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California DMV

Palm Springs DMVDriving Test Practice Routes

950 N Farrell Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Within two miles of Palm Springs DMV there are 64 sets of traffic lights and 7 all-way stops. About 8 miles of streets are one-way.

Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.

Palm Springs road test practice routes

Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from Palm Springs's real streets and harder than the last.

These are practice loops we planned. They aren't official DMV test routes. Drive with a licensed supervisor, and follow the signs and conditions on the day, which may differ from the map.

Map of the practice loops around Palm Springs DMVABCDEEast Vista ChinoEast Alejo RdEast Ramon RdNorth Indian Canyon DrNorth Gene Autry TrailSouth Indian Canyon DrEast Tahquitz Canyon WayNorth Sunrise WayEl Cielo RdEast Baristo RdNorth Avenida CaballerosEast Tachevah DrSouth Avenida CaballerosNorth Farrell DrDMV
Practice loopLightsAll-way stopStop signACrash hotspot
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Stage 1: Quiet streets

Mostly residential streets around East Tamarisk Rd and East Granvia Valmonte, with no traffic lights. Start here for your first few drives.

Length
3.4 mi
Approx. time
11 min
Turns
10
  • 1 all-way stop
  • 4 stop signs
  • Multi-lane driving on North Farrell Dr
  • 2.7 miles of residential streets
  • Not covered: traffic lights
Open in Google Maps

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Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.

Turn-by-turn directions (11 steps)
  1. Leave the DMV and head north on North Farrell Drive. 0.1 mi
  2. Turn left onto East Tachevah Drive. 0.2 mi
  3. Turn left onto North Cerritos Drive. 0.2 mi
  4. Turn right onto East Tamarisk Road. 1.0 mi Straight through 1 all-way stop.
  5. At the stop sign, turn left onto North Via Miraleste. 0.1 mi
  6. Turn left onto East Granvia Valmonte. 0.6 mi
  7. Turn left onto North Paseo de Anza. 0.1 mi
  8. At the stop sign, turn right onto East Tamarisk Road. 0.4 mi
  9. At the stop sign, turn left onto North Cerritos Drive. 0.2 mi
  10. Turn right onto East Tachevah Drive. 0.2 mi
  11. At the stop sign, turn right onto North Farrell Drive and return to the DMV. 0.1 mi

Where the Palm Springs DMV drive test can go

Every drive test starts and finishes at the office, so the closer a road is, the more likely you are to drive it. The shading shows how long each road takes to reach from the DMV.

North Gene Autry TrailEast Ramon RdNorth Indian Canyon DrEast Vista ChinoEast Alejo RdNorth Palm Canyon DrSouth Gene Autry TrailSouth Palm Canyon DrDMV
Under 2 min2 to 4 min4 to 6 min
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Within a 6-minute drive

  • 39sets of traffic lights
  • 4all-way stops
  • 5schools

Main roads in the area: North Sunrise Way, East Tahquitz Canyon Way, East Vista Chino, North Avenida Caballeros, North Farrell Dr, East Alejo Rd, Vista Chino and North Indian Canyon Dr.

Drive times are our estimates from speed limits, with time added for lights and stops. They aren't DMV figures.

Leaving and returning to Palm Springs DMV

The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on N Farrell Drive.

12East Tachevah DrNorth Farrell DrDMV
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
P

In the parking lot

The test sheet scores how you drive through the lot, so watch for people and cars, keep it slow, and take extra care reversing out of your space.

1

Northwest to East Tachevah Dr

0.1 mi along North Farrell Dr to East Tachevah Drive.

2

North to East Research Dr

100 ft along North Farrell Dr to East Research Drive.

The roads around Palm Springs DMV

What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.

64

Sets of traffic lights

Most are on North Palm Canyon Dr and East Tahquitz Canyon Way.

7

All-way stops

Stop fully behind the limit line, then go in the order you arrived.

8

Schools

The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.

8 mi

One-way streets

Check the arrows before every turn, and start from the correct side of the road.

3

Roundabouts

Give way to traffic already in the roundabout and signal as you leave.

17 mi

Bike lanes

Check the bike lane before turning right, and enter it no more than 200 feet before the turn.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, downloaded 2026-10-07. Counts cover public roads within 2 miles of the office.

Where to practice each part of the California drive test

The DMV's drive test score sheet (form DL 32) marks you on parking lot driving, backing, intersections, turns, lane changes, and business and residential driving. Here's where to practice near Palm Springs DMV.

  • Parking lot driving

    The DMV lot itself, at the start and end of every test
    Every loop
  • Lights you drive straight through

    East Ramon Rd: 4 sets of lights in 1.8 mi
    Stage 3
  • Left turn at lights

    From South Sunrise Way onto North Sunrise Way
    Stage 2
  • Left turn without lights

    From North Farrell Dr onto East Tachevah Dr, giving way to oncoming traffic
    Stage 3
  • Right turn at lights

    From South Farrell Dr onto East Baristo Rd
    Stage 2
  • Lane changes

    East Ramon Rd, a multi-lane road
    Stage 3
  • Residential streets

    East Tamarisk Rd and the streets around it
    Stage 1

Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.

