I brought my dog, Milo, to Palm Springs for a long weekend. He’s a 45-pound mutt with big ears and bigger feelings. I thought it would be easy. It kind of was. And kind of wasn’t. Let me explain.
For anyone who wants the blow-by-blow itinerary (down to the exact patios and water-bowl stops), I put together a full weekend diary you can read here.
Us two, plus the sun
Milo loves car rides and patios. I love coffee, pools, and a quiet nap. We both hate hot sidewalks. That last part really mattered here.
Palm Springs looks like a postcard. Tall palms. Pops of orange and teal. Misters hissing outside cafes. But the heat sneaks up fast. By 9 a.m. the pavement felt like a griddle. I did the back-of-the-hand test and said, nope, we’re walking early.
Where we stayed (and what was actually pet friendly)
We started at the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs. They didn’t charge a pet fee. The front desk gave Milo a blue bandana and a bowl of water right away. Staff said hi to him by name like he was a celebrity. We hung out in the lobby during the hot hours. It’s cool and calm, and he napped under a table by the big windows. Dogs were fine in the lobby and on the ground-floor patio, but not by the pool. Fair.
For our last night, we moved to the Ace Hotel & Swim Club. It’s got that laid-back, vinyl-and-cactus vibe. There was a pet fee, but the room had a small patio with shade in the afternoon. That patio saved us. The pool area is a no-dog zone, which I expected, so I grabbed an iced tea from King’s Highway and sat with Milo under the string lights on the patio. Soft music. A light desert breeze. Honestly, not bad at all.
Tip: Ask for a ground-floor room with a private patio, if you can. Late-night potty breaks are easier. For a wider look at the area’s options, this rundown of pet-friendly hotels in Palm Springs gave me a few ideas for next time.
Eating with a leash in one hand
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Boozehounds Palm Springs: This spot was our big win. It’s made for dogs. They have a pup menu. Milo ate a simple chicken-and-rice bowl while I had a crisp salad and a spicy margarita. There’s a glass atrium and a shaded patio, and every server had that “we like your dog” energy. They brought him water before I even sat down.
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Cheeky’s: The line can be long, but the patio is dog friendly. I ordered the bacon flight (yes, five kinds), and Milo parked himself in a shady patch like a polite loaf. We went right when they opened. Worth it.
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Koffi: Big shady patios, especially at the North Palm Springs location. I got an iced latte and a muffin. Milo sniffed every palm shadow like it was a new book. Lots of locals with dogs here, so you feel normal.
And a little extra: Bones-N-Scones, the pet bakery downtown. They gave Milo a tiny treat sample. He sat so straight, like he had a job interview.
If you’re mapping out meals ahead of time, I found this roundup of pet-friendly restaurants in Palm Springs super handy for filling in the gaps between Milo’s naps.
Walks that worked (and some that didn’t)
Ruth Hardy Park was our morning loop. Flat paths. Big lawns. Purple flowers near the tennis courts. We watched the mountains turn pink while sprinklers ticked on and off. It felt like we had the city to ourselves.
The Palm Springs Dog Park at Demuth Park was good in the evening. Separate areas for big and small dogs. The people were friendly but watch the gates. A couple pups tried to jail-break when new folks came in. Bring your own water, just in case.
Whitewater Preserve was our best little adventure. It’s a short drive north of town. Leashed dogs are fine on the trails, and the sound of the creek cooled my brain. Cottonwood shade, mountain views, and a light breeze through the reeds. I kept Milo’s paws wet and he trotted like a champ.
Now, the tricky parts. Many famous hikes around Palm Springs don’t allow dogs. Tahquitz Canyon? No dogs. Indian Canyons? Also no dogs. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway doesn’t take pets either (service animals only). I learned the hard way after I prepped a day pack and then had to rethink the whole plan in the lobby. It was a moment.
Heat rules we followed (and one we broke once)
- We walked at sunrise and near sunset.
- Midday was “nap in the A/C” time.
- I kept a collapsible bowl clipped to my bag.
- I used paw balm and checked the ground with my hand.
- We sat on patios with shade and fans. If there weren’t misters, we moved on.
For a deeper dive into hot-weather safety, the guidelines over at Pet Care Services gave me peace of mind before each outing.
The one time I tried a 10 a.m. walk, Milo stopped, looked at me, and lifted one paw like, “I’m out.” We turned around. Lesson learned.
Little wins that made it easy
- People put water bowls outside shops. It’s small, but it feels kind.
- Ubers were fine with Milo after I sent a quick note in the app. I kept a towel on hand so no one stressed.
- The airport (PSP) was chill coming and going. There’s an outdoor area near baggage claim where Milo stretched after the flight and did his spin-in-the-grass thing.
- Before the trip I installed this sliding-glass-door pet door so Milo could pop into the yard while I packed—game changer for last-minute prep.
For even more blunt, locals-only intel, check out the no-filter community guide at Fuck Local. You’ll get candid reviews of which patios actually welcome pets, where the shaded walking routes are hiding, and real-time heat hacks crowdsourced from people who live in the Coachella Valley.
What surprised me
Palm Springs is very pet friendly… if you plan for the heat and know where dogs aren’t allowed. I thought we’d hike all day. Instead, we did early loops, long patio lunches, and slow nights under string lights. And you know what? That fit the town.
What I wish I knew before I went
- Check trail rules. Don’t assume dogs are allowed.
- Book breakfast early. Shade seats go fast.
- Bring a long leash for hotel patios, plus a short one for busy sidewalks.
- Pack a light towel. Works for shade, seat cover, and paw wipe.
- Ask the hotel about pet fees and where dogs can actually sit. “Pet friendly” can mean “lobby only.”
One more nearby note
If you want big lawns and quiet nights, La Quinta Resort & Club (about 30 minutes away) has dog-friendly casitas and lots of grass. We drove over for a day visit, and Milo did happy zoomies in the shade by the citrus trees. It felt like a calm break from the buzz. If the desert heat ever gets to be too much, I’m eyeing a mountain escape next—this write-up on pet-friendly cabins that actually worked has me plotting a cooler weekend option.
On the flip side, not every getaway has to revolve around the dog bowl. A couple we met at the Ace mentioned that they sometimes tack on an adults-only detour in the Pacific Northwest to explore the open-minded nightlife scene up there. If you’re curious about that kind of vibe and ever find yourself passing through Washington, you can skim this insider’s look at the Federal Way swingers community. It outlines local meet-ups, etiquette tips, and upcoming events so you can decide whether to add a spicy stopover to your travel calendar.
My final take
Palm Springs with a dog feels warm and welcoming. It’s stylish but not fussy. My favorite day was simple: sunrise at Ruth Hardy Park, coffee at Koffi, a nap at the hotel, early dinner at Boozehounds, and a slow sidewalk stroll as the sky turned gold.
Would I come back with Milo? Yes. I’ll pack extra water. I’ll plan less hiking. And I’ll lean into the shade, the patios, and that easy desert pace.