BNP Paribas Open visitor guide

The tournament in brief

The BNP Paribas Open brings both tours to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California for an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tournament on outdoor hard courts. The whole 2027 event runs from 28 February to 14 March. Qualifying occupies 28 February–2 March, with the main draw running 3–14 March. Use the main-draw dates if your ambition is a busy programme of established tour players; qualifying offers a different, less expensive day watching players compete for their place.

This is a Coachella Valley holiday as well as a tennis trip. Indian Wells, Palm Desert and La Quinta are separate communities around the venue; Palm Springs is another possible base, with its own restaurants and architecture. Compare the actual hotel address and your daily road journey before choosing by destination name. A property described as being in Greater Palm Springs can be well away from the tournament.

Early main-draw days suit visitors who enjoy moving between matches and practice courts. The final weekend has fewer encounters and a more focused championship atmosphere. Pick a programme you would enjoy without a particular player: withdrawals, results and scheduling determine the names on court. Plan for desert sunshine and cooler evenings with sunscreen, sunglasses and a removable layer. Leave room for a shaded break during a long day.

Sources: BNP Paribas Open 2027 tournament WTA Indian Wells 2027 Greater Palm Springs visitor information · checked 9 October 2026

Tickets and choosing a court

Start from the organizer’s official ticket links and use its AXS ticketing system. The September announcement gave a public-sale window in the week of 7 September 2026. Prices vary by day and seat. The official ticket site shows live prices. Compare the complete payment total, date, stadium and session before buying, then load the tickets into your account while you still have a reliable connection.

Stadium 1 requires a reserved ticket for the booked day or evening session. Stadium 2 also requires its own reserved seat: a Stadium 1 ticket or grounds pass gives no entry there. A Stadium 2 ticket reserves your seat for that day’s action. Grounds passes give general admission to Stadiums 3–9 and practice-court viewing, with seats subject to availability. Choose a reserved court if having a specific seat matters more than moving freely between outer courts.

The table lists qualifying admission for each named 2027 date. Each US$10 ticket covers that qualifying day; these are separate purchases. Approximate sterling uses the ECB reference rates of 9 October 2026: US$1 is about £0.75641. US$10 is approximately £7.56. Card conversion charges and any checkout fees can change the amount paid. Use the organizer’s official AXS resale route if plans change and read the conditions for your exact product.

Sources: 2027 single-session ticket information Indian Wells visitor and accessibility FAQ ECB currency reference rates 9 October 2026 · checked 9 October 2026

Getting there from the UK

Compare flights to Palm Springs International Airport with flights to Los Angeles International Airport. Palm Springs brings you into the valley, usually with an onward flight connection from the UK; Los Angeles can offer a useful transatlantic arrival followed by a separate road journey. Check the actual flight pattern for your dates, the baggage rules on connecting tickets and the amount of time allowed between flights.

Los Angeles airport and Indian Wells are different stages of the trip. Allow an arrival day for immigration, baggage, collecting a car or meeting a booked driver, and travelling into the valley. Traffic can make a road transfer longer than its map estimate. Avoid buying a match ticket for the afternoon your transatlantic flight lands. A relaxed first evening and a proper night’s sleep make the following tennis day much easier.

Palm Springs airport publishes its permitted ground-transport choices, including taxis, rental vehicles and rideshare services. Compare a booked transfer with the full cost of renting, fuel, insurance and hotel parking. A car can be useful for exploring several valley towns, but choose a transport arrangement you can comfortably repeat after an evening session. Save your hotel address, arrival instructions and the provider’s contact details before leaving the UK.

Sources: Palm Springs airport ground transport Indian Wells directions and parking · checked 9 October 2026

Getting there on the day

The venue address is 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, California 92210. The organizer lists free general parking, approached from Miles Avenue. Check the event’s current traffic directions before setting off and allow time to walk from the parking area through security to your court. A parking arrival is only one part of the journey; refreshments, finding a seat and reading the order of play also take time.

For a rideshare, use the tournament’s designated drop-off and collection area and save its location when you arrive. Arrange the return with enough flexibility for a match to run late. Phone reception, a low battery and a crowd requesting cars together can complicate departure, so carry a charged power bank and agree a meeting point with companions. Do not depend on a driver finding you beside an unspecified stadium entrance.

Official hotel packages can include tournament shuttles for eligible package guests. Confirm this in the actual purchase terms, including the hotel, timetable and last return service. A separate ordinary hotel booking does not itself establish shuttle eligibility. If your accommodation is close to the venue, inspect the whole pedestrian route before assuming you can walk comfortably: wide roads, heat and the location of the gate can matter as much as straight-line distance.

Sources: Indian Wells directions and parking · checked 9 October 2026

Accessibility

Ask official ticketing about the exact court, session and seating arrangement before buying if you need a wheelchair space or a companion seat. The organizer describes accessible reserved positions in the main stadiums, ramps and lifts, with separate arrangements on other courts. Availability and the route to your seat deserve attention before hotel or flight commitments. Explain whether you can transfer to an ordinary seat and how many companions will travel.

