Indian Wells, California
Indian Wells is a city of 4,871 people in Riverside County, California.
Why visit Indian Wells
Townapedia lists 11 museums and landmarks, 44 parks and trails, 48 places to eat, 13 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Century Theatres La Quinta, McCallum Theatre, HOHMANN and Expressframe.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 106°F; December lows average 45°F.
Weather in Indian Wells
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Indian Wells
Indian Wells is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley. Incorporated in 1967, it lies in between the cities of Palm Desert and La Quinta. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 4,757.
From the Wikipedia article Indian Wells, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do9
Century Theatres La Quinta
Cinema and theater · 2.2 mi
46800 Washington Street, La Quinta
McCallum Theatre
Cinema and theater · 4.0 mi
Theater and concert venue in Palm Desert, California, United States
Marvyn's Magic Theater
Cinema and theater · 2.2 mi
46630 Washington Street, La Quinta
Museums and landmarks11
Parks, trails and playgrounds44
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Park · 2.4 mi
Botanical garden and zoo in Riverside County, California
32 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes48
El Ranchito Taco Shop
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.3 mi
78540 Highway 111, La Quinta
Su-Th 08:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 08:30-21:30
LG's Prime Steakhouse
Restaurant · Steak House · 2.2 mi
78525 Highway 111, La Quinta
Mo-Su 17:00-22:00
LongHorn Steakhouse
Restaurant · Steak House · 3.2 mi
79705 Highway 111, La Quinta
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Red Robin
Restaurant · Burger · 2.3 mi
78722 Highway 111, La Quinta
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
36 more on the map.
History
The city derived its name from a historic Cahuilla Native American water reservoir, which served as a crucial water supply for nearby tribes.
As early as 1820, the area now known as Indian Wells was the site of a thriving Indian village, as reported by W.P. Blade, a Smithsonian Institution geologist. A decade later, when gold was discovered on the Colorado River, William D. Bradshaw built a trail from Los Angeles through the desert to the gold mines. The Alexander and Company Stage Line used the trail to transport prospectors and Indian Wells became an important stop along the trail. Competition from the Southern Pacific Railroad caused the route to be abandoned briefly in 1875 before being reactivated by the Wells Fargo company the following year.
Over the next decades, settlers gradually arrived in the area and date palm ranches became profitable. The area's first golf courses were opened in the 1950s at the Eldorado Country Club and the Indian Wells Country Club. In 1957, Desi Arnaz opened his Indian Wells Hotel (forerunner to the Indian Wells Resort Hotel). In 1960, Arnold Palmer won the first Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a regular Indian Wells visitor and later an Eldorado homeowner.
From the History section of Indian Wells, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay13
Embassy Suites by Hilton La Quinta Hotel & Spa
Motel and hotel · 2.1 mi
50-777 Santa Rosa Plaza, La Quinta
Homewood Suites by Hilton La Quinta
Motel and hotel · 2.5 mi
45200 Washington Street, La Quinta
HOTEL PASEO, Autograph Collection
Motel and hotel · 3.2 mi
45-400 Larkspur Lane, Palm Desert
Churches and places of worship9
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.0 mi
47225 Washington Street, La Quinta
Shopping19
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries47
Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Studies
School · 3.4 mi
45-250 Dune Palms Rd., Indio
Healthcare2
Passport Health Palm Desert Travel Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.6 mi
74333 CA-111, Palm Desert
Map of Indian Wells
210 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°F | 47°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 73°F | 51°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 80°F | 57°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 86°F | 63°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 93°F | 69°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 102°F | 77°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 106°F | 82°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 105°F | 82°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 101°F | 76°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 90°F | 66°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 78°F | 53°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 69°F | 45°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Indio Fire Stn Hcn (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Riverside County has had 47 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-05-20: Bain Fire (Fire)
- 2024-09-11: Airport Fire (Fire)
- 2024-07-21: Hawarden Fire (Fire)
- 2023-11-21: Tropical Storm Hilary (Hurricane)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2022-09-06: Fairview Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Bermuda Dunes Airport (UDD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Palm Desert 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Bermuda Dunes 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- La Quinta 6 mi southeast, about 9 min by car
- Indio 6 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Desert Palms 6 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Rancho Mirage 7 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
- Vista Santa Rosa 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Coachella 11 mi east, about 17 min by car
- Cathedral City 12 mi northwest, about 19 min by car
- Palm Springs 14 mi northwest, about 22 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Indian Wells CA, Patrick Pelster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Living desert, Dsyrengelas at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
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