Situated in Southern California's Colorado Desert, the Coachella Valley is a dry rift valley that stretches approximately 45 miles southeast from the San Gorgonio Pass to the northern Salton Sea. The valley's width is roughly 15 miles along its whole length, with mountain ranges on its northeast and southwest sides. It denotes the northern boundary of the vast Salton Trough, which includes the Colorado River Delta and Mexicali Valley in Mexico and the Salton Sea and Imperial Valley in the United States. Tectonic action along the San Andreas Fault and the East Pacific Rise is responsible for the trough's creation.

In the Coachella Valley, summertime highs range from 104 °F (40 °C) to 112 °F (44 °C), with slightly cooler lows of 75 °F (24 °C) to 86 °F (30 °C) at night. It is a well-liked winter resort location because of its wintertime temperatures, which range from 68 °F (20 °C) to 88 °F (31 °C) during the day and 46 °F (8 °C) to 65 °F (18 °C) at night. Because of the region's year-round warmth and arid climate, agriculture is supported, and crops like dates, figs, and mangoes thrive. Snowfall is infrequently experienced in the nearby mountains due to winter precipitation, which is mainly caused by frontal systems in the mid-latitudes. Moisture surges, which are occasionally impacted by Pacific tropical cyclones, are what cause summer showers. Additionally, the valley experiences haboobs, strong dust storms, roughly every two years.

Three public school districts serve the Coachella Valley: Coachella Unified School District in Coachella; Desert Sands Unified School District in La Quinta, Indio, and Palm Desert; and Palm Springs Unified School District in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and Desert Hot Springs. There are twelve public high schools in the area that play in leagues like the Desert Valley League, including Cathedral City High School, Coachella Valley High School, and Palm Springs High School. Institutions such as Bermuda Dunes' Desert Christian Academy and Indio's Catholic School offer private education. Higher education can be found at many campuses of the College of the Desert, as well as at universities like Brandman University in Palm Desert and Santa Barbara Business College, which are annexes of the University of California Riverside and California State University San Bernardino.

Renowned for its balmy winters and copious amounts of sunshine, the Coachella Valley is a popular destination for outdoor pursuits like hiking and horseback riding, with Thousand Palms Canyon being one of the most popular locations. The valley, which formerly served as a sanctuary for allergy sufferers, is now home to some 125 golf courses. With its vast array of mid-century modern buildings, Palm Springs is home to festivals like ShortFest and the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the Riverside County Fair, and the Desert Circuit Horse Show are all held in Indio. The BNP Paribas Open is held in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The Palm Springs Air Show, the Living Desert Zoo, and sporting events including collegiate baseball and AHL hockey games at Palm Springs Stadium are other attractions. The valley is home to a thriving cultural scene that is enhanced by the Palm Springs Convention Center and other festivals.