Palm Springs Surf Club is the most improbable attraction in the desert: a surf park on South Gene Autry Trail, a few minutes from the airport, where engineered waves peel across a large pool with the San Jacinto Mountains as the backdrop. It is a genuine surf destination that draws serious surfers from the coast, but it also caters to complete beginners, and for anyone who has ever wanted to stand up on a wave without fighting the ocean, it is an unusual opportunity. Sessions are booked online by wave type and skill level. Beginners start with the Waikiki Wave, a slow, mellow, peeling wave designed for first-time riders, or the Reform Wave Pass, knee- to waist-high peaks for bodyboarding only. Intermediate surfers move up to A-frame peaks in six-wave sets, with a two-hour Sampler Session that mixes A-frames with left and right tubes. Advanced and expert sessions offer longer rides, barrels and the aptly named 5 Slabs for experienced tube riders. Groups can reserve the whole pool privately, and session packs suit repeat visitors. Surf hours are listed as daily from 8am to 10pm, with public sessions released in booking windows a month or two ahead, and the pool is heated. One important note for 2026: the club's water park, with its lazy river, slides and splash pad, is closed for the 2026 season, so this is a place to come to surf or to eat and drink rather than for a family pool day. The restaurant and bars are open to the public, and cabanas are available.
The club's story is part of its appeal. It occupies the site of an older water park and was rebuilt around wave technology that can produce many different waves on demand, which is why one pool can serve both first-timers and professionals. Watching an advanced session from the deck, with surfers threading barrels in the desert sun, is entertaining in itself, and a drink at the bar during a session is a fine way to see what all the fuss is about before booking.
To book well, be honest about your level; sessions are designed around ability, and joining one above your skill is no fun for you or others. Beginners should start on the Waikiki Wave, ideally in a lesson-style session if one is offered for your dates. Guests must be at least 42 inches tall and able to swim independently to enter the surf pool, children under 14 need someone 14 or older with them, and anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian to sign the waiver. Sessions are non-refundable unless the club cancels, and changes must be made by phone. Bring sunscreen and a rash guard, and check the hours page before you go, since weather, events and maintenance can affect the schedule.
Surf Club is a splurge, so it suits travelers for whom surfing is a highlight rather than a casual add-on: coastal surfers curious about the desert wave, teens and adults keen to try, and groups celebrating something with a private session. Pair it with a quiet afternoon at the hotel pool or the Palm Springs Air Museum just up the road. Families hoping for slides and a lazy river should wait until the water park reopens, and in the meantime look at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas, whose Splashtopia is included for resort guests.
What to expect
The experience
Booked surf sessions by wave type and skill level in a heated wave pool, from beginner rollers to expert barrels, with a public restaurant, bars and cabanas on site.
Best time
Mornings and evenings in the warmer months; any time from fall to spring. Book as soon as your dates enter the release window.
How long
One to two hours per session, plus time at the bar watching others surf.
Tips
Book the session that matches your real level. Minimum height 42 inches and independent swimmers only. Sessions are non-refundable. The water park is closed for 2026.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Surfers and would-be surfers who want guaranteed waves in the desert sun.
- Families
- Teens who can swim will love a beginner session; younger kids will miss the water park, which is closed for 2026.
- Couples
- Book a beginner session together, then drinks on the deck watching the experts ride the barrels.
- Pair with
- The Palm Springs Air Museum nearby, or a lazy afternoon by the hotel pool.
- Time needed
- Half a day with a meal.
Good questions
Can beginners surf at Palm Springs Surf Club?+
Yes. The Waikiki Wave is a slow, peeling wave designed for first-timers, and the Reform Wave Pass offers small peaks for bodyboarding. Seasonal beginner sessions run through the year.
Is the water park open?+
No. The club says its water park, with the lazy river, slides and splash pad, is closed for the 2026 season. Surf sessions, the restaurant and bars remain open.
Are there age or height limits?+
Surfers must be at least 42 inches tall and able to swim independently. Under-14s need someone 14 or older with them, and under-18s need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver.
Can I watch without surfing?+
Yes. The restaurant and bars are open to the public, and watching an advanced session from the deck is part of the fun.
Where is it?+
At 1500 South Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, a few minutes from the airport and the Palm Springs Air Museum.
