Palm Springs Surf Club: The Complete Guide
Quick facts
| Wave tech | Surf Loch · pneumatic |
|---|---|
| Session length | 90 minutes |
| Wave height (max) | 7.9 ft / 2.4 m |
| Waves per hour | 70 |
| Skill levels | All levels |
| Public pricing | from $100 per session |
| Boards | Full board rental fleet on-site, from soft-tops for beginners to shortboards for the Slab setting. |
| Water | freshwater · Warm March to November, mild wetsuit season December to February · wetsuit rentals on site |
| Nearest airport | PSP (Palm Springs International), 10 min drive |
| Address | 1500 S Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92264 |
| Last verified | July 2026 |
Wave settings and pricing
Private session
Whole pool, up to 16 surfers. Private buyouts start at $3,500 for two hours off-peak and climb to $8,000+ for peak weekend evenings. Custom setting menus available.
from $3,500/hr
Book privateAround Palm
Where to sleep, eat, and burn the hours between sessions. Hand-picked and honest.
Stay
- Ace Hotel & Swim Club10 min
Classic Palm Springs pool scene, 10 minutes from the wave pool.
- Parker Palm Springs8 min
Jonathan Adler-designed resort, iconic for a post-surf recovery lounge.
- L'Horizon Resort & Spa12 min
Adults-only mid-century retreat, quiet and beautiful.
Eat
- Cheeky's10 min
The desert's best brunch, get there before the wait hits an hour.
- Tac/Quila8 min
Modern Mexican on Palm Canyon, great margaritas.
- Workshop Kitchen + Bar10 min
James Beard-winning dinner spot, book ahead.
Do
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway20 min
8,500-foot elevation change in 10 minutes, snow in winter.
- Joshua Tree National Park1 hr
Sunset among the Joshua trees. One-hour drive north.
- Coachella Valley golf20 min
Hundreds of courses within 30 minutes if surf isn't enough.
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Getting there
Palm Springs Surf Club is at 1500 S Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92264.
- PSP · Palm Springs International10 min drive
- ONT · Ontario International75 min drive
- LAX · Los Angeles International135 min drive
- SAN · San Diego International150 min drive
Best time to visit
October through May for perfect desert temps and glassy pool conditions. Summer (June to September) is playable but 110°F+ heat means early-morning or evening sessions only. Coachella Weekend and Stagecoach Weekend book out months ahead.
Events
The technology
Palm Springs Surf Club runs on Surf Loch — a pneumatic system from Palm Springs. Surf Loch is a pneumatic (air-driven) system where controllers energise caissons along the wall in software-defined patterns. Combined with the pool bathymetry, Surf Loch can render everything from Waikiki whitewash to overhead slabs. The team is led by former CT surfer Cheyne Magnussen, and the setting menu at Palm Springs Surf Club reflects that — every wave setting was tuned by someone who's ridden the real thing.
Reopened in late 2023 under Cheyne Magnussen's team after multiple false starts on the site of the old Wet 'n Wild park. Runs Surf Loch pneumatic tech tuned by ex-pro Cheyne himself — the setting menu is the deepest in North America, from Waikiki rollers to overhead slabs. Immediately became the West Coast's most in-demand tank.
Frequently asked about Palm Springs Surf Club
+How much does Palm Springs Surf Club cost?
Public sessions start at $100 per hour for beginner Waikiki and run up to $200 per hour for advanced settings. Private buyouts start at $3,500 and vary by day and time.
+What wave settings does PSSC have?
Beginner Waikiki whitewater, intermediate A-frame peaks, advanced left and right point walls, and a pro-only Slab barrel setting — the deepest menu of any pool in North America.
+How far is PSSC from LAX?
About two hours by car (135 miles). Palm Springs International (PSP) is 10 minutes away for domestic flights.
+Can beginners surf at Palm Springs Surf Club?
Yes. The Waikiki setting is designed for first-timers with soft-tops included, and PSSC runs group lessons every weekend morning.
+What wave technology does PSSC use?
Surf Loch, a pneumatic (compressed-air) system, tuned by co-founder and former pro surfer Cheyne Magnussen. The tech is closely related to Kelly Slater Wave Co. but with a wider programmable menu.
+When is the best time of year to visit?
October through May is peak: 70 to 85°F afternoons and glassy morning pool conditions. Summer sessions run at dawn and dusk to dodge the 110°F desert heat.
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