From LA to Palm Springs - not during commute hours - is about two hours, and if you have a chance - ride the Tram to the top. You pass through 7? different ecological zones. http://www.pstramway.com/

From Las Vegas - it's about 3 and a half hours - going the back way through the Lucerne Valley.

We would like to visit Palm Springs during our LA trip – do you think its worth doing for a day trip?

No.

Do you think its closer to drive from LA or from Las Vegas?

No.

I do not recommend this side trip. However, if you are determined to see the place and you like deserts, drive to Palm Springs from Los Angeles and then go on to Las Vegas through the Mojave.

HTtY

When is the trip? Wakes a MAJOR difference. No,I would not do a day trip from either end. But I might detour there enroute LA > LV. However . . . Not if it is any time May thru September.

Thanks...mixed responses about a day trip.
Maybe we should stay overnight?

We will be there mid March so its not in the thick of Summer I guess...

need to see the location. After LA we will be heading down to Anaheim - I wonder if it would be closer from there?
need to check good maps.

March is a really good time to visit. Yes, you need to stay overnight. The only times I have EVER gone to Palm Springs from LA and back without staying overnight is when I've had a court appearance there. Not fun, not fun.

The fun part about Palm Springs is getting a hotel, motel, condo, whatever, and lounging by the pool, swimming and getting a little color.

Go in the morning, after rush hour; stop in Cabazon to shop; get to Palm Springs early afternoon; chill at the pool all afternoon; dine; get up early,get a bite; spend a few more hours at the pool, then get out of Dodge!

You don't want to be on the freeways between Los Angeles (or Anaheim) and Palm Springs until after 10am, and then returning at night you should wait until 8pm to get on the road. So you're talking 5 hours on the freeway for 7 hours in Palm Springs which is basically some shopping, a drive around the area to look-see, and then dinner. It's a long boring day trip and you'd enjoy an overnighter a lot more I think.

great!!! thanks for your time and responses...will defn look into it!

do you think it will be warm enough to swim in March??

Oh, God, yes! People flock to PS in March -- although you want to be careful not to be there during Spring Break -- PS is to the West Coast what Fort Lauderdale is to the East Coast during Spring Break. In fact, there were movies about Spring Break situated in both places. Palm Spring Weekend with Connie Stevens (who I just saw about a month ago at a restaurant in Westwood)from about '63, and Where the Boys Are with Paula Prentice and Delores Hart that came out around the same time, maybe a little later.

Sorry for the late response.

There is no reason to delay your departure from Anaheim to Palm Springs until after 10 AM. Traffic heading in that direction is going against the prevailing flow. The shortest route (I-91 to I-60 to I-10) will get you there in 1:32 in good traffic, but in mid morning there is slowing as you approach Riverside on the 91 that can add about 10 minutes to your trip. Or you can take the 57 to the 10 and bypass all that and get there consistently in about 1:40. I get my info from Google maps which will tell you how long it takes to get somewhere in current traffic. Also from:

http://www.sigalert.com/Map.asp?lat=33.984259&lon=-118.223015&z=2#lat=33.97634&lon=-117.53668&z=2

If you use the same traffic info sources for your return trip, I think you will find that you can leave Palm Springs just about any time you wish with no expectation of significant traffic delays.

My recommendation is to leave Anaheim early, say 6 to 6:30, (Beating the traffic is a better strategy than waiting for it to clear), have breakfast there while you read the local paper and solidify your plan for the day. Then take all day doing some of the following.

http://www.palmsprings.com/attractions/

It's definitely doable in a day -and I suggest you eave early (say 6AM) and get ahead of any rush hour traffic in LA (there is some going east) - and you can be there in 2 hours, having a nice Huevos Ranchero/whatever breakfast - in downtown Palm Springs. From there - you can take the tram, drive to some of the other sights to the east (Rancho Mirage, etc) - and then head back later - after a nice dinner at one of their many fine restaurants.

Or you could stay overnight - and head on to Vegas from there.