Southwest® flights to Palm Springs starting at $51

While folks used to flock to the area in the early 1900s for the health benefits of dry heat, Palm Springs has since become a popular destination for fans of mid-century modern architecture, retirees, and snowbirds longing for palm trees. You can hop on the bus and head straight into downtown when you deplane at Palm Springs International Airport, but you’ll be able to make the most of your visit if you book a rental car with Southwest Airlines ahead of time.

With such a long history as a resort town, it’s no wonder that Palm Springs remains a popular vacation destination. A shift from sanitariums to nightclubs and casinos took place in the 1930s, and during World War II it was an important staging area for ferrying groups—which led to the construction of a new airfield in the area. After WWII, the area saw another change and concurrent boom: movie stars flocked to Palm Springs, and with them came commissioned homes from the top names in modernist architecture. Thanks to this post-war influx of celebrity and design, Palm Springs remains a mecca of mid-century modern sights. Visit the Palm Springs Air Museum to learn more about the area’s impact on WWII or book a celebrity or architecture tour for a taste of post-war Palm Springs.