Desert Hot Springs Inn

What to expect

Desert Hot Springs sits on the north side of the Coachella Valley, across Interstate 10 from Palm Springs, and it built its name on the hot mineral water under the town. Many small motels and spas here pump that water into their pools. Desert Hot Springs Inn is one of the small ones: a low, mid-century modern motel on Hacienda Avenue, with rooms set around a private courtyard and the pool in the middle.

There are two soaking spots. The main mineral water pool is naturally heated and kept at about 85°F29°C, which is warm enough to float in comfortably on a cool desert evening but not a hot soak. The spa next to it runs at about 102°F39°C and is where most guests end the day. The inn markets itself as sitting above one of the best geothermal aquifers anywhere. Travel listings note that the pool and spa are rarely crowded even when the inn is full, which makes sense given its size.

This is a motel, not a full resort. There is no restaurant, no bar and no big spa complex. What it offers instead is a quiet, adults-only stay with a hot tub outside your door, dogs welcome and massage on site. The property also has a fenced dog park with mountain views by day and the lights of the valley at night.

The atmosphere is relaxed and informal. Check-in is contactless, the desk is not staffed after 5 p.m., and most guests spend their time between the pool, the spa and their room.

The rooms

The inn’s website lists two main room types:

• Standard rooms have a queen bed for two adults, a full bathroom, and patio doors that open onto the poolside courtyard.
• Kitchenette suites add a full-size refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, sink, dishware and a table, with French doors to the courtyard. They are on the ground floor.

All rooms have free WiFi and cable TV. Some rooms are on the second floor, and there is no elevator or porter, so request a ground-floor room if stairs are a problem. Third-party sites give different room counts, so take the number on the booking page as the current one. The inn also rents a separate offsite house, which has its own deposit and cleaning fee.

Getting there

Desert Hot Springs is about 2 hours from Los Angeles in normal traffic and about 15 minutes from downtown Palm Springs.

• From Los Angeles or Palm Springs: Take I-10 east and exit at Palm Drive. Drive north on Palm Drive up the slope into Desert Hot Springs, then turn east on Hacienda Avenue. The inn is at 67840 Hacienda Avenue.
• From Joshua Tree: The national park’s western entrances are roughly 30 minutes away via CA-62.

There is free parking in front of the inn. The streets are paved all the way.

When to go

October to April is the season in the Coachella Valley. Days are warm, nights are cool, and an 85°F29°C pool and a 102°F39°C spa both feel right. Weekends and holidays fill first, and spa appointments book up quickly on those dates.

Summer is very hot, with afternoons often well above 100°F38°C. The pool then becomes a place to cool off, and the spa is best after dark.

Festival weekends in April (Coachella and Stagecoach) have their own cancellation terms, so read them before booking those dates.

Prices and booking

Rates change by date and are shown on the online booking page linked from the inn’s website. Look at the Specials page too: in October 2026 it listed a midweek discount and a spa credit for two-night stays.

The house rules that matter:

• Age limit: 21 and over only. No children under 21.
• Payment: 100% of the stay is charged when you book.
• Cancellation: Cancel at least 3 days before arrival to avoid charges. Inside 3 days, you pay the full room cost.
• Security deposit: $100, refundable.
• Check-in and check-out: From 4 p.m. and by 11 a.m. Early check-in from noon to 2 p.m. is $10, and late check-out until 3 p.m. is $30, by arrangement.
• Dogs: Up to two dogs free, $40 for each extra dog. No size or breed limits. Leash them outside the dog run and keep them out of the pool.
• Noise and smoking: No amplified music, and no smoking of any kind inside rooms or near room entrances.

Spa treatments take place in a private poolside room. 2026 prices on the inn’s website:

• Swedish massage: $135 for 60 minutes, $200 for 90 minutes
• Deep tissue massage: $175 for 60 minutes, $265 for 90 minutes
• Couples massage: $275 for 60 minutes, $375 for 90 minutes
• Signature massage with CBD oil: $190 for 60 minutes
• Facials: from $130

Book treatments ahead for weekends and holidays.

Where to stay nearby

If the inn is full, or you want a day soak without staying the night, Desert Hot Springs has many other mineral water hotels and spas within a few minutes’ drive, from small motels on the hill to larger day-spa resorts along Palm Drive. Palm Springs, 15 minutes south, has a wider range of hotels and restaurants.

Safety notes

• Spa heat: At 102°F39°C, keep spa sessions short, drink water and step out if you feel lightheaded. Avoid alcohol while soaking.
• Desert sun: Summer afternoons are dangerous for people and dogs. Keep pets out of hot cars and off hot pavement.
• Stairs: Second-floor rooms have no elevator.
• Late arrival: The desk is unstaffed after 5 p.m. Send your pre-registration in time so you are not locked out.

Nearby stops worth adding

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, a few blocks away, is a hand-built adobe house from the town’s homesteading days and is worth an hour. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is about 15 miles away and climbs from the desert floor to the cool pine forest of Mount San Jacinto. Joshua Tree National Park makes an easy day trip.