Palm Springs to JT to San Diego - trip itinerary question

Question

Hi! My family and I are planning on spending a week in beginning of April for first time trip to Palm Springs, JT and then San Diego. A friend suggested we do the reverse - flying into San Diego to JT to Palm Springs (flying out of Palm Springs). Does that make more sense? Help! We are including San Diego as my daughter loves the beach but after researching I’m learning it might be too cold for beach in beginning of April? Maybe we should visit another part of CA? Thank you in advance for your help and time! As you can tell - I’m a little lost planning this trip.

Answer

Planning a week in Southern California with Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, and San Diego is very doable, but the order of travel can affect how much you enjoy each stop and reduce unnecessary driving.

Option 1: Fly into Palm Springs → Joshua Tree → San Diego → Fly out of San Diego

This is the most straightforward if your flights into Palm Springs are convenient and reasonably priced. Driving from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree is very short (about 45 minutes to an hour), and then Joshua Tree to San Diego takes roughly 3–3.5 hours. It allows you to relax first in Palm Springs before venturing into the desert.

Pros: Less total driving on the first day; you can get settled quickly in Palm Springs.
Cons: San Diego in early April can be cool for beach swimming (average highs in low 70s °F, ocean water still chilly around 60–62°F).
Travel flow is easy: start inland, then move southwest to the coast.

Option 2: Fly into San Diego → Joshua Tree → Palm Springs → Fly out of Palm Springs

This makes some sense logistically if you want to start with the beach experience. You can enjoy the city and family-friendly activities, then move inland to the desert and finish with Palm Springs for relaxation before flying home.

Pros: Nice variation in scenery, starting coastal and ending desert; Palm Springs airport is smaller and less busy for departure.
Cons: San Diego early April may not offer optimal beach weather; starting with the longer drives might be tiring after a flight.
Joshua Tree is roughly 2.5–3 hours from San Diego, so you are driving inland early in the trip.

Alternative Considerations

If the beach is a key factor but April water is too chilly, consider swapping San Diego with La Jolla tide pools or Carlsbad beaches for walking and sightseeing rather than swimming.
Another option is to spend more time exploring Palm Springs area activities (Aerial Tramway, mid-century architecture tours, Joshua Tree day trips) and skip the ocean for this trip, then plan a separate California coast trip in summer when swimming is feasible.
Driving distances: Palm Springs → Joshua Tree (~1 hr), Joshua Tree → San Diego (~3–3.5 hrs), San Diego → Palm Springs (~2.5–3 hrs), so both sequences are manageable within a week.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1–2: Palm Springs — relax, explore town, maybe tramway or mid-century tours.
Day 3: Joshua Tree — hike, scenic drives, stargazing in the evening.
Day 4–6: San Diego — zoo, Balboa Park, museums, harbor walk, beach walks (swimming optional due to cooler water).
Day 7: Travel back to Palm Springs for departure.

Overall, the first option (fly into Palm Springs, end in San Diego) is slightly more convenient for travel logistics and reduces stress with a smaller departure airport at the end. If beach swimming is critical, you may want to schedule the coastal portion later or adjust expectations for cooler water.

Palm Springs to JT to San Diego - trip itinerary question

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