Traffic Chaos at Coachella 2025
Coachella 2025 kicked off with a tumultuous start, as participants found themselves ensnared in 12-hour traffic jams before finally arriving at the festival.
Lady Gaga’s Performance and Fan Frustration
This year, the California festival is in full swing, with the Friday headliner Lady Gaga wrapping up her set in the early hours this morning (April 12). Although fans hailed it as “the best Coachella show of all time,” many faced significant travel challenges before even entering the venue.
Attendees took to social media to voice their frustrations about the lengthy wait to access the car camping area, with some drawing comparisons to the disastrous Fyre Festival.
While some movement was anticipated as guests began to enter, local news outlets reported that numerous festival-goers were stuck in their vehicles for several hours without access to restrooms, water, or gas. One station in Palm Springs was dubbed “Gridlock Carmageddon.”
Coachella descends into chaos, and it has not even begun. These are cars built in the line to get safety in order to enter the car camping zone. Members report a 12-hour expectation, not Porta Potties, and some say that this is “worse than the Fyre festival.” pic.twitter.com/ztjacmd70u
– Mike Sington (@mikesington) April 11, 2025
The current situation for some people in @coachella passing 9 hours on this line, fortunately, we are still half a tank of gas. pic.twitter.com/1396i35zpz
– Martin (@martindtx108) April 10, 2025
Coachella borderline is turning into Fyre Fest this year ……. oh, I sat, people are waiting for 12-18+ hours to get into car camping, people who run and pee on the sides of the line in the bushes, Coachella does not give anyone water while they bake in their car in line …. Phew Omfg? 😭
– Caymi ♡ indy n2🧣❄ (@cowbolyikecaymi) April 11, 2025
Coachella shouts for not knowing how to direct traffic in a campsite and manage safety, people wait until 3 o’clock in the morning, which are still not even near the checkpoint of security, is ridiculous.
– Lealhon Read (@lammajoe) April 10, 2025
Hearing many reports that Coachella was starting a difficult start for tourists today – some waited until 12 hours to get to the camp, including one person who sent DM below. pic.twitter.com/i19kcdgjea
– Festive Owl (@thefestiveowl) April 10, 2025
The festival news account, Festive Owl, shared a message from a participant who described the conditions as “terrible,” adding that the Coachella organizers provided “no guidelines or instructions.”
One TikTok user also documented her experience with a 10-hour wait, criticizing the situation as “a full-on chaos.” “We still haven’t even gone through the gate. It’s over 100 degrees outside. Cars are overheating,” she explained in the video.
“People are running out of gas. There are no bathrooms anywhere, and people are forced to relieve themselves in bushes, like animals, after paying over $600 to be here. This whole experience has been extremely disappointing and dehumanizing. Tempers are flaring.”
@notliss This gives Fyre Fest … and yes, I look terrible because I was more than 30 hours 🫠 #coachella2025 #COACHELLACAMPING #COACHELLA
Billboard reported that insiders attributed the long queues to two main factors: first, the early arrival of festival-goers starting Thursday (April 10) at 9 a.m., and second, a newly implemented preferred camping program that prioritizes camping locations closer to the festival entrance. Sources claimed that the new system, which replaced the traditional “first come, first served” model, resulted in delays that exceeded expectations.
The initial lineup of artists confirmed for this year was revealed back in November, featuring headliners like Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, and Travis Scott. Additional artists included Missy Elliott, Charlie XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, solo performances from BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Jennie, Benson Boone, original Misfits, Zedd, The Prodigy, Beabadoobee, Clairo, Enhypen, and more.
Since then, more acts have been gradually added, with Ed Sheeran and Wiz Khalifa being the latest inclusions, while FKA Twigs had to withdraw due to U.S. visa issues.
Stay tuned here for the latest updates on Coachella.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/festival-goers-stuck-in-horrendous-12-hour-traffic-jam-ahead-of-coachella-2025-3854308?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=festival-goers-stuck-in-horrendous-12-hour-traffic-jam-ahead-of-coachella-2025
