Coachella 2026 Transportation Guide | How to Get to the Festival by Air & Road

Two weekends. Hundreds of artists. One epic desert destination. Coachella 2026 is set for April 10-12 (Weekend 1) and April 17-19 (Weekend 2) at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. If you’re among the lucky festival-goers, you might be wondering: What’s the best way to get there? Coachella is nestled in the Inland Empire’s Coachella Valley, about 25 miles from Palm Springs and roughly 130 miles from Los Angeles. Unlike urban festivals, Coachella involves some travel planning but don’t worry, this guide has you covered on all transportation fronts, whether you’re flying, driving, or ridesharing.

We’ll break down:

• The closest and most convenient airports for Coachella (and how to get from each to the festival).
• The pros and cons of rental vans/cars vs. Coachella shuttles vs. rideshares.
• Parking and traffic information, including Carpoolchella (win lifetime VIP tickets for carpooling!).
• Sample travel game plans for various scenarios (flying into LAX with a group, road-tripping from nearby cities, etc.).
• Tips on vehicles (why vans or SUVs can be a lifesaver for groups with camping gear).
• Frequently asked questions to tie it all together.

Let’s ensure your journey to the desert is as smooth as your festival experience!

Flying In: Choosing an Airport for Coachella

Coachella draws attendees from all over the world, so many will be flying into Southern California. There are five main airports to consider, each with different trade-offs:

• Palm Springs International (PSP)Distance to Coachella: ~23 miles (37 km). Closest airport to the festival. A smaller airport with limited flights but ultra convenient you can land and be in Indio in about 30-40 minutes by car. PSP has some direct flights from major US cities (and even some Canadian cities) during festival season, but flights can be pricier due to demand.
• Ontario International (ONT)Distance: ~90 miles (145 km). Mid-size airport east of LA, about 1.5 hours drive to Indio (without traffic). Often a great balance: fewer crowds than LAX, and you bypass a lot of LA traffic. Airlines like Southwest, JetBlue, etc., serve ONT.
• Los Angeles International (LAX)Distance: ~130 miles (206 km). The giant. Likely the cheapest flights and widest choices, including international. But it’s a solid 2.5-3 hour drive to Coachella (longer if you hit LA rush hour). Many people fly into LAX then trek out to the desert, so you wouldn’t be alone. Just plan for traffic on Interstate 10 or CA-60/CA-91.
• John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA)Distance: ~113 miles (182 km). South of LA, about 2 hours to Indio (you might take the 55 to I-10 route). SNA can be a low-hassle alternative to LAX if you find a good flight it’s a smaller airport, easy in/out, and south of much LA traffic. Flights are mostly domestic.
• San Diego International (SAN)Distance: ~130-150 miles (210-240 km). Roughly a 2.5 hour drive north-east to Indio. San Diego is an option if you want to combine the festival with a SoCal beach vacation or if flights are cheaper there. The drive to Coachella from SAN is scenic (go up through Temecula on I-15 then cut over on I-215/CA-74 or up to I-10). It’s slightly longer than from LA, but you usually avoid LA’s worst traffic since you’re starting south of it.

Here’s a quick overview comparing them:

Palm Springs Airport (PSP)

Distance: ~23 miles

Drive Time: ~35-45 minutes

Pros: Closest airport; super easy in/out; small and fast to navigate; Coachella energy starts here.

Cons: Limited flights (especially international); very expensive on festival weekends; rental cars often sell out.

Ontario International (ONT)

Distance: ~90 miles

Drive Time: ~1.5 hours

Pros: Closer than LAX; less traffic stress; fares usually cheaper than PSP; midsize airport.

Cons: Fewer international routes; still a 90-mile drive and traffic leaving ONT can build.

Los Angeles International (LAX)

Distance: ~130 miles

Drive Time: ~2.5-3+ hours

Pros: Huge variety of flights (often cheapest); best for international travelers; chance to enjoy LA before/after.

Cons: Heavy LA traffic; long drive on festival weekends; very busy airport.

Orange County / John Wayne (SNA)

Distance: ~113 miles

Drive Time: ~2 hours

Pros: Easier than LAX; south-of-LA location avoids some traffic; good for West Coast travelers.

Cons: Limited flight options; still must cross part of Inland Empire to reach I-10.

San Diego (SAN)

Distance: ~130-150 miles

Drive Time: ~2.5 hours (via I-15)

Pros: Can pair trip with San Diego; avoids LA traffic entirely; scenic mountain/wine-country drive.

