Coachella Campers Roll In Smoothly as Festival Weekend Approaches

Organizers add second toll booth entry to ease congestion compared to previous years

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme macro photograph of intricately patterned festival wristbands and bracelets, their metallic and gemstone textures glittering under dramatic studio lighting, conveying the glamour and excitement of the Coachella music festival.The vibrant energy and high-end festival fashion of Coachella come to life in a close-up study of the iconic wristbands and accessories that grant access to the iconic music event.Palm Springs Today

Thousands of campers are already making their way to the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California this morning, kicking off what will be a packed three-day weekend as the first round of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival opens on Friday. Festival organizers have added a second toll booth entry on the north side of the venue, complementing the existing south side lane, which appears to have made a real difference in reducing congestion compared to previous years.

Why it matters

The Coachella festival is a major economic driver for the Coachella Valley region, attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees over two weekends. Ensuring a smooth entry and exit process is crucial for the festival's success and minimizing disruptions to local residents and businesses.

The details

NBC Palm Springs reporter Brett Rosen found a noticeably calmer scene on the roads this year compared to 2025, when campers arrived in such numbers that the area locked up for hours. The new north-side toll booth entry has helped spread out the traffic flow. However, residents near the polo grounds should still plan accordingly, as the main backup will run along Jefferson and Monroe streets and could stretch as far back as the interstate through early afternoon on Thursday. Once the festival opens on Friday, Washington Street will also see heavy congestion, particularly near the Indian Wells Tennis Garden where attendees pick up wristbands and board shuttles to the grounds.

  • Campers began arriving on Thursday morning, kicking off the festival weekend.
  • The worst traffic is expected between 3 and 8 p.m. on all three festival days as concert-goers head out for the evening sets.
  • Late nights will bring their own slowdowns, with outbound traffic expected from around midnight to 3 a.m. each night as tens of thousands of people head back to hotels and rentals.
  • For those leaving the valley entirely on Monday, the advice is to get on Interstate 10 heading west before 9 a.m. as the exit flow should mostly clear by around 11:30 a.m.

The players

Jim Curtis

Indio Community Services Manager, who described the festival as "a city within a city" when it comes to congestion.

Brett Rosen

NBC Palm Springs reporter who was on the ground along Avenue 52 on Thursday morning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

For live traffic updates throughout the Coachella festival weekend, residents and attendees can visit cv-sync.com.

The takeaway

The addition of a second toll booth entry has helped ease congestion at the Coachella festival compared to previous years, but local residents and attendees will still need to plan accordingly to navigate the heavy traffic expected throughout the weekend.