Coachella Weekend One Wraps Up: What to Expect on the Roads Today and This Week

Festival traffic is already building this morning as Weekend One comes to a close, and drivers across the valley need a plan.

CV Sync Traffic Program Manager Kris Gunterson says 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. His advice: get on the freeway now, or plan to wait until tomorrow.

The congestion is expected to be at its worst from around 9 a.m. through midday, as campers and hotel guests check out at the same time. If you can work from home today, Gunterson says it's a good day to do it.

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.

Weekend Two kicks off Thursday, when a new wave of campers will begin arriving via Jefferson and Monroe Streets. Gunterson says to expect heavy traffic on those corridors from as early as 5 a.m. through noon. Washington Street near the Indian Wells Tennis Garden will get busy Friday as festivalgoers pick up wristbands, and traffic on all three main corridors will build each afternoon again from around 3 to 6 p.m. through Sunday. The cycle ends the following Monday, when the exit process starts all over again.

For live traffic updates, visit cv-sync.com.