Cons: Longest drive; not ideal unless you're already planning San Diego time; more remote for festival-only travelers.

*Drive times assume no extreme traffic. Fridays of Coachella weekends can see heavy congestion, potentially adding 1-2 hours to these times, especially from LA/OC.

So which to pick? If cost is no issue and convenience is king: PSP (Palm Springs) gets you closest. If you want to minimize driving but can’t do PSP, ONT or SNA are next best. If you’re coming from overseas or find a steal of a flight: LAX is fine, just plan the ground journey smartly (maybe arrive early morning to beat traffic, or spend a night in LA to break up the trip). SAN is a dark horse great if you want to see San Diego or flights there are significantly cheaper.

Internal link (rentals): Note that at all these airports you can rent cars/vans. We have AVR locations serving LAX and PSP in particular you can pick up a van at LAX, pack in your crew and gear, and head straight to Coachella, or grab wheels in Palm Springs for the quick final leg to Indio. See our SoCal rental deals below for more info.

Road Trip vs. Shuttles vs. Rideshare: What’s the Best Way to Get to Coachella?

Once you’re on the ground in SoCal (whether you live here or flew in), you have to cover that last stretch to the festival. Your options usually boil down to driving yourself (with a rental or personal car), taking an official Coachella shuttle, or using rideshare/taxis. Let’s weigh these:

Rental Car or Driving Yourself

Pros: Maximum freedom. You can go on your own schedule arrive when you want, leave when you want (like for supply runs or off-site afterparties). You can also carry all your stuff easily crucial if you’re camping and have tents, coolers, luggage, etc. With a car/van, you can also explore around (maybe hit Joshua Tree National Park on the Thursday, or In-N-Out on the way!). Carpooling saves money on gas and parking (plus makes you eligible for Carpoolchella prizes). Also, if you have a large group, splitting a rental van’s cost can be cheaper per person than each buying shuttle passes.

Cons: You have to drive a long-ish distance, and traffic especially on Thursday or Friday into Indio can be very heavy. Also, you need a place to park the car once there. If you have a camping pass, you’ll park at your campsite (that’s easy). If not, you’ll need to purchase a General Parking pass or park off-site each day (GA parking is free at Coachella but is first-come first-serve each day in huge lots; more on parking below). After the shows, getting out of the parking lots can be slow with traffic.

Coachella Shuttles (Any Line Shuttle Pass)

Coachella offers official shuttle passes through Valley Music Travel. These shuttles pick up from various hotels and landmarks in the greater Palm Springs area (and sometimes farther, like LAX).

There are typically two types:

• Local Valley Shuttles: These are the “Any Line, Anytime” shuttles that run from popular resort areas (Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, etc.) to the festival. If you book a hotel in one of those areas, you can likely catch a shuttle from a nearby hotel or shuttle stop. They run continuously during certain hours. It’s a safe, party-friendly option (no one has to stay sober to drive), and you avoid driving/parking hassles.
• LAX Shuttle: There’s often a separate shuttle pass you can buy that goes from LAX Airport to Coachella (usually a Thursday pickup from LAX, and returns Monday to LAX). This is great for out-of-towners who don’t want to rent a car. You land at LAX, hop on the festival shuttle, and get dropped at the festival or perhaps a resort near it.

Pros: You don’t have to think about driving after a long day dancing. Shuttles have dedicated drop-off points near the festival entrance, which can be quite convenient (you’ll still walk, but not as far as general parking possibly). Environmentally, it’s greener (one bus for 40 people instead of 20 cars). Also, the “Any Line” shuttles run late so you can stay until the last act and not worry about missing the last ride (they typically run until everyone’s out).

Cons: The schedule: while the any-line shuttles are fairly flexible, you might wait in line at peak times. In morning/early afternoon, or right after the headliner, there can be queues to board buses (though they move fast). You’re also limited to their routes if your accommodation isn’t near a shuttle stop, you might have to Uber to one or drive and park near one (which is a bit of a workaround). Also, shuttle passes cost money (usually around $70-$100 for the weekend per person for local shuttles, more for the LAX one). For a group of 5, that could be $500 which might be more than a large rental vehicle and gas combined.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) or Taxis

This is the “on-demand” approach. In theory, you can Uber from your hotel to the festival and back each day. There’s a designated rideshare lot at Coachella (near the festival) for drop-offs and pickups. And if you’re flying in, you might consider Ubering the ~25 miles from PSP or even the 100+ miles from LAX (though that would be extremely expensive, more on that in a sec).

