Coachella Weekend One Wraps with Star Power and Heavy Traffic: Know Before You Go

Coachella Weekend One has officially wrapped, and the exodus has begun. The three-day music festival dazzled with performances by Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Charli XCX, Missy Elliott, and Megan Thee Stallion—plus a surprise appearance by Senator Bernie Sanders, adding even more buzz to an already star-studded weekend.

But as the music fades, traffic is ramping up across the Coachella Valley. Joining us live from the CV Sync Traffic Management Center in Palm Desert, Program Manager Chris Gunterson shared what drivers need to know to navigate the congestion.

According to Gunterson, the busiest roads Monday morning are:

• Washington Street (green)

• Jefferson Street (red)

• Monroe Street (purple)

• Avenue 52, especially as it connects to Highway 86

He advises avoiding these north-south corridors between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., when festivalgoers are heading out in large numbers. East-west travel should remain relatively smooth during this time.

Later in the day, the I-10 westbound will become heavily congested as more people leave the valley. Highway 74 over the mountain will also see increased use by drivers seeking alternate routes, which could result in slowdowns.

And it’s not over yet.

Thursday morning kicks off the cycle all over again with weekend two campers arriving as early as 2 a.m., and gates opening by 5 or 6 a.m. Expect Jefferson, Monroe, Avenue 52, Avenue 54, and Madison Street to be impacted during the early morning rush.

Traffic also builds up around 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. daily as attendees head to the festival. Gunterson suggests letting the rush settle, with most attendees inside by 6:30–7:00 p.m..

On Friday and Saturday, concerts end around 1:00 a.m., creating a spike in outbound traffic. Sunday’s crowd will thin out earlier, with the festival closing at midnight.

Traffic tip of the week: Avoid the I-10 westbound if you're heading out of the valley. Plan ahead, drive safe, and give yourself plenty of time.

Gunterson also gave a shoutout to his hardworking traffic team managing operations on-site: “They’ve been putting in the hours and doing great work. Couldn’t do it without them.”

With weekend two approaching fast, drivers are encouraged to stay alert, check traffic apps, and avoid known hot spots when possible.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.