Updated: October 21, 2026
Planning a Palm Springs Thanksgiving? It's about 107 miles from LA. These 6 hotels with pools cover every style, from a 13-acre estate to adults-only villas, plus tram holiday hours and dining tips for Nov 26, 2026.
Disclosure: This post has affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Researched, not stayed: details come from official sources as of Oct 2026. Full disclosures.
Why Palm Springs for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. For Southern Californians, Palm Springs is the classic long-weekend escape: close enough to drive, packed with mid-century design, and full of hotels built around the pool. The holiday weekend also lines up with special holiday hours at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. If you can stay into early December, you can catch the city's free Festival of Lights Parade.
Getting there from Los Angeles
Visit Palm Springs puts the city about 107 miles from Los Angeles, typically a 2 to 2.5-hour drive via I-10 East. Holiday-weekend traffic on I-10 can be heavy, so leave early. Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is the other option if you're coming from farther away.
Rent a car: You'll want a car to explore the tram, Indian Canyons, and nearby Joshua Tree. If flying into PSP or LAX, compare rates at 👉 Discover Cars – Palm Springs.
Quick picks
| Hotel | Location | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parker Palm Springs | South Palm Springs | 13-acre Hollywood Regency estate | Splurge, staying put |
| Kimpton Rowan | Downtown | Seven stories, rooftop pool | Walkability, pets |
| Ace Hotel & Swim Club | South end of downtown | Social pool scene | Groups, value |
| Korakia Pensione | Palm Springs | Adults-only Moroccan/Mediterranean villas | Romance |
| Colony Palms Hotel | Palm Springs | Adults-only boutique, saltwater pool | Couples who want a restaurant on site |
| Sands Hotel & Spa | Indian Wells (down valley) | Moroccan-inspired boutique | A quieter base |
6 Best Palm Springs Hotels With Pools
1. Parker Palm Springs: the estate you never leave
Condé Nast Traveler calls the Parker the largest and most luxe property in Palm Springs, at 13 acres. It was designed by Jonathan Adler in a Hollywood Regency style, and the grounds include two pools, a croquet lawn, pétanque courts, tennis and firepits tucked around the property.
The history is a big part of the appeal. Forbes reports it opened as California's first Holiday Inn in 1959, was bought by singing cowboy Gene Autry in 1961, and reopened as the Parker under hotelier Jack Parker in 2004. Breakfast at Norma's and the Palm Springs Yacht Club spa are the on-site highlights.
Know before you book: it's on the south end of town across from car dealerships, so you'll need a car or rideshare to get anywhere. Reviewers say most guests don't mind, because they barely leave.
Price tier: luxury. Check live rates for your dates.
👉 Check rates for Parker Palm Springs
2. Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs: downtown with a rooftop pool
At seven stories, the Rowan is the tallest building in Palm Springs. Condé Nast Traveler says it's the only hotel in the Coachella Valley with a rooftop pool. Every room has floor-to-ceiling windows, many have balconies, and corner rooms wrap around. The hotel is pet-friendly and sits steps from Palm Canyon Drive's shops, restaurants and public art.
Know before you book: it draws conference and business travelers and feels more city than hideaway.
Price tier: upscale. Check live rates for your dates.
👉 Check rates for Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs
3. Ace Hotel & Swim Club: the social one
A former mid-century Westward Ho motel turned into a 179-room hotel with two large pools, a spa, the King's Highway restaurant and the Amigo Room bar. It's about 3.3 miles from the airport and within biking distance of downtown.
Know before you book: the pool scene is lively, with DJs on events and holidays. Light sleepers should note thin window coverings mentioned in reviews.
Price: from about $136/night before fees. Holiday dates usually cost more.
👉 Check rates for Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
4. Korakia Pensione: the romantic hideaway
Korakia's official site traces its history to the 1920s, when painter Gordon Coutts built a Moroccan-style hideaway. Together with the neighboring Mediterranean villa, they make a 1.5-acre, adults-only retreat of 28 villas and homes, with rooms named rather than numbered.
