Palm Springs International Airport

Absolutely loved flying into Palm Springs International Airport! It’s a super cute, small, and trendy airport that perfectly captures the desert vibe. The open-air layout is amazing—you can literally feel the sunshine and fresh air as you walk between terminals. Despite its size, it handles a surprising number of visitors, especially during Coachella and other big events, and it does so with ease and charm. The decor is stylish, the staff are friendly, and the whole experience feels relaxed and welcoming. One of the coolest airports I’ve been to!

I flew into Palm Springs Airport in May of 2025 for a conference in Dessert Springs. It was a very easy airport to fly into from connecting in Phoenix. This airport is small and a portion of it through security is outside. It’s clean and pretty easy to get in and out of. Rental car service is on site and at baggage claim so very easy and cars are in walking distance.

This is an amazing airport. They have both indoor and outdoor access beyond TSA. It's a park like setting with services and facilities that we got to enjoy while waiting to board our flight. We had plenty of time so we enjoyed a few drinks at one of the bars and we also enjoyed hanging out in the park. We toured the other terminals which had different food and shopping options. This is now my favorite and one of the best airports I've visited.

Palm Springs International Airport is such a lovely way to enter and depart that it’s a great reason to consider attending the Indian Wells Tennis Center and (or) taking a hike at Joshua Tree National Park! The ease of renting and returning a car as well as experiencing their architectural mostly outdoor airport is a joyful experience, especially for those of us who have had to traverse through huge and unfriendly facilities!

What a lovely airport! We are from Chicago so you know what I’m comparing this to. ;) Very easy to navigate, from the drop off by the departure area, to TSA, to the gate. It’s an ‘outdoor’ airport- terminal areas are open to the air like tropical areas ,and only the gates themselves are indoor. Plenty of areas to relax outside, and also good options for food throughout. You board outdoors. The views of the mountains to the west on takeoff and landing are spectacular.

Wow, got off the plane and just a few steps away thru some sliding doors and you are outside, in fresh, warm air, and beautifully landscaped areas. Wow, Palm Trees, flowers, green shrubbery everywhere. You know you are in Southern California.

The greatest airport you’ll ever travel to/from. It’s incredibly easy to navigate from check-in to the gate without stress. The atmosphere is calm for an airport, with quiet outdoor seating areas and minimal crowds, making the whole experience feel relaxed rather than rushed. Visually, it’s a treat: natural light, tasteful design, and airy open spaces create an environment that’s as welcoming as it is efficient. You immediately feel like you’re on vacation whether you’re coming to or going from PSP. It’s like no place else!

Great airport. Made it feel like my vacation started as soon as I arrived. Small enough that it's pleasant to traverse.

Palm Springs International Airport is one of my favorite airports. The rental car drop off is adjacent to the airport. Therefore, you can easily walk a hundred meters or so from one of the ever rental companies to the airport. Once you enter the airport itself, you can check your bags then go through security. After security, you will notice that there is seating both outside and inside. The views of the mountains are amazing behind the airport. On a nice, sunny day, people were relaxing outside while waiting for their flights.

They're going through what seems to be a terminal expansion project. Right now there are limited food options and not enough seating indoors or out. Yes, this is convenient airport to use! Very cool that there is green space between the two buildings with places to sit, relax, and eat. It just needs to me more.

I flew in and out of PSP recently for a girls' weekend in Palm Springs. It was my first time visiting this airport so of course I browsed a bunch of Yelp reviews prior to arriving. I was worried it would all be outside (especially since temperatures were 104+ degrees Fahrenheit while we were there), but the security and gate areas are indoors and were cool enough to be comfortable. It does feel a bit like an outlet/outdoor mall. The airport looked like it was under a lot of construction while I was there, and options for food and places to hang out while I waited were quite limited. My friend and I sat at Nine Cities and had some food, which was not very good. Overall the airport is small and for me it was super quick to get through TSA precheck. The employees I interacted with were all friendly, but this wasn't my favorite small airport.

I flew into and out of Palm Springs International Airport recently. First of all, this airport is inside and outside which is so cool! The gates and baggage claim are indoors, but the walkways and restaurants /coffee shops are outdoors. It's really fun. The staff were kind and helpful and the restrooms were clean. I had a good experience at this airport.

