Coachella Traffic And What You Need To Know Before You Go

The first weekend of Coachella Fest has officially come to a close. With headliners like Lady Gaga and Post Malone, and performances from Charli XCX, Missy Elliott, Megan Thee Stallion, and even a visit from Senator Bernie Sanders, it was a weekend to remember.

But now comes the tricky part—getting out of the Coachella Valley. Here's what you need to know before hitting the road:

Live Traffic Update from Palm Desert

We spoke with Kris Gunterson, Program Manager at the CV Sync Traffic Management Center, for the latest on traffic conditions.

Current Situation (Monday Morning)

• Drivers are leaving the valley in large numbers.

• Major routes impacted:

  • Washington Street

  • Jefferson Street

  • Monroe Street

  • Avenue 52 leading to Highway 86

Peak congestion hours: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM

If you're traveling during this window, plan for delays or find alternate routes.

East/West Travel: Not too bad

North/South Travel: Expect slowdowns

Later Today: Heading Out of the Valley?

• Avoid the I-10 Freeway westbound — it will be heavily congested.

• Highway 74 (over the mountain) will also see major delays.

Looking Ahead: Thursday & Friday Traffic Returns

Coachella Weekend 2 starts up again this week:

• Campers start arriving as early as 2:00 AM Thursday

• Campground opens by 5:00–6:00 AM

Expect major backups on:

• Jefferson Street

• Monroe Street

• Avenue 52, 54, and Madison Street

During the Festival (Friday–Sunday)

Peak traffic arrival window: 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Most attendees are inside by 6:30–7:00 PM
If you're local, avoid traveling during these times.

End-of-day congestion:

• Friday & Saturday: traffic spikes at 1:00 AM

• Sunday: traffic picks up after midnight

And that's all that you need to know before you go this week in the Coachella Valley. We'd like to give big shoutout to Kris Gunterson and the CV Sync Traffic Management team for all they do for us and the entire valley.