Museums in Palm Springs include the Palm Springs Art Museum downtown and the Palm Springs Air Museum, where aircraft span several eras. The two offer different kinds of visits: art and architecture at one, aviation history at the other.
- Art: The Palm Springs Art Museum is at 101 Museum Drive.
- Aviation: The Palm Springs Air Museum is at 745 North Gene Autry Trail and features more than 80 aircraft.
- Art Museum hours: Open Sunday and Friday–Saturday 10:00am–5:00pm, and Thursday noon–8:00pm; closed Monday–Wednesday.
- Air Museum hours: Open daily 10am–5pm, with closure days.
Palm Springs museums at a glance
The Palm Springs Art Museum and Palm Springs Air Museum are the two attractions covered here, with art, architecture and aviation history as their distinct focuses. The Art Museum’s general-admission ticket also covers its Architecture and Design Center, while the Air Museum combines aircraft inside and outside its hangars.
If you are choosing between them, start with the subject that interests you most, then check the hours and admission details below. You can visit both in a day, but their hours and ticket arrangements differ.
Palm Springs Art Museum and downtown galleries
The Palm Springs Art Museum’s main location brings art and architecture together in downtown Palm Springs. Its address is 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. From a Palm Springs motel, the museum is about a six-minute drive or a 29-minute walk.
The main location is open Sunday and Friday–Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Thursday from noon to 8:00pm. It is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
General admission costs $25 for adults, $23 for seniors age 62 and older, and $17 for students and teachers. Admission is free for children under 18, active-duty military and their family, and NARM and ROAM participants. Thursday admission is free from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
A general-admission ticket covers both the main museum and the Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion, at 300 S Palm Canyon Drive. The two locations must be visited on the same day, and the ticket allows exit and re-entry that day. The pavilion follows the main museum’s weekly hours.
Advance reservations are no longer required for general admission, and tickets can be bought at the door. Tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable. Hours and prices can change, so check the official site before you go.
Palm Springs Air Museum for aviation history
The Palm Springs Air Museum focuses on aviation history, with more than 80 aircraft inside and outside across 91,000 square feet of hangar space. Its collection includes aircraft from World War II through the War on Terror and beyond. The museum is at 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, California 92262.
It is open daily from 10am to 5pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the first Saturday in February. Admission is $26 for adults ages 18–64 and $24 for seniors age 65 and older, veterans or retired military, and teenagers ages 13–17. Children age 12 and under enter free with a paying adult.
Active-duty military and immediate family receive free admission. A Museums for All rate of $5 per person is available for up to four adults with an EBT card and government-issued ID.
The facility is ADA compliant, and its hangars are accessible by wheelchair, walker and scooter. A few wheelchairs are available free on a first-come, first-served basis. Friendly dogs on leash are welcome, and parking is free.
For more on the visit, read what to know before visiting the Palm Springs Air Museum.
How to plan a museum day from the motel
Plan around the museums’ different opening patterns: the Art Museum is closed three days each week, while the Air Museum is open daily apart from its closure days. If you choose the Art Museum, Thursday evening offers free admission during the stated 5:00pm–8:00pm period.
You can pair the Art Museum’s main location with its Architecture and Design Center on the same day using one general-admission ticket. If aviation is your priority, allow time for the Air Museum’s aircraft displays inside and outside the hangars.
For a broader day plan, a practical one-day Palm Springs itinerary from the motel puts the museum visit in a wider city context.
FAQs
Which museums are covered here?
The comparison covers the Palm Springs Art Museum and Palm Springs Air Museum. One focuses on art and architecture; the other on aircraft and aviation history.
Does the Palm Springs Art Museum ticket include the Architecture and Design Center?
Yes. General admission covers both locations, which must be visited on the same day. The ticket allows exit and re-entry that day.
Are children admitted free at the museums?
The Art Museum offers free admission to children under 18. At the Air Museum, children age 12 and under enter free with a paying adult.
Can you bring a dog to the Palm Springs Air Museum?
The Air Museum welcomes friendly dogs on leash.