This is a really nice airport, very small and quant. Easy to drive in and out of but when it's busy IT'S BUSY, not enough space to accommodate the demand. The lines merge into other airlines lanes, the TSA line geta monstrous. Just chaotic when it is busy. They only have 2 food/restaurant options; 3 but technically 1 is just a sandwich pop up on the courtyard. There are birds EVERYWHERE. Inside and outside, they poop on everything. Snacks at the snack shops are pricey, a bag of chips and drink will get you for almost $10. Not a lot of restrooms, so the restroom lines are always pretty long. The best restroom to use is upstairs pass TSA on the left (or use the elevator) to level 2 and go right. It's usually the clean and empty. The wheel chair company is short staffed and you constantly hear the different airlines paging for wheels over the intercom. There is across the street parking available, I believe it is $20 a day, employee parking is about a 10mins walk away and there is no shuttle. Employees park free w/ permit. During rainy days, the airport has complimentary umbrellas in designated areas. They are to be used when outside then returned to the designated areas, very convenient.

Small but neat airport with an open air terminal offering lots of fresh air as you wait for your flight. The seating area at each gate is indoors, but elsewhere there's restaurants, coffee bars and other shops outside. I found this very refreshing and such a great idea.

I love small airports that are easy to get in and out of and are fast to go through. PSP qualifies. This is a super unique architecture; it requires walking outdoors, which was fine since it was Dec but I can imagine the summer months are a pain.

The airport is great because it is usually in and out. What I don't like is their vending machines are way over priced. $3.50 sodas, etc. etc.. I definitely like driving to PSIA rather than Ontario. It also costs more to fly into PSIA but to me it's worth it.

At many airports, you have to run from one end to the other to get to the right terminal or take a shuttle to the car rental... but you don't have to deal with that type of stress here! When we arrived, we just took an escalator down to the first level, which led us directly to the rental car and baggage claim area. The customer service lines for all the rental car companies were long, but representatives were doing their best trying to help everyone in a timely manner. Just right outside the door, we picked up our car, and we were off to explore Palm Springs! On our day of departure, we arrived about three hours early to drop off the car (which ended up going seamlessly) and go through security. The TSA agents are really friendly here! While they are still stern, they at least smile and are patient, which is always appreciated. I believe there are only about 12 gates, all on the second level. The main hallway is open-air with a good amount of seating out in the atrium around the fountain. However, the seating at each of the gates is enclosed. One drawback of the open-air layout is that birds can easily get inside the enclosed seating areas, so our group of four was unable to find a row of clean seats. Just be sure to have some disinfecting wipes on hand! Given the smaller airport, food options are more limited. I saw one sit-down restaurant, a coffee shop, and a food stall that serves empanadas.

Palm Springs airport continues to grow and right now has a number of projects going on and yet it doesn't interrupt the true flow of service for the passengers which is incredible. The maintenance staff keeps the restrooms working and clean. The seating area is well-maintained and there are a number of vendor choices, even during construction. Even with the incredible heat, they keep things relatively comfortable in the terminal.

Such a nice easy airport to get around. Not a lot of shops or restaurants. So make sure you get your Palm Springs souvenirs before you come. Maybe even grab some food too before coming. The terminals are like outside. They have just the large canopy coverings. It's really nice actually. Easy TSA, it's super quick, easy to fin your gate. Not a lot of walking at all. I can't wait to come back to Palm Springs. Hopefully next year.

Palm Springs PSP is getting many upgrades for food, beverages, and shopping. The center court in the main terminal has a great new bar to refresh travelers. It's called Cactus to the Clouds. The second terminal building also has a fine new restaurant that features craft beers and cocktails. It's called Nine Cities Craft. The TSA security area has been completely revamped and streamlined. The FlyPSP web site has estimated wait times for TSA checkpoint. Travelers with TSA PreCheck and/or Clear+ will appreciate the new lane just for that. Coming or going, PSP airport is easy!

2nd time here this month and prefer PSP as opposed to ONT as it is a smaller airport where one can get in and out. TSA on both occasions was fast with no lines. If you fly UA, there is only one restaurant " Nine Cities" which has the usual airport food. I killed time there on my first visit and service was fast and ordered the Grilled Chicken sandwich which was actually quite good. Rental car facility is steps away from where your luggage arrives if you have done check- in for it.

This is a small airport which means it's super easy to get in and out of. It's fairly quick to get through security and they also have Clear here (although last time we came on a Sunday around 5pm, it was closed). Part of the airport is outside- there are a couple of shops and the restrooms are located outside. A major con to this place is that there are no lounges. Arriving, it was quick to exit the airport and grab a ride share outside. Downtown Palm Springs is about 15 minutes away making it a great location for an airport.

