Is there anything more fun than a desert music festival in Indio, CA? Whether you’re a music fanatic or simply enjoy being surrounded by good vibes, there’s no better place than the Coachella Valley during festival season. Desert festivals are the perfect weekend getaway.
But there are downsides to the festival experience. In 2024, over 80,000 people attended the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival. For a tiny desert community, that’s a lot of traffic! The influx of festival goers also means that area hotels and short-term rentals, like AirBNB, fill up fast. Without an advance travel plan, your festivities in the desert can be a headache. That’s why Xpress Shuttles offers our signature Desert Festival VIP Experience package!
Let’s take a look at the culture of desert music festivals and discover how traveling with Xpress Shuttles can make your experience better than ever.
What is Festival Season?
“Festival season” is an informal name that describes the time period around big, popular music festivals. While there are no exact dates for festival season, it usually begins in spring and lasts through the summer. However, the regional weather can affect these dates.
In the desert of the Coachella Valley, festival season is generally held in April to take advantage of the best weather conditions. Although every year is different, the average Coachella Valley temperatures in April are:
- Daily highs between 84° F and 91° F
- Daily lows between 55° F and 62° F
Historically, there’s also plenty of sunshine and a very low chance of rain during this period. The deserts around Indio are known to have 350 days of sun every year.
A History of Coachella Valley Festivals
Today, the name “Coachella” is synonymous with music festivals. Some of the world’s biggest musical acts have performed at this annual event at the Empire Polo Club. Although the first official Coachella was held in 1999, the festival can trace its origins to 1993 when Pearl Jam performed at the venue during a Ticketmaster boycott.
But the Coachella Valley’s history is much older. The area was first surveyed in 1857, then populated during the expansion of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1926, U.S. Route 99 was established to enable better access to the region. This infrastructure helped the Coachella Valley become an agricultural center known for crops like grapes, citrus fruits, and especially dates.
In fact, the Coachella Valley is responsible for almost 95% of the United States’ date crop. This is celebrated each year at the annual Riverside County Fair and Date Festival, which has brought revelers to the desert since the 1920’s.
In modern times, Indio has become a hub for concertgoers thanks to its landscape and weather. The vast, flat Empire Polo Club is uniquely suited for a music festival because it can accommodate huge crowds, multiple stages, campgrounds, and spaces for RVs.
The first official Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival launched in 1999, with headlining performances from that year’s top acts including Beck, Tool, Rage Against the Machine, and more. Since then, Coachella has hosted popular artists like Lady Gaga, Drake, Madonna, Arianna Grande, and other renown bands.
But the Polo Club offers more than just rock bands and pop stars. When Coachella ends, fans of country and Americana flock to Indio a few weeks later for the Stagecoach Festival. First held in 2007, Stagecoach quickly became the largest country music festival in the world. Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, and other performers have graced the Stagecoach stage.
Desert Festivals in 2025
When are Coachella 2025 and Stagecoach 2025 being held? The dates for this year’s Indio desert festivals are:
- Coachella Weekend 1: April 11 through April 13, 2025
- Coachella Weekend 2: April 18 through April 20, 2025
- Stagecoach: April 25 through April 27, 2025
The Coachella 2025 lineup includes Lady Gag, Missy Elliot, Green Day, Charlie XCX, Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, and more. Stagecoach 2025 will feature Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Sturgill Simpson, Luke Combs, Sammy Hagar, and other established acts along with rising stars in the country music scene.
Desert Festival Tips
Whether you’re a first-time festival goer or a seasoned veteran, there are several ways to improve your experience at a desert festival in the Coachella Valley.
Get Tickets in Advance
If you’re planning to attend a festival like Coachella or Stagecoach, get your passes as soon as they go on sale. These events frequently sell-out weeks or even months in advance. Although you might find tickets for sale closer to the day of the festival, you’ll likely pay exorbitant reseller prices.
Also, make sure you always buy festival tickets directly from the organizer’s website or a certified reseller like StubHub or SeatGeek. This will ensure that you don’t purchase counterfeit festival passes.
Pack Well
You’ll also want to plan your packing list in advance. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes. Don’t forget sun protection, too! Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and parasols or light umbrellas will help you avoid sunburns and heat strokes.
If you’re staying overnight at a hotel or camping, you’ll also need to bring the appropriate toiletries, pajamas, and other items you need to relax and recharge after a long day of celebration.
Go with Friends
Consider planning your trip with friends. You’ll have more fun in a group, plus traveling to the Coachella Valley with your besties will make the weekend even more enjoyable. You and your group can also split costs like transportation and hotel stays.
Book Transportation
Speaking of transportation: traffic is one of the worst parts about Indio. While the Empire Polo Club can accommodate large crowds of people dancing and having fun, the streets and highways around Indio weren’t built for thousands of extra cars. Festival-goers often report wait times of over an hour to get into the parking lots!
With the cost of gas and parking, booking a private car or shuttle van for your group can be a more affordable option that also reduces the stress of driving.
Xpress Shuttles VIP Experience
And that’s where we come in!
At Xpress Shuttles, we’re happy to drive you and your friends to any music festival in the desert. We offer a special, private VIP Experience so you can get the most out of your festival weekend. This package includes:
- Private door-to-door service
- Option to choose your own pickup time each day
- Free refreshments and snacks
- No wait time in rideshare lines
- Fun festival vibes
We also offer stays in local Marriott Villas. Learn more about our Desert Festival VIP Experience and book online or call 866-805-4234 for more info.
NOTE: Xpress Shuttles Desert Festival VIP Experience Packages are not administered by, endorsed by, or otherwise affiliated with Goldenvoice, Empire Polo Club, the city of Indio, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, or Stagecoach Festival. For more information, please call the number listed above.