Palm Springs Air Museum
The basics
Located next to the Palm Springs airport, the museum is easy to visit at the beginning or end of your stay. Inside the hangars, you can get up close and personal with numerous planes, such as a Grumman F4F Wildcat, Douglas A26 Invader, or F/A-18 Hornet, just to name a few of the dozens on display. Wartime memorabilia, combat photography, uniforms, and other exhibits provide additional insight into aviation and combat history. A flight simulator and control tower keep kids entertained.
Things to know before you go
- The museum is a must for those interested in military history or flying.
- Tickets can be purchased in person at the gift shop or online.
- Parking is free.
How to get there
The museum is located on North Gene Autry Trail at the Palm Springs International Airport, 2 miles (3 kilometers) east of downtown Palm Springs.
Trip ideas
When to get there
The museum is open daily from late morning to early evening. Events take place during the year such as a beer festival and a Memorial Day air fair, or perhaps catch one of the special programs about certain aspects of past wars, such as the Tuskegee Airmen or a documentary about Holocaust survivors.
Book a Flight
As a museum that actually flies its aircraft, the Palm Springs Air Museum takes passengers on flights. You can go up in a C-47 Skytrain (which must have at least five paying passengers) or a P-51 Mustang, trying to imagine what it was like for a pilot in combat.