La Quinta sits at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains on the southern edge of the Coachella Valley, and its location gives drivers immediate access to some of the best roads in Southern California. From canyon climbs and desert stretches to wine country getaways and coastal escapes, the road trips accessible from La Quinta cover a tremendous range of scenery and experiences. If you want to experience any of these drives at their absolute best, Desert Exotic Cars has exotic and luxury rental vehicles available throughout the Coachella Valley that transform a good drive into an unforgettable one.
Highway 74 South: The Palms to Pines Highway
La Quinta has perhaps the best direct access in the entire valley to the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From La Quinta, you can reach the base of Highway 74 in a matter of minutes. The road climbs aggressively from the valley floor into the Santa Rosa Mountains, passing through the communities of Ribbonwood and Pinyon Flats before reaching the summit and descending into the mountain town of Idyllwild. The curves are well-graded and the road surface is good, making this an exceptional drive for a sports car or exotic. The views back down across the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea are among the most spectacular in Southern California.
Idyllwild itself offers excellent lunch options, a vibrant arts community, and access to hiking trails in the San Jacinto Wilderness. The round trip from La Quinta takes about two hours of driving, making it an ideal morning excursion before temperatures climb in summer, or a beautiful afternoon drive during the cooler winter season.
Borrego Springs and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Borrego Springs is one of California’s most beloved desert destinations, and it is about 90 minutes from La Quinta via Highway 86 south and then west on County Road S22 through the dramatic descent into the Borrego Valley. County Road S22, known locally as the Borrego-Salton Seaway, is a spectacular drive that winds through the Vallecito Mountains with sweeping views and technical corners that suit a performance car perfectly. Borrego Springs itself offers excellent stargazing, unique sculpture installations in the desert called the Borrego Springs Sculptures, and access to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California. This is an outstanding full-day trip from La Quinta, best done in cooler months.
The Salton Sea Loop
A satisfying half-day drive from La Quinta follows Highway 111 southeast toward the Salton Sea’s northern shore, then loops south along the eastern shore and back through Mecca and Thermal before returning to La Quinta. The Salton Sea, California’s largest inland lake, has an eerie and captivating beauty. The roads along its shores are flat and straight, ideal for a fast cruise in a GT car. The total loop is about 80 miles and can be done comfortably in a couple of hours. Combine it with a stop at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area for a truly unique California experience.
Julian: Apple Country in the Mountains
Julian is a historic mountain town in San Diego County known for its apple orchards, fresh apple pies, and Gold Rush-era history. From La Quinta, the drive to Julian takes about two hours and follows Interstate 10 west, then south on Highway 79 through Temecula and into the Cuyamaca Mountains. The mountain portion of Highway 79 is scenic and satisfying to drive, with forested switchbacks and rural scenery that feels a continent away from the desert. Julian is a popular weekend destination, particularly in fall during apple harvest season. Plan to arrive early and bring back a pie: the local bakeries sell out quickly on weekends. According to Visit California, the mountain and wine country drives in this region are among the most beloved weekend escapes in the southern part of the state.
Palm Springs via Highway 111
A leisurely drive northwest on Highway 111 from La Quinta through Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and Cathedral City to Palm Springs offers a different kind of pleasure. This is not a fast drive; it is a scenic cruise through the resort heart of the valley, with views of the San Jacinto Mountains ahead and the Santa Rosa range behind you. Arriving in Palm Springs in a convertible on a winter afternoon, with the mountains catching the golden light, is one of the great simple pleasures of life in the Coachella Valley. Stop for lunch in Palm Springs, explore the mid-century modern architecture, and take the aerial tramway up to the mountain station for a completely different view of the valley. Our guide to best road trips near Palm Springs has more ideas for making the most of that destination.
Elevate Every Drive with an Exotic Rental
Every one of these routes is excellent. All of them become truly special in a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, a Porsche, or a Bentley. Desert Exotic Cars offers exotic and luxury car rentals throughout the Coachella Valley, with a range of vehicles available for day rentals, weekend getaways, and longer terms. If renting inspires you to own, the team also operates a full brokerage service that finds your exact car anywhere in the market and delivers it to your La Quinta door.
Start planning at the VIP Exotic Car Broker Service page today.