Nestled deep in the valley between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Jacinto Mountains, Desert Hot Springs was a treeless place in California's Colorado Desert before the development of the city began in the 1930s. Prior to the 20th century, the only people to inhabit the area were the Cahuilla Indians in the village of Seven Palms. They never settled the area permanently, however, but rather just camped there during the winter to take advantage of the warm winter climate. Named for its many natural hot springs, Desert Hot Springs is one of only a few places in the world where both hot and cold mineral springs occur naturally. Unlike most mineral springs, the ones located in this region are odorless.
The first homesteader in the area was Hilda Maude Gray, who staked her claim in 1908. In 1913, Cabot Yerxa arrived and discovered the hot water aquifer on Miracle Hill. Due to being bisected by a branch of the San Andreas Fault, one side of the branch produces a cold water aquifer and the other a hot water aquifer. Yerxa spent more than 20 years hand-building a large Pueblo Revival Style structure, which is now one of the oldest adobe-style buildings in Riverside County. It currently houses Cabot's Pueblo Museum, which was designated a state historical site after his death in 1965.
The town was founded by L. W. Coffee in 1941 and became a popular tourist destination in the 1950s because of its small spa and boutique hotels. In 1963, the town was incorporated with 1,000 residents. In the 1980s and '90s, the town experienced a population boom, and Desert Hot Springs High School opened in 1999. In 2014, Desert Hot Springs became the first city in Southern California to legalize the cultivation of medical marijuana, and a flood of marijuana developers and growers moving into the area led to even further expansion.
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival - Most often simply referred to as Coachella, this festival is held each spring and features some of the biggest musical acts on the planet.
Stagecoach Country Music Festival - This country music festival takes place every year on the weekend after Coachella.
Palm Springs International Film Festival - One of the largest film festivals in North America, Palm Springs International is held every January and features 10 days of screenings and an award show to kick off the festivities.
Discover the majestic beauty of the vast, empty desert at Joshua Tree National Park. Spanning over 1,200 miles of southern California, at the intersection of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, the park is named for the twisted, alien-looking plants that thrive in this harsh, majestic landscape.
Those interested in extreme adventures might want to venture into Death Valley National Park where summertime temperatures regularly soar well above 120 degrees. In fact, the world's highest recorded temperature was registered at the park's Furnace Creek in July of 1913, when the temperature reached 134 Fahrenheit.
If vast desert wildernesses are not your thing, take a trip to the coast and visit Channel Islands National Park. This 250,000-acre park covers five of the region's seven channel islands and is filled with an abundance of sea life and a vast array of flora and fauna completely unique to this area.
Located high in the mountains of Riverside County, Mount San Jacinto State Park is a 14,000-acre paradise that features granite peaks, sub-alpine forests, high-country wilderness, and fern-bordered mountain meadows.
Lake Perris State Recreation Area offers 8,000 acres of broad valley with clean, white beaches, and enticing blue waters. While there, keep an eye out for raccoons, bobcats, deer, and California quail that thrive in the chaparral and river sage scrub strewn throughout the area.
Avid kayakers will find themselves right at home at Salton Sea State Recreation Area where you can also birdwatch or study other wildlife at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge.
In Palm Desert, you'll want to take a few hours to visit the Desert Holocaust Memorial. This powerful and stunning memorial includes the history pedestal where an urn is buried that contains the verified names of 12,000 Righteous Gentiles who hid or assisted those condemned by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. You'll also find seven larger-than-life bronze figures, which are based on actual photographs and news footage from the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.
If you want to stay directly in Desert Hot Springs, you might enjoy a stay at Hidden Sands RV & Golf Resort. The park offers stunning mountain views and a nine-hole golf course. For those that prefer a smaller park, a stay at the nearby Happy Traveler RV Park in nearby Palm Springs may be ideal. Just a bit south of Palm Springs in Cathedral City, you'll find the Outdoor Resort Palm Springs, which is an extra-large RV park and one of the most luxurious in the area. This park features sweeping mountain views, multiple golf courses on-site, and a recently renovated Owner's Lounge. For other parks in the area, read about the Top 10 Campgrounds and RV Parks in Palm Springs.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Desert Hot Springs, CA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Desert Hot Springs?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Desert Hot Springs from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Desert Hot Springs?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