Love traveling to Palm Springs via PSP. The airport is a breeze to navigate and the staff friendly. Always check the weather though - with so much of the gate / terminal experience outdoors, you are definitely exposed to the weather (rain, heat, etc). A fair amount of fast casual and small plates options for a meal or nibble before your flight too.

I can't always say that my airport experiences are 5 stars, but flying into and out of Palm Springs surpassed all expectations. Flying into the airport and landing was quite the experience with the wind and stunning views, but I would choose it every time over LAX or San Diego! After exiting the plane and entering the terminal I was shocked to see how quaint the gates were. Then much to my shock, the airport was mainly outside; which I thought was awesome! Flying out of PSP was great considering my ID got stolen and I was so worried about trying to fly out with limited documentation; however, the security was so kind and I got through quicker than the person I came with considering the circumstances... Overall this airport is quick, effective, and has stunning views! I highly recommend flying in and out of here given the chance!

Always a great trip outta PS TSA was crazy this am though! But we made it in no time whatsoever!

This is a small international airport, about 15 minutes from Palm Springs. There are renovations going on now, so there are not many dining or shopping options. Part of the airport is open air and almost feels like a shopping mall. The rental cars are just a short walk away from the baggage claim. Be aware -- when returning your car it's possible to miss the rental car return sign -- so keep your eyes peeled. The Clear and TSA lines were practically empty (we are here early). Boarding takes place via outdoor stairs.

It's a small airport. Parking was easy to find. There's only one parking lot for short and long term. Everyone here are super nice. It was clean, quiet and efficient. TSA was thorough. They found a yogurt. Nothing gets past them. This is a good alternative to Ontario. There's a nice outdoor courtyard.

I absolutely love this airport! It may not be the most up to date with looks, but the employees here are so helpful. I love the outdoor plaza that has fresh air. There are not many food options here that do not come out of a vending machine. But... there are some bomb restaurants nearby if you need to grab something to eat. They have the "clear me" here as well. If you regularly travel to or from airports that offer lanes, paying $189 per year for a Clear membership could be worth it. The time you'll save moving through long security lines could help reduce your risk of missing a flight and cut down your time spent in the airport overall. If you are willing to do biometrics.

Psp airport . Open air concept. When I arrived it was quite nice and bougie. Some say it doesn't feel like an airport, more like an open air outlet or mall. . There is a good coffee shop and if you are looking for good coffee in the airport its called psp coffee. They even have breakfast sandwiches too. The large ice cold brew was 4.79. The breakfast sandwich is under 9 bucks. . The gating process is small and easy to find short walk as well. Which us perfect if you dislike big airport. . The bathrooms was busy and not too big. So it does get filled up quickly. Two of the 3 sinks was not working with running water. Which needs attention on. . The airport is 10 min driving distance from palm springs downtown Which is convenient and I like it. I didn't have to drive far going to the airport in the early morning. As well didn't have to to drive too far to the hotel when I landed. . The car rental is attached to the airport. There is no need for shuttle to the rental car. It's convenient and short walk. Before 8am there is no one there to so just bring the car key and drop it off in the return car key box to which car rental company. . Overall there was only a short line in the tsa line on a Tues after a memorial day weekend. It was quick and easy. Hope this review helps and thanks for reading. Have a yelptastic day.

We love coming to Palm Springs! When we are there for a long weekend, flying is an option. The Palm Springs Airport is very up to date and has lots of flights. I love the architecture! There's lots of pictures waiting to be taken. The women's bathroom is very eloquent for a public restroom. I love the shapes and the lines. Also, I have been impressed with how clean the bathrooms are, too. It is very cool that part of the airport was semi-outdoors. Lots of fresh air to breathe, with shade and protection from the weather. If you want to rent a car, you can pick them up at the airport. This time we got an Uber, and the process going both directions was easy.

All of my respect for Sonny Bono, and none for the PSP Airport. This airport is rough. Sure it must be great for locals, parking and jumping on a quick flight, but no qualities beyond that. Torn, wore out carpeting (carpeting is a sin in an airport anyway), not enough terminal seating and stalls in bathroom, lack of quality food/drink options, and generally poor layout. Added priceless gem: The gate agent had to announce our departing flight from gate 15 using the intercom at gate 12. As she proclaimed "no intercom at gate 15". Haha. Wow! Get rid of the carpet, as it is the enemy of any airport! (Suitcases don't roll smoothly on carpet). Not a fan.

Small airport. Easy to navigate. You literally can exit this airport in under 10 minutes if you don't have luggage. I love how you dont need to take a tram, a bus, and a plane to get to the baggage claim area or to exit!!

