Palm Desert is roughly 12–14 miles (about 19–22 km) from Palm Springs, which is typically a 20–25 minute drive in normal traffic.

Basic distance and time

  • Straight-line distance: About 12 miles / 19–20 km between the two city centers.
  • Driving distance: About 14 miles / 22 km depending on your exact start and end points.
  • Typical drive time: Around 20–25 minutes in normal traffic along Highway 111.

How people usually travel

  • Driving: Most visitors just drive via Highway 111; it’s a short, direct route between the two.
  • Taxi or rideshare: Taxi and app-based rides can cover the 14‑mile route in about 20 minutes.
  • Bus: SunLine Transit’s Line 1 connects Palm Desert and Palm Springs, taking roughly 40 minutes.

Quick perspective

These two are neighboring desert cities in Greater Palm Springs, close enough that many travelers treat them as parts of the same general area and go back and forth for shopping, dining, golf, or resorts within a single day.