What's included, per the hotel:
- Fresh-cooked breakfast in the Moroccan courtyard, served 8–11am
- Morning coffee or tea delivered to your room
- Two heated saltwater pools open 24 hours, with San Jacinto Mountain views
- Finnish dry saunas, an open-air garden gym, cruiser bikes, and a cold-plunge "Sol Sanctuary"
- Vintage vinyl and turntables in rooms; some suites have full kitchens, stone tubs and wood-burning fireplaces
Price tier: boutique luxury. Check live rates for your dates.
👉 Check rates for Korakia Pensione
5. Colony Palms Hotel: adults-only with its own restaurant
Colony Palms is an adults-only boutique hotel in Palm Springs with 57 rooms and suites. The palm-lined saltwater pool has poolside dining, and The Colony Club restaurant serves modern American food, which is handy on Thanksgiving when you don't want to drive.
Price tier: luxury. Check live rates and Thanksgiving dining availability.
👉 Check rates for Colony Palms Hotel Palm Springs
6. Bonus down valley: Sands Hotel & Spa (Indian Wells)
Not in Palm Springs proper, but worth knowing if central Palm Springs is sold out. The official site lists 46 individually designed rooms and suites, from 300-sq-ft Classic Kings up to the 1,000-sq-ft Le Riad suite. There's an outdoor pool with cabanas, a Moroccan-inspired spa, and The Pink Cabana restaurant.
👉 Check rates for Sands Hotel & Spa
Thanksgiving weekend: things to do
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The tram runs holiday hours Thanksgiving weekend (Nov 26–29): first tram up at 8am, last tram up at 8pm, last tram down at 9:30pm (pstramway.com). Posted ticket prices are $36.95 adults, $20.95 kids 3–10 and $33.95 seniors 65+. Pack a jacket, because the top is a mountain station.
👉 Palm Springs Aerial Tramway admission ticket
Joshua Tree day trip. A guided tour saves you the planning.
👉 Joshua Tree National Park tours from Palm Springs
Mid-century modern architecture. Palm Springs is famous for its mid-century homes, and a guided architecture tour is the easiest way to see the highlights.
👉 Palm Springs architecture tours
Stay a little longer: Festival of Lights Parade. The free Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5:45pm. It runs along Palm Canyon Drive from Ramon Road to Tachevah Road (psfestivaloflights.com). That's the weekend after Thanksgiving, so it's worth a second trip.
Thanksgiving dining tips
- Eat where you sleep. Colony Palms (The Colony Club), Korakia (Eight4Nine delivery), the Parker (Norma's), the Ace (King's Highway) and Sands (The Pink Cabana) all have food on site. Ask each hotel about Thanksgiving Day menus and reserve early.
- Book downtown restaurants ahead. Holiday weekends fill fast.
- Take a rideshare after dinner if you're staying at the Parker or down valley.
Packing list
Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a light jacket for evenings and the tram summit.
👉 Shop reef-safe sunscreen on Amazon · Shop packable light jacket on Amazon · Shop insulated water bottle on Amazon
FAQ: Palm Springs Thanksgiving
- Where can I eat Thanksgiving dinner in Palm Springs?
- The easiest option is your hotel. Colony Palms (The Colony Club), Korakia (Eight4Nine delivery), the Parker (Norma's), the Ace (King's Highway) and Sands (The Pink Cabana) all have restaurants on site. Ask about Thanksgiving menus and reserve early.
- Which Palm Springs hotels are downtown?
- The Kimpton Rowan is in the center of downtown. The Ace is on the south end, within biking distance, and Korakia and Colony Palms are in Palm Springs proper.
- Is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway open on Thanksgiving?
- Yes. It runs holiday hours Nov 26–29: the first tram up is at 8am, the last up at 8pm and the last down at 9:30pm (pstramway.com).
- Which Palm Springs hotels are adults-only?
- Korakia Pensione and Colony Palms describe themselves as adults-only. Korakia's Auric House is the family-friendly exception.
- Do any of these hotels charge a resort fee?
- Travel + Leisure lists one at the Ace. Always compare the total price at checkout.
- Are pets allowed?
- The Kimpton Rowan is pet-friendly, and the Ace allows pets under 25 lb for a fee.
- How far is Palm Springs from LA?
- About 107 miles, usually 2–2.5 hours via I-10 without heavy traffic.
Last checked October 21, 2026. Researched, not stayed.
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