Which lane do I need near Palm Springs DMV?

Lane layouts at the junctions with lights on our practice routes, as you'd see them approaching. Arrows show which way each lane can go.

East Tahquitz Canyon Way and North Farrell Dr

On Stages 2 and 3.

Heading west on East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Left, straight, right or straight
Heading east on East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Left, straight, right or straight

Heading west, use the left-turn lane for left turns and either straight-ahead lane to go through.

East Baristo Rd and South Farrell Dr

On Stage 2.

Heading west on East Baristo Rd
Left, straight, right or straight
Heading east on East Baristo Rd
Left, straight, right or straight

Heading west, use the left-turn lane for left turns and either straight-ahead lane to go through.

East Baristo Rd and South Sunrise Way

On Stage 2.

Heading south on South Sunrise Way
Left, straight, right or straight
Heading north on South Sunrise Way
Left, straight, right or straight

Heading south, use the left-turn lane for left turns and either straight-ahead lane to go through.

East Tahquitz Canyon Way and North Sunrise Way

On Stage 2.

Heading south on South Sunrise Way
Left, left, straight, straight
Heading east on East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Left, straight, straight

Two lanes turn left heading south. Start and finish the turn in the same lane.

Lane layouts from OpenStreetMap. Road markings can change, so always follow the arrows painted on the road.

What causes crashes on Palm Springs's roads

Recorded causes of the 1,238 crashes on local roads within 2 miles of the office from 2021 to 2025, leaving out freeways. Impaired driving and unsafe turn or lane change top the list.

Impaired driving
24%
Unsafe turn or lane change
18%
Too fast for conditions
18%
Not yielding
15%
Running a red light
8%
Stop sign violation
6%
Following too closely
3%
Unsafe reversing or pulling out
2%

Share of the 1,182 crashes where a cause was recorded. Other causes made up the remaining 7%. About 46% of these crashes happened after dark. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.

Palm Springs junctions worth practicing

The junctions within 2 miles of the office with the most crashes from 2021 to 2025. Each one is marked on the practice routes map.

A

East Vista Chino and Vista Chino

44 crashes from 2021 to 2025

0.9 mi from the office. 38 people were hurt.

Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 4.

B

East Vista Chino and North Sunrise Way

29 crashes from 2021 to 2025

0.8 mi from the office. 28 people were hurt.

Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 5.

C

North Gene Autry Trail and East Via Escuela

27 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.1 mi from the office. 30 people were hurt.

Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 5.

D

North Indian Canyon Dr and East Via Escuela

26 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.7 mi from the office. 24 people were hurt.

Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights.

E

East Vista Chino and North Indian Canyon Dr

24 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.6 mi from the office. 13 people were hurt.

Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change.

Crashes located within about 100 feet of each junction. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.

Booked your Palm Springs road test?

See routes from real Palm Springs tests

Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 6 routes recorded from real tests at Palm Springs DMV, with turn-by-turn voice directions on your phone.

QR code: get the Driving Test Routes app

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Palm Springs driving test questions

Where does the Palm Springs DMV driving test go?

The DMV doesn't publish its test routes. Every test starts and finishes in the office parking lot, and the roads closest to the office are the ones you're most likely to drive, such as North Sunrise Way, East Tahquitz Canyon Way, East Vista Chino. Routes recorded from real Palm Springs tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.

Are these the real Palm Springs test routes?

No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from Palm Springs's street data to cover the skills on the test. They're for practice, not a copy of the DMV's routes.

What do you need to pass the California drive test?

The DMV's score sheet (form DL 32) says you pass with no more than 15 errors on the driving maneuvers and no critical driving errors. Before you set off, you also need no more than 3 errors on the parking brake, arm signals, wipers, defroster, emergency flashers and headlights.

What makes Palm Springs's roads tricky for learners?

Within 2 miles of the office, 8 miles of streets are one-way; there are 64 sets of traffic lights within 2 miles.

Which junctions near Palm Springs DMV have the most crashes?

East Vista Chino and Vista Chino (44), East Vista Chino and North Sunrise Way (29), North Gene Autry Trail and East Via Escuela (27), counting crashes from 2021 to 2025.

How do I book a drive test at Palm Springs DMV?

Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing Palm Springs as your office. Book on the DMV website.

Palm Springs DMV office information

Address

950 N Farrell Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262

Phone: (800) 777-0133

Book a drive test

Opening hours

Monday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Friday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

Hours can change on holidays. Check the DMV's Palm Springs page before you go.

Directions in Google Maps

Nearby offices

Services at Palm Springs DMV

  • Behind-the-wheel drive tests
  • Written knowledge tests
  • Motorcycle driving tests
  • Driver's license and ID applications
  • Replacement documents
  • Vehicle registration and renewals
  • Title transfers
  • License plates
  • Disabled parking placards
  • Driver and vehicle records