Pros: You don’t have to drive or navigate someone else handles it. If you’re in a small group and staying pretty close (say you have an Airbnb 5 miles from the venue), using Uber or Lyft might be okay and saves you from buying a parking pass or shuttle pass. You can also theoretically party without a designated driver.

Cons: Rideshare for Coachella can be a nightmare at peak times. Picture thousands of people leaving the polo grounds at 1am, all trying to get Ubers. Surge pricing will likely kick in. It’s not uncommon to hear of people paying triple-digit fares for a few-mile ride due to surge. In fact, local news often reports shortages of drivers and very high prices during festival weekends. Also, you might have to wait a long time or walk to the rideshare lot and then wait for your car to battle through traffic. A story from 2017’s Coachella in LA Weekly described “horror stories” of long waits and a $250 Uber for one group one night. Because of this, many festival veterans say if you have a car, use it don’t rely on Uber at closing time. If you do plan to use Uber, try leaving a little early or much later to avoid the peak. Or use a taxi (set price) or arrange a private driver.

Summary: If you’re camping on-site, driving your own car or rental to the campsite is great you park it and you’re set for the weekend. If you’re hotel/Airbnb lodging off-site, an official shuttle is a stress-free way to go, especially if you plan to enjoy a few drinks. If you have a big group with lots of gear, renting a van or SUV is highly recommended you’ll have space for everyone and everything, and you can come and go as needed (plus join Carpoolchella, details next). Rideshare is a backup or good for short hops, but not ideal as the sole method for the festival commute, due to surge pricing and capacity issues.

Carpoolchella, Parking & Driving Logistics

Coachella has for years encouraged carpooling with their Carpoolchella contest: arrive with 4 or more people in your car, decorate your car with “Carpoolchella” and you could be randomly selected to win VIP tickets for life. Yes, that’s a real thing imagine free Coachella forever just for sharing a ride! The odds are small, but it’s a fun incentive (and you’ll see lots of cars with crazy decorations, which adds to the fun).

Parking options:

• On-site Camping Parking: If you have a Car Camping or Tent Camping pass, it comes with a parking spot (either your car is next to your tent for car camping, or a nearby lot for tent camping). This is super convenient you won’t move your car all weekend, but you have it right there.
• General Day Parking: Coachella offers free parking in huge lots for attendees each show day. These lots open early morning and close at a certain time after the show (they don’t allow overnight parking here if you leave your car past a certain hour, it might be towed, since they don’t want people sleeping in cars). General parking is first-come, first-served and can involve a long walk to the entrance depending on where you get. But it’s free. If you arrive mid-afternoon, be ready to park in the further lots = more walking.
• Preferred Parking Pass: Coachella sells a limited number of preferred parking passes for closer-in lots. These cost money (~$150 or so for the weekend) and get you a better spot than general parking. If you snag one, good on you it can cut down your walk a bit.
• ADA Parking: There are special ADA lots for those with valid placards, closer to the entrance.
• Off-site Parking/Shuttles: Some nearby entities (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, etc.) sometimes offer paid off-site parking with a shuttle. But honestly, most people use official on-site parking or shuttles.

Traffic tips: The Coachella Valley gets very congested around festival grounds during peak ingress and egress. Friday late morning through evening inbound will be slow on the few roads leading to the site (especially Monroe St., Jefferson St., Highway 111, and I-10 exits at Jefferson and Monroe). Locals know shortcuts, but if you’re not familiar, follow the official directions Coachella provides. They often have specific routes depending on where you’re coming from (North vs. South) to streamline flow. After the shows, expect a crawl out of parking lots maybe up to 1-2 hours to fully clear out on Sunday night.

One suggestion: if you plan to leave right when shows end, mentally prepare or hang at your car and chill for a bit while traffic thins. If you’re in a rental van with a group, you could have some waters and snacks for a post-concert wind-down while waiting for the parking lot exodus to clear.

Navigation: Cell service can be spotty with so many people, so don’t rely solely on live nav. Download offline maps or print out directions. Coachella will give recommended routes in their info guide use those, as some GPS apps might route you to closed roads or wrong gates.