The venue offers limited first-come mobility escorts and asks visitors to bring their own mobility equipment. Confirm the service, collection point and likely waiting arrangements directly if you will rely on help. Accessible parking requires appropriate documentation under the organizer’s rules; ask how a UK visitor should arrange this before assuming a Blue Badge will be accepted. Agree a suitable drop-off route when travelling by hired vehicle.

For accommodation, request the particular room’s entrance, bathroom and bed measurements from the property. Choose a simple daily transfer and leave time for rest between courts. Sunny outdoor pathways and long days in the stands can be tiring even when a seat is accessible. Carry essential medication according to the entry policy and ask the organizer about any medical items that need advance approval.

Sources: Indian Wells visitor and accessibility FAQ Indian Wells directions and parking · checked 9 October 2026

Entry requirements for UK visitors

GOV.UK USA entry advice was checked on 9 October 2026. For a full British citizen passport, validity must cover the planned stay. You need the appropriate approved ESTA or US visa before travel, depending on eligibility. Previous travel and personal circumstances can affect ESTA eligibility; apply through the official government service linked by GOV.UK. Review the current rules before booking and before departure.

Keep your itinerary, accommodation and onward travel details available during the journey. Choose travel insurance for the activities and medical cover you need, then save its assistance number offline. If travelling through another country, review that country’s transit requirements as part of the flight comparison. Deal with documents well before the match-week packing rush.

California uses US dollars. Carry a backup payment method and compare your card’s overseas fees before leaving. Hotel deposits, rental-car authorisations and daily spending can tie up different parts of your available balance. Set your phone to the local time zone and read tennis tickets in local time: the UK and US change their clocks on different March dates. Keep a small written itinerary in case your phone battery runs low.

Sources: USA entry requirements for UK travellers ECB currency reference rates 9 October 2026 · checked 9 October 2026

Where to stay

Hotel buttons are Booking.com affiliate links via CJ. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

Indian Wells is the natural starting point for a tennis-led stay. Palm Desert and La Quinta offer additional valley bases, while Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs suit visitors mixing tennis with a broader holiday. Compare the daily route from the hotel door, the evening meal options and parking charges. A room close to restaurants can still involve a road journey to every session.

For a longer visit, look for a room with somewhere comfortable to rest during the hottest part of the day. Ask about air conditioning, pool opening times and any resort fees in the complete price. Check the cancellation deadline alongside your ticket dates. If selecting a shuttle package, keep its transport terms separate from the hotel’s general marketing description and confirm that your booking includes the benefit.

Sources: Greater Palm Springs visitor information Indian Wells directions and parking · checked 9 October 2026

Make a weekend of it

For a first visit, spend the arrival evening settling into the valley and finding breakfast and groceries near your hotel. Give the next day to tennis, then use a spare morning for a gentle outing before another session. A transatlantic journey can make an ambitious sightseeing schedule feel harder than expected, so keep the first day adaptable and make your principal match booking the anchor of the trip.

Palm Springs offers architecture, shopping and restaurant choices for a non-tennis afternoon. A desert outing deserves its own weather check, sensible footwear and water planning. Choose a short walk within your abilities if you have spent the previous day outdoors; a major excursion such as Joshua Tree works better with a separate day and its own transport plan. Make restaurant reservations with enough flexibility for a long final match.

At the tournament, identify your booked court first and choose one or two extra matches or practice visits around it. Keep a break for lunch and shade instead of trying to fill every minute. Revisit the order of play as the day develops, then decide whether another outer-court match is worth a later return. An enjoyable tennis holiday can include an early finish and a quiet dinner.

Sources: Greater Palm Springs visitor information · checked 9 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

Sources: BNP Paribas Open 2027 tournament 2027 single-session ticket information Indian Wells visitor and accessibility FAQ Indian Wells directions and parking Palm Springs airport ground transport USA entry requirements for UK travellers · checked 9 October 2026

The sunshine double and summer swing

The US sunshine double pairs Indian Wells with the Miami Open. These are opposite-coast trips: include a domestic flight, airport transfers and a travel or rest day between your selected sessions. Indian Wells ends on 14 March, when Miami’s whole event begins. Choose late California tennis and a later Florida visit if you want breathing room between them, and compare an open-jaw transatlantic booking with separate return flights.

The North American summer swing offers another itinerary: Washington, then Canada in Montreal or Toronto, followed by Cincinnati and the US Open in New York. Compare each event’s confirmed dates and the tour hosted in each Canadian city before booking. Select two or three stops that fit your budget and available leave; changing cities repeatedly adds flights, baggage costs and hotel check-in time.

Miami Open presented by Itaú · Mubadala Citi DC Open · Canadian Open — Montreal · National Bank Open presented by Rogers · Cincinnati Open · US Open

Sources: BNP Paribas Open 2027 tournament Miami Open 2027 official schedule · checked 9 October 2026