What's the surrounding area like?

Coachella Festival takes place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The location? Somewhere in the Colorado Desert. So aside from the festival site, which has plenty to do, there's not much immediately around the venue.

How can I spend a day before heading to Coachella?

If you're spending some time locally either side of a Coachella weekend, you have the option of spending time in Indio or in nearby Palm Springs (around 37 miles from Indio). Los Angeles is 127 miles from Indio but if you don't mind a bit of a drive, you might choose to spend some time here before Coachella. If you're looking for inspiration for ways to pass the time, what about some of these ideas?

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

For $24.95 you can take in Palm Springs from the sky. Literally. Palm Springs boasts the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world. Perhaps not one for those with a fear of heights!

Knott's Soak City

Another option for those spending some time in Palm Springs before or after Coachella Festival is Knott's Soak City. If you want to make the most of the hot Southern California sun, this is a great idea. There are water slides to keep even the most hardened adrenaline junkie entertained and luxury cabanas for those who just want to soak up the sun by the pool.

Where are the best places to eat and drink near Coachella Festival?

There are plenty of food and drink options on site at Coachella Festival. But if you want to eat before you head to the festival or you're sticking around for a little afterwards, you have several options in Indio.

TKB Bakery and Deli

For a deli, this place sure gets people talking. It made Yelp's list of the top 100 places to eat in the USA and online reviews rave about it. You'll pay $10 and up for a sandwich here, but it will be one of the best sandwiches you've had.

El Mexicali Cafe

Great value Mexican food is the order of the day here. Expect generous portion sizes and a friendly, laid back atmosphere.

Cactus Jack's Bar and Grill

Located in the Coachella Valley, Cactus Jack's Bar and Grill serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. The wine list and cocktail options are great here and prices are reasonable.

View more restaurants near Coachella Festival

What's the best way to get to Coachella Festival?

Getting to Coachella is pretty easy by public transport. Organisers put on shuttles on from many of the hotels near Coachella festival, so those staying close by will have no problems getting there.

There are also shuttles put on from Los Angeles airport.

Another option you have is, of course, to drive. Getting to Indio by road is straightforward. The festival heavily encourages carpooling for those driving.

How much are food and drinks at Coachella Festival?

A beer at Coachella Festival will set you back upwards of about $8. A pizza will cost about the same, so food and drink isn't as expensive as they are at some football stadiums and concert venues.

Is there any parking?

Yes, there's parking on site.

How much does parking cost?

Day parking is free and if you have a VIP wristband for Coachella, you'll also have access to the VIP parking lot, which offers the benefit of quicker exit when you leave.

Is there WiFi at Coachella Festival?

There is some WiFi access available at Coachella. You can find it in the beer gardens across the site and in all of the VIP areas, so while you might not be able to access WiFi from everywhere, you will have spots you can head to check those social networks.

Any other important information visitors should know?

There's a long list of items that are not permitted in the festival site and selfie sticks are on that list. So if you were just planning your selfie stick moments, you'll have to rethink that. Back to the long outstretched arm selfie it is, then.