Getting Around Palm Springs: Free Downtown Parking, Flat Architecture Bike Loops & Rental Cars

Getting around Palm Springs is effortless compared to large California cities: the entire city sits on a flat valley floor laid out on a neat north-to-south grid, traffic is light, and public street parking and municipal parking structures in Downtown Palm Springs are completely free.

1. Exploring Downtown & Mid-Century Neighbourhoods by Foot, Bike & Bus

1. Cycling the Flat Mid-Century Architecture Loops: residential neighbourhoods like Twin Palms, Deepwell Estates, Warm Sands, the Movie Colony and Old Las Palmas are flat with quiet streets and cycle lanes, making a bicycle the ideal way to photograph Mid-Century Modern homes. Over 70% of boutique hotels provide complimentary cruiser bicycles for guests, or you can hire regular bikes and pedal-assist E-Bikes at BIKE Palm Springs (194 S Indian Canyon Dr), including a lock, helmet and printed Bike Architecture Map.
2. SunLine Transit Public Buses: clean hydrogen-fuel-cell electric buses run up and down Palm Canyon Drive and Highway 111. Route #111 (and Route #1) links Downtown Palm Springs with Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert (El Paseo) and Indio for a low flat fare via cash or the Token Transit app (the old seasonal Buzz trolley is suspended; use SunLine or short rideshares instead).

2. Why You Want a Hire Car for Sightseeing Days (+ Free Downtown Car Parks)

While Uber and Lyft are plentiful downtown, a hire car is worthwhile for at least 1 or 2 days to visit:

• Indian Canyons & The Aerial Tramway: rideshares are not permitted to wait inside the Indian Canyons toll gate (where mobile signal is weak), and driving to the Tramway Valley Station takes just 10 minutes.
• Joshua Tree National Park, Painted Canyon & The Living Desert Zoo: a car is essential for these excursions.
• Where to Park for Free in Downtown Palm Springs: use the multi-level City Downtown Parking Garage (275 S Indian Canyon Dr / Baristo Rd) or the Museum Market Plaza Garage (on Museum Way beside Forever Marilyn and the Art Museum); both are covered, shaded and free.