hot mineral pools. You can obtain a day use pass at for a very reasonable fee of $6 pp on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and $8 on Friday-Sunday (it is more crowded on weekends though).
Mineral springs have a lot of therapeutic benefits and kids will love pool hopping because different pools have different water temperature. There is also a dry sauna on site and for complete relaxation and rejuvenation you can book a massage if you want.
San Francisco to Palm Springs Road Trip: Day 4
This day was the highlight of our San Francisco to Palm Spring road trip itinerary as we drove to explore Joshua Tree National Park. To me it is one of the top things to do in Palm Spring with kids. It is about 50 minutes’ drive from Palm Springs and spring is the best time to see it because of the desert bloom. The more rain in winter – the better is the bloom. About once every 10 years a superbloom happens and then count yourself lucky to see a unique botanical spectacle. You can either do just a scenic drive stopping briefly to see the cacti and Joshua trees in bloom or you can park and hike.
Kids will enjoy climbing huge rock formations and watch desert wildlife (birds, geckos and lizards.) If you have a child in 4th grade do not forget to obtain free Every Kid in a Park pass before your trip which will allow your family access to all American National Parks and federal lands for free during that school year.
I always say that my goal is to make every family road trip itinerary an educational experience for us so we always go prepared. We almost never go hiking without National Audubon Society Field Guide to California
which helps us to identify plants and wildlife and learn more about them. It is small enough to carry in a pocket but it has lots of useful information. Another must have on this a trip is a good binocular
for spotting wildlife. Amazingly these days you can buy a high powered one for under $30 (and you can get more use out of it for sporting events and concerts). For more resources please, check my Travel Resources page (checkout a cool book we bought in this NP for kids about desserts).
On the way back to your hotel plan to stop at Sheild’s Dates Garden in a small town of Indio. Most of California dates are produced in this region and you can see how they grow and taste various dates treats. The farm is famous for their dates milk shake – definitely worth a try but be aware that it is very rich and sweet. We bought 1 shake each and it was just too much. I suggest sharing a shake between two people.
San Francisco to Palm Springs Road Trip: Day 5
The next best thing to Joshua Trees National Park in Palm Springs area is Indian Canyons park. It is situated on the land owned by Native Americans so this is neither a state or federal park. It is a beautiful oasis in the desert with huge palm trees alleys, streams and waterfalls. Here you do need to get out of the car and hike (no option for a scenic drive) but I promise you will thoroughly enjoy a shaded stroll along one of the streams but be aware where you step as this is a rattle snake habitat (as is most of the American Southwest). We did not see any snakes but met a lot of cute small lizards.
San Francisco to Palm Springs Road Trip: Day 6
The last day in Palm Springs we spent at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (if you are short on time you do not need a separate day for the zoo, you can fit it as a half-day event in any day when you are not going to Joshua Trees National Park). This zoo is a member of American Zoos and Aquariums Association so if you have a membership card you will get a 50% discount on admission. It is one of the best zoos that I have visited with educational exhibits and live animal shows. Children of all ages (and adults too) are guaranteed to enjoy the visit.
San Francisco to Palm Springs Road Trip: Day 7
This was our departure day. We left early in the morning in order to get to Paso Robles as early as possible. Paso Robles is a town just off HW 101 in the heart of a famous wine making region with a lot of great wineries that rival Sonoma and Napa. You get to try very good wines for the prices much lower than in Napa/Sonoma and some wineries even offer free tastings. Before heading out there I suggest you read my introductory post about basics of wine tasting. It will give you the tools you need to thoroughly enjoy your visit.
There many kid friendly wineries in Paso Robles. This time we visited J. Lohr winery. We buy a couple of their wines at a supermarket regularly, which we like, but we wanted to learn more. This winery is down to earth, not pretentious at all and tasting here is FREE for 5 pretty good wines. This place does not have much entertainment for kids but they do not mind them running around their premises. Another reason why we decided to stop here is because it was pouring rain and J. Lohr vineyards have a covered picnic area on their terrace, which will also be great in the summer heat as it provides ample shade.
We were spending the night at Paso Robles but you need to be aware that to stay here on the weekend is quite expensive so you either need to check a deal with your hotel membership program or choose a place significantly outside of town. We got a good deal at the local Hampton Inn (Hampton Inn Early Booking Package saves you 15% plus FREE breakfast is included as well as cookies in the evening).
You can find out more information about Paso Robles are from my article Things to Do in Paso Robles with Kids.
San Francisco to Palm Springs Road Trip: Day 8
On the final day of our trip we headed north on HW101 and within 50 minutes or so we reached Pinnacles National Park (if you have an Every Kid in a Park pass – don’t forget to use it). The park has 2 entrances (and no road that goes completely though it). The best entrance for hiking with kids is off HW25 (which is called East Entrance). That’s where the Visitor’s Center is as well. Bear Gulch area has easier hiking trails and a small parking lot, which fills very quickly though. You might be required to leave your car at the Visitor’s Center and take a ride on a shuttle. This National Park is home to the endangered Californian condor, which I wished to see so badly but my dream was not destined to come true that day – it started raining heavily and we had to turn around and go home. But I promised my kids that we will be back and once we have accomplished that I will certainly share our journey tips with you.
Additional tips for San Francisco to Palm Springs road trip
Where to stay in Palm Springs area
Where is the best place to stay in Palm Springs Area? That depends on what your goals are. If your goal is ultimate relaxation – head to the neighboring town of Desert Hot Springs which has natural hot/cold springs resorts. Miracle Springs Resort and Spa (described above) is a good place for families.
As Hilton Honors members, we chose DoubleTree hotel in Palm Springs/Cathedral City for our stay (DoubleTree Family Fun Package). See my post on how to choose the best lodging for more information. It gave us access to resort facilities like tennis club, golf, pool & hot tub. In addition to that we received free breakfast coupons for every day of our stay and a room discount so it turned out to be a really good deal overall. It is also a nice bonus that this hotel has magnificent views of the surrounding mountains (see the photo below).
Where to eat in Palm Springs area
I would like to highlight 3 restaurants that we loved due to great quality of food, very reasonable prices and kid-friendliness:
- Otori Sushi, 68100 Ramon Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234
- Loco Cahrlie’s Grill (Mexican),1751 N Sunrise Way F5, Palm Springs, CA 92262
- Fisherman’s Market and Grill (seafood), 235 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
If you found this San Francisco to Palm Springs road trip itinerary useful, please do me a little favor and share this trip with others, for there’s a good chance that it will help them with their travel plans. 🙂
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