Palm Springs Airport (PSP) with Kids: What Families Will Find

Palm Springs International's official website does not list a children's play area, so we can't confirm one. What PSP does have is an open-air courtyard just beyond the security checkpoint, landscaped with art, water features and patio seating, where children can stretch their legs in the desert air between the two concourses. Keep an eye on little ones near the water features. If you need ideas for a long wait, pack small toys or a tablet with downloaded shows. Snacks help too.

Yes. PSP has a nursing room past security, on the way to the Agua Caliente Concourse (Gates 12 to 20). If your flight leaves from the Sonny Bono Concourse (Gates 4 to 11), allow a few extra minutes to walk over through the courtyard area and back again before boarding. The airport doesn't publish the room's features or hours, so it is worth bringing a nursing cover as a backup in case the room is in use when you arrive.

Palm Springs International's official website does not mention family restrooms or say which restrooms have baby changing tables. The official terminal map shows restrooms in both the Sonny Bono Concourse and the Agua Caliente Concourse, so you are never far from one. Pack a portable changing pad in your carry-on in case you need to change a diaper somewhere without a table, and ask any airport staff member if you need help finding a more private option. Staff are usually happy to point the way.

PSP's official website does not list a sensory room or quiet room. For children who find airports overwhelming, the open-air courtyard beyond the checkpoint can be a calmer place to wait than a crowded gate, with water features, art and outdoor seating. Noise-reducing headphones and a favorite comfort item help too. If your child needs extra help at the checkpoint, contact TSA Cares on (855) 787-2227 at least 72 hours before travel to ask about support during screening. Plan breaks before boarding.

PSP's main checkpoint opens about an hour and a half before the first departure of the day and closes after the last flight leaves, while the airport itself is open 24 hours. TSA recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight to check in, check bags and clear security. PSP has TSA PreCheck lanes and a CLEAR pod near the checkpoint. No family lane is published, so allow time for strollers, car seats and bottles to go through screening.

Palm Springs International's official website does not mention stroller rental, so plan to bring your own stroller or a baby carrier. Most airlines let you check a stroller at the gate, but that rule is set by your airline, not by the airport, so check your carrier's policy before you fly. PSP's outdoor walkways and courtyard can be sunny and warm, so a stroller canopy and refillable water bottles are useful; PSP has eight water bottle refilling stations in the terminal.

PSP's restaurants are all past security. Trio on the Sonny Bono Concourse serves American dishes from 5 AM until the last flight, and Nine Cities Craft on the Agua Caliente Concourse opens at 4:15 AM for breakfast. The I Love PSP Self Serve market near Gate 5 is open around the clock for snacks and drinks. In the courtyard, Fig & Plum sandwiches and Las Casuelas Terraza Mexican food are seasonal, so check the airport's dining page for current hours before you go.

TSA's national rules apply at Palm Springs International. Formula, breast milk and baby food are allowed in your carry-on in amounts over 3.4 ounces (100 ml), and they do not need to fit in your quart-size liquids bag. Tell the TSA officer at the start of screening and take these items out so they can be screened separately. Clear bottles are easier to screen than pouches. Children 12 and under can keep their shoes, light jackets and headwear on during screening. If your child goes through the body scanner, light jackets must come off and go on the X-ray belt.