A little altitude, a whole other world. Trade the poolside afternoon for pine trees, mountain views and a ride you’ll remember. Here’s how to plan it well.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway carries visitors through Chino Canyon to Mountain Station at 8,516 feet. The rotating tram car takes about ten minutes each way, with observation decks, dining and Mount San Jacinto State Park waiting at the top.
It’s a striking change of scene during a Greater Palm Springs stay. Make the views the whole occasion, add a forest walk, or let a mountain dinner carry the afternoon into evening. You don’t have to be a hiker to enjoy it.
Our suggestion: leave room around the outing. The ride itself is short; parking, boarding, an unhurried lunch and stopping at every overlook take longer.
By Desert Luxury Estates · Prices and hours checked October 21, 2026 · An independent visitor guide. Attraction details: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
10 minutesApproximate ride each way
8,516 feetMountain Station elevation
2–4 hoursOur estimate for a sightseeing visit*
30–40°FTypically cooler at the top
*Our planning estimate for a relaxed sightseeing visit. Allow more for the drive, queues, a sit-down meal or a longer hike.
Before you go
Palm Springs tram tickets, hours & parking
Reserve the essentials. Keep the rest unhurried.
Online ticket prices
Published online prices, checked October 21, 2026 (USD)
Ticket
Price
Adult
$36.95
Child, ages 3–10
$20.95
Senior, 65+
$33.95
Each online price includes the operator’s $2 processing fee. Parking is separate, and prices can change, so confirm the total at checkout.
Children under 2 ride free but need a boarding pass, issued only at the ticket booth on the day. Under-16s must be with an adult aged 21 or over. Traveling with a two-year-old? Confirm the fare with the tramway before booking.
Start with the official ticket page and follow the instructions on your confirmation. The tramway says tickets can still be bought at the booth on the day when online tickets sell out, though that doesn’t promise an immediate departure or a short wait.
Leave an arrival buffer
We suggest arriving 45–60 minutes before you plan to ride, to park and reach the boarding area, and more on busy days. That’s our advice, not an operator check-in rule.
Budget for parking
Parking is $15 for cars and motorcycles; the booth takes cards, or cash in bills of $20 or less. Free resident parking needs photo ID with a qualifying local address, so a vacation rental doesn’t count. Official parking details.
Same outing, different weather
Check the weather at the bottom and the top.
The two stations are almost 6,000 feet apart, so the forecasts below are for each end of the ride rather than for the city. They’re National Weather Service forecasts, not live readings from the tramway.
Bottom · Valley Station
Chino Canyon
2,643 ft · NWS forecast area averages about 2,450 ft
A weather alert isn’t a tram closure notice, and no alert doesn’t mean the tram is running. Check the tramway’s own notices before you drive up.
A few well-chosen layers make room for the change of altitude.
Bring the extra layer.
The tramway describes Mountain Station as typically 30–40°F cooler than the desert floor. That’s general guidance, not today’s difference between the two stations, so dress for the mountain forecast above.
A light layer may be enough on a mild sightseeing day; cold, wind, snow or a longer walk call for more. Wear closed-toe shoes, keep your jacket handy rather than buried in the car, and bring a refillable water bottle, which the tramway asks guests to do during the drought.
Snow usually arrives between November and April, but it’s a possibility, not a promise. Look at the camera, then check the forecast and park notices before deciding what to do.
A sit-down meal at Peaks Restaurant, casual food at Pines Café, or drinks and appetizers at the Lookout Lounge. Compare the dining options.
Mountain Gift Shop
Tramway souvenirs before the ride down. There’s one gift shop at each station, not two at the top. Shop hours.
Views & indoor discoveries
Observation decks, a small natural history museum, visitor information and two theaters showing State Park and tram-construction films, so there’s plenty to do without a hike.
Start with the views
Give yourself a few minutes on the observation decks before deciding what’s next. The change of scale is the attraction: the broad valley below, the canyon walls you rode past, and mountain scenery all around.
The museum, theaters and gift shop give a sightseeing visit an easy rhythm between time outdoors and a meal.
Then decide how far to wander
You can stay around the station or head down into Long Valley. The access path drops about 100 feet in an eighth of a mile, and you’ll climb it again on the way back, so factor the slope into your plan.
A short forest introduction. State Parks lists a 0.6-mile loop and the tramway 0.75 mile; part of the route has been under construction, so ask at the Long Valley Ranger Station about the current route. The walk down from the station adds distance.
02
Desert View Trail
More walking, more overlooks. A loop of roughly 1.5 miles with rocky sections and short climbs, good for anyone comfortable on uneven ground. Allow time for stops and the uphill return to the station.
