Palm Springs · Coachella Valley, Riverside County
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
The gateway to the Coachella Valley — a famously open-air desert airport minutes from Palm Springs resorts, golf, and festival grounds.
Getting to or from PSP?
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Airport Overview
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is the main gateway to the Coachella Valley, serving Palm Springs and the surrounding resort cities of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, and Indio. It sits just two miles east of downtown Palm Springs, so the drive from gate to hotel is short — one of the airport's signature conveniences.
PSP is best known for its open-air design: passengers walk outdoors between the terminal and the gates, with mountain views and desert sun on the way. A single passenger terminal feeds two concourses, and the airport stays compact and walkable even during its busy season.
Traffic at PSP is highly seasonal. Winter and spring — peak resort season plus the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals — bring a surge of flights, including seasonal Canadian and cross-country service. Summers are far quieter. Whenever you travel, the short distance into the valley makes a pre-arranged ride an easy, comfortable way to start a desert trip.
Serves: Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, Indio, Coachella Valley
Terminals
Passenger Terminal
One terminal feeds two concourses (the Sonny Bono Concourse and the Regional Concourse). Open-air walkways connect the terminal to the gates.
- All airlines
Airlines by Terminal
| Airline | Terminal |
|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | Passenger Terminal |
| Allegiant Air | Passenger Terminal |
| American Airlines | Passenger Terminal |
| Canadian & seasonal carriers (Air Canada, WestJet, Flair) | Passenger Terminal |
| Delta Air Lines | Passenger Terminal |
| JetBlue | Passenger Terminal |
| Southwest Airlines | Passenger Terminal |
| Sun Country Airlines | Passenger Terminal |
| United Airlines | Passenger Terminal |
Airport Maps
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
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Rideshare, Pickup & Drop-off
PSP is compact, so getting picked up is simple. Rideshare and app-based pickups, taxis, and pre-booked cars all use the ground transportation area along the arrivals curb just outside the open-air terminal — no separate lot or shuttle to navigate.
Pickup zones
- Ground transportation curb outside the terminal — rideshare, taxi, and pre-arranged pickups
- Designated rideshare staging is signed near the terminal exit
Drop-off
Departing passengers are dropped at the terminal curb. Because the terminal is open-air and close to the gates, walks from the curb are short.
- •During Coachella, Stagecoach, and peak resort weekends, curb traffic and rideshare waits spike — a pre-booked pickup avoids the surge and the line.
- •It's a roughly 5-to-10-minute drive to most central Palm Springs hotels, so transfers here are quick once you're in the car.
How Early Should You Arrive?
Domestic flights
Arrive 1.5 hrs early
~90 minutes before departure
International flights
Arrive 2 hrs early
~120 minutes before departure
PSP is small and quick to move through most of the year. Add time during peak winter/spring season and festival weekends, when lines and curb traffic build.
Tips for Travelers
- Pack for the walk: the terminal is open-air, so you'll be outside briefly between the gates and the building — pleasant in winter, hot in summer.
- Book transfers early for festival weekends (Coachella and Stagecoach in April); demand across the valley peaks and cars get scarce.
- Most Coachella Valley resorts are 10–30 minutes from PSP; downtown Palm Springs is the closest at about 5–10 minutes.
- Summer is the valley's low season with reduced flight schedules and extreme heat — confirm your airline's seasonal service before booking.
- The festival grounds (Empire Polo Club) are in Indio, roughly 25–30 minutes east of PSP.
Frequently Asked Questions
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