Think Palm Springs is just for adults? Think again! This desert oasis is the perfect Southern California vacation destination for families. With 300 days of sunshine every year and plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy, Palm Springs is the perfect place for a memorable family vacation. And parents, you’re in luck! There’s no shortage of family-friendly hotels and resorts in Palm Springs for you and the entire family to enjoy.
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs or a desert resort with everything the family could want right at your doorstep, you’ll find it here. As a local who’s visited and stayed at these properties many times over the years, I’m so excited to share my favorite Palm Springs hotels for families with you! So without further ado, let’s get into it!
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort
If you’re looking to keep the little ones happy by the pool, look no further than Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage. This is one of my favorite Palm Springs hotels for families! The property is known for being a very family-friendly option in the desert, with their very own on-property water park called Splashtopia!
This Palm Springs water park offers a 425-foot lazy river, two 100-foot water slides, a sandy beach, plus a water play zone with sprinklers and fountains. The family can also enjoy poolside food, and there’s a bar available too for Mom and Dad. What more could the family want for some fun days in the sun?
The rooms here are also great for families looking to spread out. The poolside rooms are great for easy access to the water park, and suites are also available for even more room for the entire family.
Parents will especially love the kid-friendly programming that Omni Rancho Las Palmas hosts throughout the week. There’s a kids club and ongoing events like family bingo, scavenger hunts, sand art, bracelet building, and more! The schedule of family and kid-friendly events is always updating to keep the kiddos entertained. Definitely keep the Omni at the top of your list for a family friendly vacation in Palm Springs!
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
This sprawling Palm Desert resort is another family favorite, and it’s easy to see why. Little ones will be enchanted as soon as you drive up to the JW Marriott Desert Springs grounds as they’ll be greeted by flocks of flamingoes enjoying the ponds and grassy areas surrounding the resort entrance. This is definitely another favorite pick of Palm Springs hotels for families!
Once inside the lobby, you’ll find even more wildlife for the family to enjoy. The JW Marriott Desert Springs hosts a bird aviary inside the lobby, where little ones can enjoy interactive chats with the staff as they learn all about the colorful birds that call Desert Springs home!
The kids will also love hopping into a gondola in the lower level of the lobby for a gorgeous ride around the sprawling property. JW Marriott Desert Springs offers 20-minute gondola rides for the whole family, where you’ll tour around and see the gorgeous desert backdrop while floating down scenic waterways.
But wait, there’s more! The resort also offers its JW Entertainment zone, which is an onsite arcade with classic games and a bowling alley. Outside, the family can also enjoy an 18-hole miniature golf course!
The JW Marriott Desert Springs is also a great family-friendly hotel thanks to its robust schedule of kids’ activities, ranging from arts and crafts to snow cone socials and build-your-own-sundae bars. This is truly a family-friendly Palm Desert resort where you never have to leave the property!
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells
Another great option when it comes to Palm Springs hotels for families? The Hyatt Regency Indian Wells, where a brand new lazy river and water park keep the little ones entertained without ever leaving the property!
The water park includes a 450-foot lazy river, two dueling water slides, plus a splash pad. Poolside cabanas are also available to rent if you’re looking for a nice home base by the pool.
Beyond the very family-friendly pool scene, the rooms at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells are also perfect for those looking for a family friendly Palm Springs hotel. Standard rooms have a two-queen bed option, with a half-wall separating the two beds. This is a great option for families with younger kids! If you’re looking for a little more space for the family, there are also suites and villas available so the family can spread out and relax.
The location of the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells is also great for exploring nearby attractions like The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens and Old Town La Quinta. The family won’t be disappointed with a vacation at the Hyatt Indian Wells!
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa
Coming in at number four on our list of Palm Springs hotels for families, there’s plenty for the entire family to enjoy at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa. For starters, the sandy beach at the resort pool is always a fun time for the little ones who can spend hours playing in the sand and splashing in the pool.
Families will also love the Desert Glow Entertainment Zone that’s located right on property. This arcade includes virtual reality, duckpin bowling, arcade games, and even an escape room experience!
And that’s not all! The Renaissance also hosts Camp Esmeralda, where your little ones can enjoy family-friendly activities like board games, movies, arts and crafts, and more! Even better, Camp Esmeralda is included for resort guests. Hours and special crafts rotate daily so be sure to check in with resort staff for daily activity details.
The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
Over at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa, another favorite Palm Springs hotel for families, the entire family can cool off at Las Brisas Pool, which features dual 125-foot waterslides, cabanas, and poolside food and beverage service.
There’s an onsite arcade here, too, with duckpin bowling and classic arcade games to entertain the entire family.
There’s also a daily kids club for kids ages 4 – 12. The little ones will be supervised by trained staff while enjoying a range of fun activities like arts and crafts and indoor and outdoor games. This is a great option if Mom and Dad want to enjoy some time to themselves while keeping the kids entertained.
Oh, and don’t forget to check out these favorite free things to do in Palm Springs while you’re here!
