- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Monroe Today
By the People, for the People
Coachella Weekend One Ends, Expect Heavy Traffic on I-10 and Local Roads
Mass exodus of festival-goers causes severe congestion across the Coachella Valley
Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:35pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The vibrant, glittering aftermath of Coachella Weekend One reflects the festival's high-energy atmosphere and the challenges faced by the local community in managing the mass exodus of attendees.Monroe TodayAs Coachella Weekend One comes to a close, the Coachella Valley is bracing for heavy traffic on Interstate 10 and local roads like Jefferson, Monroe, and Washington Streets. The mass exodus of campers and hotel guests is expected to cause severe congestion, especially from 9 a.m. through midday. Drivers are advised to get on the freeway early, work from home if possible, and practice defensive driving due to the influx of tired and distracted people on the roads.
Why it matters
Coachella is one of the biggest annual events in the Coachella Valley, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region. The heavy traffic caused by festival-goers arriving and departing can have a significant impact on the local community, causing delays, accidents, and disruptions to daily life.
The details
According to CV Sync Traffic Program Manager Kris Gunterson, camper gates opened earlier than expected this morning at 7 a.m. instead of 9 a.m., meaning the mass exodus is already underway. Jefferson, Monroe, and Washington Streets are all seeing heavy outbound traffic, with Jefferson expected to be the worst of the three. All that congestion will eventually push out to Interstate 10, which Gunterson says will be severely backed up for most of the day once the bulk of festival traffic hits.
- Camper gates opened at 7 a.m. this morning, earlier than the expected 9 a.m. opening.
- The congestion is expected to be at its worst from around 9 a.m. through midday.
- Weekend Two kicks off on Thursday, when a new wave of campers will begin arriving via Jefferson and Monroe Streets.
The players
Kris Gunterson
The CV Sync Traffic Program Manager, who provided insights and advice about the expected traffic patterns and congestion related to Coachella.
What they’re saying
“Get on the freeway now, or plan to wait until tomorrow.”
— Kris Gunterson, CV Sync Traffic Program Manager
“If you can work from home today, Gunterson says it's a good day to do it.”
— Kris Gunterson, CV Sync Traffic Program Manager
“Drivers who are out should also be aware that Coachella draws tired, distracted people onto the roads. Gunterson is urging everyone to practice defensive driving, stay off phones, and give themselves extra time to reach their destinations.”
— Kris Gunterson, CV Sync Traffic Program Manager
What’s next
For live traffic updates, visit cv-sync.com.
The takeaway
The heavy traffic caused by the Coachella festival's mass exodus highlights the significant impact major events can have on local communities, underscoring the need for effective traffic management and public awareness campaigns to minimize disruptions and ensure public safety.
