Thousands of Coachella attendees are sounding off on social media and local news outlets after facing what many have described as an unprecedented traffic nightmare upon arriving at the festival’s car camping grounds. With the first weekend of the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival set to kick off Friday afternoon, festivalgoers reported being stuck in traffic for as long as 12 hours—some without access to bathrooms, water, or shade.
Describing the scene as “carmageddon,” local news outlets and online commentators painted a picture of chaos and confusion on the roads leading into the Empire Polo Club in Indio, where the iconic festival is held annually. The Desert Sun, a Palm Springs-based publication, reported that the buildup of vehicles has made for “a rough start” to the festival weekend, with bottlenecks and logistical issues plaguing the check-in process for car campers.
Viral Complaints Mount on Social Media
While traffic congestion en route to Coachella is nothing new, many seasoned attendees say this year’s delays have reached new levels of dysfunction. Social media platforms, including TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), have been flooded with videos and posts from frustrated festivalgoers sharing their experiences.
@notliss It’s giving Fyre Fest… & yes i look terrible bc ive been up for 30+ hours 🫠 #coachella2025 #coachellacamping #coachella
One viral TikTok post captured the frustration of a group that had arrived at 3 a.m. on Thursday but had not yet passed through security nearly 10 hours later.
“It’s almost 1 p.m. right now. We still haven’t even gone through security,” said the TikTok user in a video filmed from her car. “It’s 100 degrees outside. People’s cars are overheating. They’re running out of gas. There are no bathrooms anywhere. People are literally using the bathroom behind bushes like animals, and they paid over $600 to be here. This whole experience has been so disappointing, and it’s been extremely dehumanizing. People are pissed.”
8 hours in line for @coachella camping and still nowhere close.
This is beyond unacceptable. You charge thousands and can’t manage basic logistics? What a joke #Coachella2025
— Edgar Osornio (@EdgarOsornio) April 11, 2025
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On X, users echoed similar sentiments. “This is going to be my 12th Coachella and I’ve never dealt with this long of a line for the campgrounds,” wrote one user. Another added, “8 hours in line for Coachella camping and still nowhere close. This is beyond unacceptable. You charge thousands and can’t even manage basic logistics?”
Heat, Exhaustion, and Lack of Facilities
Local Palm Springs station KESQ-TV reported that festival attendees were seen passing out from heat exhaustion, citing the triple-digit temperatures and long waits with no access to restrooms or water. Witnesses described the ordeal as “chaotic” and “absurd,” questioning how an event that costs hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars per person could have such disorganized entry procedures.
“This is absurd. Why are we spending this much money just to spend eight hours in a car? We aren’t even inside yet,” one attendee told the station.
Even The Hollywood Reporter, which has staff on the ground, noted that one of its writers waited more than four hours to enter the campground—considered a relatively short delay compared to others. Yet even those with shorter waits confirmed that this year’s entry times were significantly longer than in years past.
Festival Organizers Silent So Far
As of Friday morning, festival organizers had not issued a public statement addressing the traffic delays or the numerous complaints circulating online. A spokesperson for Coachella did not respond to requests for comment.
It remains unclear what may have changed in the festival’s operations or planning to cause such a significant increase in wait times. Some online users have speculated that staffing shortages, new security protocols, or altered traffic routes may be contributing factors, though no official explanation has been provided.
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The lack of communication from organizers has only added to the frustration of those stuck waiting.
Star-Studded Lineup Continues as Planned
Despite the rocky start, the show is expected to go on as planned. Coachella’s 2025 lineup boasts an eclectic mix of returning legends and rising stars. Headliners include Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Post Malone, with other major performances scheduled from Travis Scott, Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Ed Sheeran and Weezer were late additions to the lineup announced last weekend. Weezer is set to perform on Saturday during the first weekend, while Sheeran will headline during the second weekend. The band’s set will proceed just days after a tragic personal incident: bassist Scott Shriner’s wife, author and activist Jillian Lauren, was shot by police during a law enforcement operation on Tuesday. Despite the incident, the band has confirmed their appearance will go ahead as scheduled.
The first weekend of Coachella 2025 will continue through Sunday, with the second weekend set for April 18–20. In the past, Coachella has drawn upward of 125,000 attendees per weekend, many of whom opt for car camping to stay on the festival grounds for the duration of the event.
Whether organizers will address the logistical issues before next weekend remains to be seen. For now, festivalgoers who endured the long, hot wait are hoping the music—and the memories—will be worth the hassle.
