The absolute traveler’s guide to Coachella 2018

Lori Joe Miller Farr

About 250,000 people for two consecutive weekends will take part in the music and arts festival in the Coachella Valley in the vast Sonoran Desert. Established in 1999, Coachella is now one of the largest and most lucrative music festivals in the world, attracting a mix of genres including rock, indie, hip hop and electronic dance music. Just appearing at Coachella is not an option, so read more about the event here.

If, where to get

The event will take place April 13-15 and April 20-22, 2018 at the Empire Polo Club in India, California, less than 25 miles southeast of Palm Springs, California, where there is an international airport. Palm Springs is a two-hour drive from Los Angeles (144 miles) or San Diego (133 miles). From Phoenix to India drive 246 miles, Las Vegas – 277 miles, San Jose – 466 miles, San Francisco – 508 miles. If you’re in Southern California and want to stay away from traffic, fly in with JetSuiteX. They are performing pop-up flights from Burbank Airport to Jacqueline Cochrane Desert Regional Airport in Thermal, California (just seven miles from India) for $ 199 one way during April.

Ticket information

Only three-day season tickets corresponding to the selected weekend are sold; daily tickets are not sold. Individual bracelets are issued each weekend and should be worn separately on appropriate dates. Because artists can perform on different stages at once, there is no guarantee that anyone can see them all, so we encourage guests to study the schedule to make a priority plan.

Warehouse for 2018

The Canadian singer, songwriter and producer, known as The Weeknd, is heading to both Fridays Coachella. Friday’s lineup also includes Jamiroquai, SZA, Kygo, St. Vincent, The War on Drugs, Vince Staples, Jean-Michel Jarre and others. Beyoncé appears on two Saturdays, as well as HAIM, Tyler Creator, David Byrne, Fleet Foxes, alt-J, Post Malone and others. Eminem is heading to both Sundays at Coachella 2018, as well as ODESZA, The Man, Portugal., A Perfect Circle, Cardi B, Miguel, Migos and others. The full lineup includes dozens of artists, as seen on the Coachella website.

Travel packages

Non-refundable tour packages, which include hotel accommodation, will be sold out. Several dozen partner hotels offer three nights (some with a four-night option) for every two weekends. Packages include accommodation for two or four people and a three-day general entrance or a three-day VIP pass to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2018. Also included is a shuttle service that runs all weekend between the hotel and the festival venue.

Car camping and campsites

Camping in Coachella is a popular option. Free services include shower, Wi-Fi in Connected Lounge, mobile charging stations, transfers to grocery stores, ice and water refills. Season tickets for car camping and tent campsites must be ordered online in advance so that they are available to everyone who has a festival season ticket.

Shuttle or Carpoolchella

Decorate your car (even a piece of printing paper will do) and invite people to ride. Random cars with four or more, displaying “Carpoolchella” on the vehicle, may be invited for a post-arrival interview to qualify for the prize draw. To get even faster, use a minibus. Buses depart from San Francisco, San Jose, Auckland, Sacramento, San Diego, Phoenix and Los Angeles International Airport with one-way or one-way ticket options.

Expert advice

With so many fans descending into an oasis in the desert, the Coachella website suggests leaving nothing to chance to get a better experience. “Write down all the details about where you will stop, how to get here and where you are going to park.”

Joyce Kiel, Director of Communications Great Springs Convention Bureau and Visitors Bureau shares some of his own expert advice.

• Mark the location of your car with the “Map” program or another program.
• Make sure you moisturize. Not alcohol, but lots of water.
• Wear comfortable shoes. While you may want to make a fashionable expression, you definitely want to wear comfortable shoes. Closed shoes provide little protection against accidental toeing by other fans.
• Welcome to the California Desert. Cover up. Put on your hat. Bring two pairs of sunglasses. Wear sunscreen with a high factor.
• Sometimes it can get dusty, so you can pack a bandana just in case.
• Ear plugs? This may sound strange, but some regular festival goers swear by it.
• Take time to relax, recharge and explore. Whether you’re looking for a pool party, need a massage or a bit of golf, or you just want to explore the local scene, come to Palm Springs!

Weather notes

Interested in the weather in April? The average temperature during the day is 87 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average temperature at night is 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation is unlikely.