Disney to Palm Springs

[Jairy]

My family has a vacation planned for Palm Springs next week. My son and I just couldn’t stand the thought of being that close and not going to Disney, so we added some days at the beginning of our vacation! We are leaving Disneyland on Saturday to meet the family.
My question is, what is the best way to get there? My husband will already be renting a car in the Palm Springs airport and to be honest, driving unknown freeways is not that appealing to me.
We are not in a rush, and not completely worried about budgets. Any thoughts?

 

[Gaugersaurus]

There's a couple ways you could go, the most straightforward is Ball Rd.->57->10; Ball Rd.->57->60->10; or Ball Rd.->57->91->60->10.

There are only 2 places where you could run into issues and that's at the 57/60 interchange in Diamond Bar or the 60/215 split in Riverside/Moreno Valley. The 57 and 60 merge to one freeway for a few miles but you'll be fine if you keep to the right lanes and if you miss the 57 split you won't be completely lost. If you end up taking the 60 just keep to the left lanes and you'll be fine. The 60 ends where it merges to the 10 so nothing to worry about there.

 

[VandVsmama]

It'll probably take you 2 hours to drive from Palm Springs to Disneyland. 3 possible freeway routes:

• I-10 to CA-60 West
• Then from the 60 West freeway, next get on CA-91 West
• Then get on CA-57S
• After that, you exit at Ball Rd

Option 2:
- I-10 West
- CA-60 West
- CA-57 South
- then exit at Ball Rd

Option 3:
- I-10 West
- CA-57 South
- then exit at Ball Rd

 

[ParkHopper1]

SoCal driving..use free Google Maps app as a GPS. That will give you real time driving conditions and route you on the fastest freeways to DL at that specific time.

 

[Jairy]

You guys are great.
I actually don’t want to drive if I can find another way.
Is it easy to catch a bus that connects to the Amtrak Thruway? I don’t even know what that is? Is it a regular bus service? Do you have to reserve?
This is the info I found when I tried to google. That, and a greyhound that leaves too early for my liking. Lol

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Do you need to get from Palm Springs to Anaheim, then back to Palm Springs a few days later? Or just one way (Anaheim to Palm Springs)?

 

[Jairy]

Just one way. Anaheim to Palm Springs.

 

[lcp9]

Be careful on 91 (I think) - we inadvertently ended up in a Fastrak lane without a Fastrak. Anyway, we have made this trip quite a few times and it's pretty easy and quick

 

[Geemo]

Just one way. Anaheim to Palm Springs.

Try ShuttleWizard point to point option
https://shuttlewizard.com/

Lyft or Uber might be an option too.

 

[felice]

The route between Palm Springs and Anaheim is a popular one but the traffic is not that heavy until you get closer to LA.

Just take your time, have patience and you should negotiate the route well. My wife and I travel over to Desert Hills / Cabazon Premium Outlets, which is close to Palm Springs. Takes about an hour and a half or so in normal conditions to drive from Anaheim to the location.

 

[pharmama]

There is an Amtrak bus from Fullerton to Palm Springs...but you can't buy a ticket for just the Amtrak bus, you have to have a train segment too (though I understand you don't have to actually use the train segment). That said, you can take the Amtrak Surfliner train from the Anaheim station to Fullerton (all of a 6 minute ride) and then take the bus to Palm Springs from there. Total travel time is about 3hrs depending on which time option you pick (there are at least two times per day this could happen). Cost to do this tomorrow looks like $13.50.

It seems a little bit of hassle but would avoid renting a car and driving and its super cheap (Uber gave me an estimate of almost 10x that).

 

[ParkHopper1]

Public transit in SoCal is AWFUL and inefficient and very car-centric for transportation.

Drive...or as mentioned Uber

 

[chickapin parterre]

you catch your travel option to Fullerton on the east side of the baseball stadium. The train, Surfliner takes you to Fullerton to catch the bus that is waiting for you. make sure you choose airport or downtown palm springs and not the train station

 

[Jairy]

There is an Amtrak bus from Fullerton to Palm Springs...but you can't buy a ticket for just the Amtrak bus, you have to have a train segment too (though I understand you don't have to actually use the train segment). That said, you can take the Amtrak Surfliner train from the Anaheim station to Fullerton (all of a 6 minute ride) and then take the bus to Palm Springs from there. Total travel time is about 3hrs depending on which time option you pick (there are at least two times per day this could happen). Cost to do this tomorrow looks like $13.50.

It seems a little bit of hassle but would avoid renting a car and driving and its super cheap (Uber gave me an estimate of almost 10x that).

That bus route looks perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. So, do I need to pre-buy, or reserve anything, or is it all just public transit? Where do you catch the Surfliner? We are staying at the BWPPI.
Thanks so much for your input.

 

[pharmama]

That bus route looks perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. So, do I need to pre-buy, or reserve anything, or is it all just public transit? Where do you catch the Surfliner? We are staying at the BWPPI.
Thanks so much for your input.

I don't know if you have to buy in advance but I probably would just so I knew I had it all lined up. It's a little different than just public transportation. It looks like there are only 2 buses/train combos per day that work. You would book here https://www.amtrak.com/home.html

Put in Anaheim as the departing station and Palm Springs Airport or Downtown for destinaion (do not pick the Palm Springs Amtrak station as the bus doesn't stop there).

The Anaheim station is not too far from DLR- its over by the ballpark. https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/stations/ana.html

I should say that I have not personally done this, I was just looking for a non-car option for you

 

[BayouQueen]

There is now a three dollar bus from DL to San Bernardino. I'd check that, because from there it's a straight shot to the desert. Train or bus transfers might make sense from San Bernardino.
But seriously, I've live in So Cal for 60 years. Public transportation can be very tiring. I'd rent a car and drive. Maybe stop at the desert outlet stores on the way, have a date shake and enjoy yourselves. California freeways are crowded, but excellent.