Sample Travel Itineraries

To make it concrete, here are a couple of sample scenarios and efficient itineraries:

• Scenario A: Group of 5 flying into LAX Thursday morning, staying in an Airbnb in Palm Desert.
  Plan: Land at LAX by 10am. Pick up a rented 7-passenger SUV or minivan at LAX (with 5 people you’ll have a lot of luggage a roomy vehicle is key). Drive out immediately aim to beat the worst of traffic by using carpool lanes where possible. Likely route: I-105 to I-605 to I-10 East (skirting central LA). Stop for groceries in Beaumont or Indio on the way (stock up on water, snacks, sunscreen). Arrive Palm Desert ~3pm, check in. Friday-Sunday: drive to festival each day by early afternoon (to avoid late afternoon bottlenecks), park in general parking (free). After each night’s headliner, meet back at car, relax (maybe have one person be a “designated driver” each night or rotate who takes it easy on partying). Depart after traffic dies down a bit. Monday: leisurely drive back to LAX (traffic shouldn’t be bad if you leave Indio early, since it’s opposite commute direction; or if tired, spend Monday chilling and drive later).
• Scenario B: Couple flying into Palm Springs (PSP), hotel in Palm Springs, using shuttles.
  Plan: Fly directly into PSP, arrive Thursday. Take a taxi or rideshare from airport to your Palm Springs hotel (PSP is so close to downtown). Don’t rent a car instead, purchase the Any Line shuttle passes for Palm Springs. Friday-Sunday: each afternoon, catch the shuttle from the nearest resort stop (for example, the Renaissance or La Quinta resort, depending on where the route is) often Palm Springs shuttles start around 11am and run until 8pm going to venue. Enjoy the festival; when ready to leave (or at festival end), hop on shuttle back. Shuttles typically run until at least an hour after music ends. You’ll probably be back at your hotel around 1:30-2:00am. No parking worries at all. Monday: shuttle won’t apply, but you just rideshare back to PSP (or your hotel might have an airport shuttle). This scenario you pay for convenience, but if it’s just two of you, it can be cheaper than renting a car and paying for gas/parking.
• Scenario C: Driving from Phoenix (or anywhere within ~5-7 hour drive).
  Plan: Road trip! If you’re coming from Phoenix (~4 hours), Las Vegas (~4 hours), or even NorCal (~8-10 hours), you might pile into a car or van and drive. Aim to arrive in Indio on Thursday if possible you don’t want to be stuck in arrival traffic Friday. Park at your accommodation or campsite. Enjoy festival. For the return, consider leaving early Monday to avoid Sunday post-festival traffic on I-10 West (which can get busy).

Each group’s situation is unique, but the overarching advice is: start travel early, expect delays, and don’t stress everyone’s heading to the same party. With good tunes and good company, even a traffic jam can be fun.

Vehicle Tips for Groups

• Go for space: If you’re renting, err on the side of a larger vehicle. You’ll appreciate that extra seat or trunk space when stuffing in camping gear or all those outfits and inflatable pool toys. Our AVR fleet offers 12 or 15-passenger vans which might sound like overkill, but groups of 6-8 with camping supplies often fill a 12-passenger pretty easily (using the back rows for cargo). Remember, festival essentials can eat up room (EZ-ups, coolers, etc.).
• Check rental policies: Many rental companies in California allow travel to Coachella, but sometimes they’ll note the high demand. Reserve early. If you’re under 25, expect a young driver fee, so budget that in. At AVR, we often serve lots of Coachella-goers at LAX and PSP we know the drill and will try to make your pickup smooth so you can hit the road.
• AC and maintenance: It will be hot in the desert (90s°F in daytime). Make sure your vehicle’s AC is working well. If driving your own car, do a quick check (fluids, tire pressure) to avoid breakdowns in the middle of nowhere. If renting, you’re covered in case of an issue, but still, new vehicles won’t likely have problems.
• Gas up in cities: Fuel is typically pricier in the remote desert stops. Better to fill up in metro areas (LA, Orange County, Phoenix, etc.) or in larger towns like Indio or Palm Springs, rather than tiny exits.
• Secure your stuff: Unfortunately, car break-ins can happen anywhere tourism surges. During festival time, rental houses and hotels are typically safe, but if you leave items in your car at the festival, lock and hide them. The general parking is a massive field not particularly prone to theft, but better safe than sorry. If camping, you can leave most gear at your site (it’s generally safe among campers).
• Hydration on the road: Have water in the car before you hit that desert stretch. Traffic + desert sun can sneak up on you. You might be pre-gaming with beers, but have H2O too you’ll thank yourself later.

Alright, with travel sorted, you’re ready to focus on the important stuff like your Coachella playlist and outfits!

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