3 hour delay and boarding the plane there's 8 airline workers on their phones doing nothing. Plane was at the gate.

Nice small airport. But all food and drink is ridiculously priced and food is awful. Bought $20 hummus and carrots were soggy, 2small pieces of pita bread. Tacos disgusting. Coffee place ok. Soooooo many better places in PS.

One of my favorite airports. Mostly outdoors, which is so unique, especially considering it is an international airport. Plus they have celebrated the desert vibe. When you are here you know you are in Palm Springs.

I love this airport! If it had more restaurants and stores, it could be a destination all by itself. I wish they would add misters to the walkways and outside area and if they would a space needle styled restaurant I would be in hog heaven. It's just gorgeous, everywhere you look. And if you do have a long layover and want some privacy and a/c, go to the regional gates, 12-20. They have a USO outside of security. It even has a patio area. The gates at 1-11 go in the order of 7,9,11,10,8? Who did they let do that?

I like this airport, i like it a lot! Imagine an airport where you can park your car right across the street from the terminal, walk into easy security and be at your gate in minutes. Now picture yourself coming home from that flight and strolling straight out of the gate and to your car. Home in 10. Thats PSP. If you are a business traveler and are used to the LAX stress and inconvenience. Stop stressing because PSP is super easy and convenient. I can get used to this... Downsides are limited direct flights so for most non major hub destinations you are going to be 2 segments. Also, no lounges or clubs. At PSP I am comfortable not leaving all the extra time i set aside for LAX parking and delays, gate changes and hiking across vast terminals that normally leads to extra Admirals club time. Logistically, you just don't need as much extra time here. Its a small indoor/outdoor airport. Which is great 70% of the year and kind of hard when its 110+ degrees in the summer. But the main terminal is air conditioned and so are the gate areas. The in between where food, shopping and walking to gates happens is not air conditioned. All things being equal i am ok with that. Overall, this is the best airport serving the Coachella Valley and it beats the heck out of driving to LAX or ONT anytime. Highly recommend.

Small and cozy airport. First airport that I see that isn't AC. Once you step out of the airplane you will be put in direct contact to outdoors. Pretty interesting and nature embracing. Love it! The car rental section is within walking distance and convenient. No need for shuttle buses or long walk into a parking lot

Beautiful airport with an outdoor concourse that feels more like a park. Difficult to work at though with lack of electrical outlooks and Wi-FI. On further thought, that might be a positive because it forced me to take a moment to enjoy the beautiful day.

PSP (Palm Springs Airport), R you my NEW #1 airport?? Midweek travel, early September. Rental drop was a breeze. Nobody but me. TSA checkin, also a breeze. NOBODY but me. Get settled... see the OUTSIDE area before going to the gates. See pictures posted by me. Awesome concept. Definitely feels like vacation, although it's not. I get settled and ready for the flight. Decide to go get a coffee. NOBODY but me. This is feeling like a really good, almost curated experience that's too good to be true but I'll take this good karma as partial repayment for all the nice things I've done in life, and run with it. PSP, can't wait to come back thru! It was a pleasure all around.

It's a beautiful location and a cute airport. We were shuttled to and from, so I can't comment on parking or what it's like to drive to and from. It's strange that the concourses are outside. It's really cool to look outside and at the mountains in the distance. It seems this might be a challenging airport if you aren't able to walk up stairs to board the plane...I'm sure they have equipment to accommodate, however, it will be a process. The check in process and security was easy - no issues to report. The gift shop was great- I was able to get something for every one in my family and the delicious toffee made in Palm Springs. Staff members I interacted with were very pleasant.

I absolutely love this airport! I love the indoor/outdoor concept, so refreshing to be able to go outside! Plus it's small enough to be easy to get around, with plenty of seating, and a lot of places to eat and drink. Very comfortable. As far as the ability to get in and out quickly, I had no issues, sometime baggage claim is a zoo, but hey, that's everywhere these days. When I left, it was a quick trip through security and I was relaxing in minutes. They have a very cool military memorial there, I always enjoy seeing our military being recognized this way. I wish more airports were like this one!

Really not much here, because it is small, although I do appreciate the opportunity to go outside if you have kids, so they can play on playground, area for dogs to potty, and if you're a smoker! I think every airport should offer this space!!! But 2 shops open were tiny and minimal snacks/drinks. One restaurant was open and busy but just wasn't craving what they were offering. Loved that we had a seat waiting for our flight too, most airports Youre SOL

So i don't normally review airports but i was so blown away when i arrived to PSP! Coming from NYC, when i arrive to an airport that's half outside with palm trees left and right i'm so relieved. It was a breeze getting out of this place and super clean.

