Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

An excellent experience! Book a time-slot in advance to avoid delays upon arrival, or worse, being sold out for the day! That said we booked in the (off-season, January) day. We chatted with “a convention of Santas” (honestly) while we waited for our slot. There is a bar, cafe, shop, and clean toilets. They charge extra for entrance/parking, which we thought was a bit naughty! The cars rotate, so everyone gets a great view. There are hikes at the top, but we only stayed up there about 30 minutes to take in the views before returning down again. Glad we did it, and happy to suggest to others.

Very good experience, I went when I was a kid and now as an adult it brought back nostalgia. It was only around $30 per person round trip which isn’t bad because you can come back anytime before 8pm. The wait was 2 hours since it was New Years Day which isn’t bad at all. They have places where you can eat there and cute gift shops both at the bottom and top of the mountain. When you get to the top of the mountain it is a bit colder so bringing a jacket would be ideal. Views are immaculate and they offer trails on the mountain. They have definitely upgraded everything from the time I went years ago. They even take a group picture of you green screen style and offer to purchase different styles of photos. One picture will be free (digitally) with the QR code card they give you to scan on your phone. 10/10 experience they even offer military discount for the Aerial Tramway.🚡 Parking is $15 to park your car (you can get a bus ride from the parking lot to the main entrance) Note: if tickets are sold out online you can still purchase them when you get there.

Highly recommend. It’s cold up there, bring hiking shoes to walk the trails. There is a cafe and restaurant, both for different budgets. They have chicken tenders or nachos if you’re not looking to spend much, or if you’d like a proper restaurant meal they have great quality food as well. Bring the family or date, great outing activity.

We had a great time visiting but definitely on the pricier side. The parking is $15 then $32 per person to go up. They do have a discount for CAA/AAA so worth mentioning. The floor of the tram rotates 360 which was really neat and made going up and down fun since you don't have to worry about picking a good side. Once at the top the viewpoints and trails are quite nice. There's quite the hill to go down and up though so it could be difficult for some. Really worth seeing at least once.

Fun to ride, and excellent view. Arrived within the first half of hour after it opens, basically no wait for going up or down, on weekday, pretty awesome! We hiked the Discover nature and desert view trails, and did the jr ranger program, the ranger was super nice and fun with kids. The cafe has a decent menu too.

A great experience that you should not skip! Vistor centers at the top and bottom provide information and history, along with restrooms and food options. Tram takes you up about 6000 feet in a roughly 10 minute ride. You'll be standing in the car, but the outer platform slowly rotates so everyone can see the view. I have a history of vertigo so I chose to stand in the inner part of the car where I could remain still. The views at the top are fantastic and there are hiking trails, restaurants and the state park ranger station. We did a short hike and watched some of the films in the visitor center. The staff was so awesome, from the beginning to end! Warm, reassuring, friendly. Important notes: you'll pay for parking separate from the Tram tickets. Dress in layers, it is about 20° colder at the top, plus very windy. Depending on how busy it is, you may wait for a Tram up; the tickets are timed so you'll know when your boarding time is. Best to go early.

Came here with some family and wasn’t disappointed. It was mid Jan 2025 and there were basically no lines. I wasn’t prepared for just how high (8000+ft) we eventually got, but due tot he team actually rotating slowly on the inside, you got a couple great chances to take pictures or just stare down into the rocky abyss below. We also chose to do the 2 mile long hike at the top which added a bit of time, but also some fantastic vistas along 5 specific “notches”. It wasn’t super difficult, but the wind picked up and the temperature was in the 30s (f). All told, we spend a couple hours at the top before descending. Bonus was hot cocoa in the cafe at the top.

You must visit when in Palm Springs. (Or even if you live here, like me). Here's what to expect from start to finish: Parking: gets very backed up at the gate. You will drive and drive and drive for what seems like forever without seeing other cars until suddenly you are at a full standstill for 15 minutes. If it is busy, expect to park very far and take the shuttle. You may have to wait for a few full shuttles before you can go. You can walk from the parking, but it is very very steep. Tickets: if busy, you can expect to wait a few hours to board. Yes, hours. You can reserve online, but they save most spaces for walk-up guests. But definitely worth a reservation if you plan ahead. Be sure you plan for parking time. Waiting: If busy, you may find yourself stuck for hours in a small, cramped lodge. Or, you can go outside and find a few places to sit, but not many. There is limited free WiFi. There is one cafe, food is actually not bad, mostly burgers and pizza, but a few vegetarian options and beer and wine. Expect to wait in line for food 30+ minutes when busy. Prices are high, but not outrageous. There are also places to eat at the top. Tram ride: when it is your ticket time, they will announce it plenty of times. Don't miss it, or you will be put on standby and might not get on for a while. Expect to be crowded in, touching strangers on the way up - about 75 people per tram I think. It is very steep, fun, not as scary as you think. The tram rotates so don't worry about trying to get a good spot. Stay towards the center if you want some support, you can't hold on to the sides otherwise and it is standing only. You can go back down anytime - later in the day, the trams down will be more full. Also, you don't need to do the photos when you get off the tram, but you should if it is your first visit. A nice keepsake. At the top: enjoy!! Wonderful nature. Go hike, relax, enjoy the views. At the very least, go to the lookout points on the nature trail. Notches 1 through 5 offer breathtaking views. Expect lots of kids in the winter if there is snow. But even when busy, it is easy to find quiet places to explore on your own.