When you’re headed to Palm Springs for a lovely getaway, these are the best airports near Palm Springs that might work for your trip. While there is a local airport that is just minutes from downtown Palm Springs, that might not be the most convenient for you, depending on where you fly in from.
If you’re looking for airport recommendations near Palm Springs to plan for your trip, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go over the best airports near the city, and why you might choose one over the other.
» While you are there check out these 15 Fun Things To Do In Palm Springs.
» Looking for more inspiration along the route? Check out all our guides to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Diego. Find the best beaches in Monterey, waterfalls in Southern California, and national parks.
Does Palm Springs Have An Airport?
Probably the first thing you’ll ask is whether Palm Springs has its own airport. Yes, Palm Springs has its own international airport that’s only 10 minutes or so from the heart of the city. That’s great new for anyone looking for a way to land and get on with the itinerary, no long car ride required. We will explain below which airlines come in to this airport and why you might not choose to fly there.
The airport is called Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). The airport was recently renovated, which upgraded the terminal and expanded the amount of space by double. It also improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
Airfares into this airport change throughout the year based on seasonal demand. Availability of flights also changes by season. Only a handful of flights operate year round.
What Major Airport is Closest to Palm Springs?
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) receives direct flights from major airlines all over the country. So, it could be your best pick if you want hassle-free transport to your dream vacation. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a major airport. It’s rather small, with a limited amount of flights per day, and most flights coming in will require a connection.
The closest major airport with a large number of flights coming in from other cities around the U.S. is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). LAX is 121 miles from Palm Springs, which is a typical driving time of 2 hours 20 minutes. However, traffic isn’t always on your side, and it can take up to 3 hours 30 minutes in heavy traffic times.
Other Airports Near Palm Springs
If you can’t find a suitable flight into PSP, you can always check the other nearby airports and rent a car to drive to Palm Springs. A lot of people opt to do this because they’re going to rent a car anyways, and they want to avoid a lengthy connection flight from their home city.
For instance, a flight coming from Atlanta, Georgia, usually requires 2 stops to get to PSP – one in Dallas and one in Phoenix. The total flight time is about 8 hours. To avoid that, you might choose to fly directly into Ontario airport and make the 1 hour 10 minute drive to Palm Springs instead. The nonstop flight takes about 4:45, plus the drive time.
Just keep in mind that the frequency and type of flights could vary drastically between the local, domestic, and international airports.
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the closest international airport to Palm Springs. It’s a 68-mile drive, which takes between 1:10 and 1:50, depending on traffic. Driving from the airport, it’ll take around an hour (68 miles) to get to Palm Springs.
There are a larger number of airlines flying into ONT than PSP, but much less than LAX. You might just find that this is the best airport for your particular journey.
John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Going a bit further, John Wayne airport (SNA) is 97 miles from Palm Springs. This makes the drive around 1.5 hours long. Keep in mind that some people call it the Orange County Airport, too. However, that name was changed back in 1979 and might even be renamed once again in the future.
This airport is a regional airport, but it’s served by a number of airlines, like American, Delta, and Frontier, so there are good options for flights without connections.
Hollywood Burbank (Bob Hope) BUR
A 120-mile drive from Palm Springs is the domestic airport, Hollywood Burbank (BUR) – also known as Bob Hope airport. Despite being really close to each other, the BUR and LAX offer quite different experiences. As it happens, Burbank ranks much better in traveler satisfaction.
It’s MUCH easier to get in and out of BUR and much faster to rent a car from there as well. However, it doesn’t have as many airlines and flight options, which won’t be a problem for many because there are direct flights from over 20 cities.
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Depending on which route you take, driving from the San Diego International Airport is 135-170 miles from Palm Springs. For me, that’s not a great option, because it’s a long drive, but the airport also caters to a whole lot of airlines to choose from.
If you’re building San Diego into your road trip itinerary, then it might be a good option. You’ll just have to work out the distances and flights to see.
Smaller Regional & Private Airports
These smaller airports might be closer to Palm Springs, but flights into these airports are small regional flights or private flights that will cost a lot more than a commercial airline. If you’re a pilot with your own plane, or have access to regional flights, these might be options for you to consider.
- Crown Aero (Bermuda Dunes) UUD – Driving from Palm Springs for 21 miles over the I-10, you’ll find the local Crown Aero airport. However, if you take a look at the UUD flight schedule, you’ll mostly find small and private aircraft flights.
- Banning BNG – Banning is a small municipal airport located around 23 miles from Palm Springs, so the drive should take approximately 30 minutes if the traffic is clear. While it’s extremely close to the city, it only caters to general aviation with no commercial flights available.
- Jacqueline Cochran TRM – The Thermal TRM is a regional airport in the Coachella Valley, 34 miles by car from Palm Springs. However, it’s mostly used for private jets instead of commercial flights.
- Imperial County IPL – The Imperial County (also known as Boley Field) is a domestic airport around 105 miles by car from Palm Springs. While it’s mostly used for general aviation and aerial work, it’s still possible to find commercial flights to and from LAX.
- Long Beach LGB – To get from Long Beach airport to Palm Springs, you’ll have to drive around 110 miles along CA-91. While it’s only a domestic airport, it caters to flights from five airlines.
- McClellan-Palomar CLD – The McClellan-Palomar in Carlsbad is close to the Cleveland National Forest, making the drive to Palm Springs closer to 2 hours. The CLD also services general aviation and commercial flights.
Final Thoughts
While the Palm Springs International Airport PSP is the recommended option, there are also a few international, domestic, and local airports near Palm Springs, as you can see in our list above. If you’re flexible on your flight search, and choose nearby airports, you might find a direct route that suits you better.
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Laura is a travel fanatic who loves seeing and doing new things. She lives in Ventura, CA, and spends a lot of time exploring California’s cities, beaches, and national parks.