03
Beyond Long Valley
Make it a hiking day. Round Valley and the routes toward San Jacinto Peak need a real plan. Get the free day-use wilderness permit at the Long Valley Ranger Station before entering the wilderness, and agree on a turnaround time.
Short doesn’t mean suitable in every condition. Check trail notices, snow and ice, and how your group feels at altitude, and leave time to catch the last tram down. State Park trails aren’t ADA accessible.
The sit-down choice, with lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. (last seating 7:45 p.m.). Reservations are recommended at 760-325-4537. Your table and your tram tickets are booked separately, so leave time for boarding and the ride up.
Pines Café
Cafeteria-style and more casual, open from 10 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends and holidays until 8:30 p.m. Ride ’n’ Dine pairs a tram ticket with dinner here from 4 p.m. (meals from 4:30): $45 for adults and seniors and $31.50 for ages 3–10 online, fee included. It isn’t a Peaks reservation.
Lookout Lounge
A full cocktail bar with appetizers, on the same level as the restaurants and open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. A good spot for a drink as the light changes.
Dining hours and menus: official restaurants page, checked October 21, 2026. Hours and menus can change.
Our suggestions, not operator packages. Adjust for the weather, queues and the confirmed schedule.
The first visit
Ride. Look. Linger.
Take a daytime tram, enjoy the decks and museum, and have an unhurried lunch. Skip the forest walk if your group would rather stay near the station, and leave the rest of the afternoon for the pool.
Allow roughly 2–4 hours at the tramway, plus the drive.
The forest morning
Put a trail in the plan.
Take an early tram, stop at the ranger station and choose a short route that suits the day. Take your time among the pines, then come back up for lunch before riding down.
Allow roughly 4–6 hours for a short hike and a meal. Longer routes need their own plan.
The mountain evening
Stay for the changing light.
Ride up in daylight for the view, then settle into dinner. Check sunset, restaurant hours and the last tram down separately, and bring a warm layer for the decks after dark.
A good date-night plan when the weather and hours cooperate.
The practical details
Getting there & getting comfortable.
Set your destination to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262: the Valley Station at the top of Tramway Road, not the State Park headquarters in Idyllwild.
Where you’re staying matters. The drive from La Quinta is very different from the drive across Palm Springs, so get directions from your vacation home and add your arrival buffer.
Both stations and the tram cars are accessible under ADA guidelines, with elevators and accessible restrooms; the State Park trails are not. A station-focused visit is a worthwhile outing on its own. For specific assistance, contact the tramway at least 72 hours ahead at 888-515-8726, extension 127.
For families, plan around the youngest traveler’s pace: a ride, a view and a snack may be plenty. If you’re bringing a stroller, ask about the areas you mean to visit rather than assuming a forest trail will suit it.
Pets aren’t allowed on the tram or in the State Park; trained service animals are welcome under the ADA. Arrange pet care before the outing.
Is the Palm Springs tram worth it if we don’t hike?
For anyone who enjoys a scenic ride and mountain views, yes. The decks, museum and dining fill a relaxed visit without a trail. Whether it suits your group depends on comfort with heights and the day’s visibility.
How long should we plan for the tramway?
We suggest 2–4 hours for sightseeing, more for a hike or a leisurely meal, plus the drive and any queue. The ten-minute ride each way is only one part of the outing.
Do we need separate tickets for Peaks Restaurant?
Yes: book tram admission and your Peaks table separately. Ride ’n’ Dine is the tram-and-meal ticket for Pines Café. See the official dining page for current details.
What should we wear?
Shoes for the walking you plan to do and layers for the mountain forecast, plus water and sun protection. Cold, wind, snow or ice can change the plan even when the valley looks perfect.
Does the tram go to the summit of San Jacinto Peak?
No. It stops at Mountain Station. San Jacinto Peak is a separate, strenuous wilderness hike, not a short stroll from the tram; see the State Park’s route guidance if that’s your goal.
Will there be snow when we visit?
Snow typically falls between November and April, but conditions vary. Check the mountain forecast, the Long Valley camera and State Park notices close to your visit rather than relying on an old photo or a city forecast.
What if the weather changes our plans?
Check the tramway’s own notices before driving up; weather alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s running. For a different kind of day, try the Palm Springs Art Museum (check its opening days), or save the mountain for another day.
Back to your desert address
Mountain air. Poolside afterward.
Plan a stay with room for both. Explore Desert Luxury Estates homes in Palm Springs and across the Coachella Valley, then leave a day open for a change of altitude. Our concierge team can help plan it.
