Indian Wells is located at 33°42′57″N 116°20′28″W (33.715755, −116.341109).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.6 square miles (38 km2), of which, 14.3 square miles (37 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) of it (1.85%) is water.
This climate is dominated in all months by the subtropical anticyclone, or subtropical high, with its descending air, elevated inversions, and clear skies. Such an atmospheric environment inhibits precipitation.