Palm Springs: Self-Guided Windmill Tour with Audio App Access

Summary

Wind turbines up close in palm springs desert with audio guide and your own pace

You’ll drive your own car through California’s first commercial wind farm in Palm Springs, guided by an audio app full of stories from Tom. Get out near real working turbines, see old machines that never quite made it, and finish near the Indigo Power Plant. You might leave with sand in your shoes — and maybe a new respect for all that wind.

What’s the experience like?

“These old giants have seen more sunrises than I have birthdays,” Tom said through the app, right as we rolled up to the first row of silent turbines. I had no idea they’d be so tall — or so quiet. The Palm Springs windmill tour starts with a sort of graveyard for turbine parts. Some are rusted and a little battered, others look almost futuristic. The air smelled like dry grass and hot metal, which sounds weird but kind of fit the mood. We just sat there for a minute listening to the wind hum past the car windows.

I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to care much about renewable energy — but hearing Tom talk about which machines failed (and why) made it feel personal somehow. There was this one spot where you could step out and stand almost underneath a working turbine. It’s loud up close, in a way that makes your chest thump a little. My partner tried to take a selfie but kept squinting from all the sun glare bouncing off those white blades. We laughed more than I thought we would on an “educational” tour.

The audio guide kept things moving without rushing us; we could linger wherever we wanted (as long as we didn’t block anyone else). At the end, by the Indigo Power Plant, it got oddly quiet except for some distant highway noise and that endless desert wind. We left through 19th Avenue toward Indian Canyon Road with sand in our shoes and honestly — I still think about how small my own problems felt next to those spinning towers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Self-driving windmill tour in Palm Springs

• Drive your own car on tour
• Listen to audio program guidance
• Visit display yard of turbines
• Stop at real generating turbine
• Take pictures near turbine
• Stop at old Enron wind machines
• Exit via 19th Avenue to Indian Canyon Road

Top questions

Do I need my own car for the Palm Springs windmill tour?

Yes, you need your own vehicle for this self-driving tour.

How long does the Palm Springs windmill tour take?

The tour takes about one hour, but you can go at your own pace.

Is there a live guide or is it audio only?

The tour is guided by an audio program via an app; there is no live guide on site.

Can I get out of my car during the tour?

Yes, there are marked stops where you can exit your car to explore or take photos.

Is the Palm Springs windmill tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes, children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

What’s included when I book this tour?

Your booking includes access to the Palm Springs Windmill Tour app and audio program for two adults.

Can infants or small children join in strollers or prams?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in prams or strollers during stops.

What’s included

Your day includes access to the Palm Springs Windmill Tour app with its full audio program—so you can drive at your own pace between marked destinations—plus time to step out near turbines for photos or just to feel that desert breeze before heading back whenever you’re ready.