Easy, small airport to fly in and out of. Good-sized cell phone waiting/parking area on Kirk Douglas Way if you are picking someone up.

I can see why this was named one of the best small airports. I got here earlier than expected and did not mind killing an extra two hours at all. Once you go through security, the entire concourse where the terminals are located is outdoors! It was such a beautiful day to enjoy it too! They have a few food spots, a cafe and a few shops, not many options but good enough. What really stood out was the park-like atmosphere. Plenty of seating, but many opt to lay in the grass and sunbathe. Many comfortable areas and even a playground for the kids! Long Beach Airport, another one of my favorites, has some pretty friendly staff, but they are even nicer here in Palm Springs! I'm happy this is my locale airport because everything was so easy, quick and is a great place to wait for your flight!

Descending into Palm Springs with the San Jacinto Mountains in the background is absolutely gorgeous. Airport is tiny and dated, reminded me of Kahului Aiport (OGG) in Maui, just without an intense tropical vibe. When you step out of the terminals, it's an open air courtyard. You then take the escalator down and you're suddenly surrounded by mounds of grass and tall palm trees. It really really makes you feel like you're in typical sunny Southern California. Feels quite magical. And then you're out and about into the parking lot!

This airport is built so that some of it requires you to step outside into the fresh air and bright sunshine, and I really like that. Airports are notoriously stuffy. Palm Springs International Airport is not stuffy. It takes advantage of the desert climate and beautiful by offering spaces within the airport where you can breathe and enjoy the desert weather. There's even an outdoor playground at this airport! How neat is that? I don't think I've ever seen an outdoor playground for kids at an airport, but Palm Springs has one. Palm Springs was my final destination in my journey, so when I landed, I went straight to the baggage claim to get my checked bags. I didn't even have to wait more than 10 minutes before my bags were coming down the conveyer belt, and I was out of there about 20 minutes after stepping off the plane. My experience with Palm Springs Airport was very good! I like enjoying all of the extra amenities of an airport as much as the next person, but really, what I want from an airport is to get in and out with as little stress as possible. Palm Spring International Airport delivers exactly that.

Easy breezy airport experience! Lines here were not bad at all and the airport itself is lovely. Lots of room to relax and get some work done while you wait for your flight. Love the Sonny Bono bust and terminal!

PSP is hands down the best airport! It has a wide variety of flights and at affordable prices. The airport is a breeze! Even at the height of Coachella traffic it was still a quick and easy airport to maneuver through.

Absolutely love this tiny outdoor airport! The gates are covered but the rest of the airport is outdoors. Not much to eat but delicious coffee, beautiful, scapes, and easy as it gets! Definitely, don't need to be here two hours in advance if you have TSA pre. it's only four minutes away from Palm Springs and 15 from Rancho Mirage!!

What a pleasant surprise this airport was. Considering this is a relatively small town, this is a huge airport. 20 gates with frequent non-stop service to all of the big hubs -- there are, for example, currently four daily in-bound flights from Denver on 50 pax planes. Impressive. Landing here on a 116 degree day did make me wish that the airport was fully air conditioned but perhaps that's part of its charm. Everything else here works so well.

We haven't flown into Palms Springs direct for quite awhile. They have remodeled and it looks great. Alaskan Air stopped flying direct so we usually take Southwest into Ontario and drive in. Southwest started flying direct to Palm Springs so fantastic. Less driving. This airport is half outside and half in. It is unique that way. The only thing is outside people smoke and we hate that smell permeating throughout the airport. Yuck.

Palm Springs airport is fantastic! It was the smoothest experience I've ever had. I adore the outdoor vibes and the relaxed atmosphere.

No complaints. PSP is reminiscent (to me at least) of the airports in Hawaii; pretty small gates and very easy to get around. I had a car rental that had to be dropped off to Alamo, and with the walk (no shuttle necessary), I was through security within 10 minutes. Be sure to make a stop at PSP coffee house before you head up the escalator.

I love this airport. One of the easiest places and quick in and out. The staff is very friendly

Cute little outdoor airport located in Palm Springs California. You usually hop off the plane and you're straight outdoors, the terminals and gates are outdoors, reminds you of an island/desert type. You can see the Palm trees, there are multiple spots to purchase food and bathrooms around. It's a very small airport with screens around but not your typical airport.