Coachella 2022: What to bring, how to get there, what to eat

It's been three years since the smell of Spicy Pie wafted through the Empire Polo Club in Indio. It's been three years since hoards of glitter-faced Angelenos backed up Interstate 10 east for hours. And, perhaps most notably, it's been three years since Coachella Valley residents have been able to call in noise complaints on festivalgoers staying at their neighborhood Airbnb.

But that all changes this week because the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is back, everyone.

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Here's our ultimate guide to everything you need to know about this year's festival, from how to get there to what you absolutely need to bring (or you'll be kicking yourself).

Passes

No wristband? There's a chance you could still snag one. Although passes aren't technically up for sale, you can put your name on the Weekend 1 or Weekend 2 wait list at coachella.com/passes.

Want to exchange your pass? You can swap weekends via the website above, which is the only guaranteed way to get an official pass (Facebook Marketplace is not what you want to rely on). If you're trying to swap a pass that was part of a hotel package, contact info@valleymusictravel.com.

What does your pass include? Regardless of what kind of pass you have, you'll have access to the venue and day parking lots for all three days of your designated weekend. GA Pass holders may also visit — but not sleep in — the GA camping areas. If you have a camping or GA + shuttle pass, you (or your more organized friend who planned the whole weekend) should know.

What to bring

If it's your first time, you'll especially want to read our must-pack list.

Don't forget the following (and pack it in a bag no larger than 20″ x 15″ x 9″):

• A bandana — Great for swiping sweat away, cooling off when dipped in water and keeping dust out of your mouth and nose when used like a mask.

• Plenty of sunscreen — Nobody can escape the desert heat at Coachella, so pack your best SPF protection, as long as it's not in an aerosol can.

• Wipes — Body wipes, facial wipes, all of the above; they're your best friend when it comes to wiping the aforementioned desert dust off your body.

• An empty water bottle — Again, the heat is no joke and nothing ruins a festival day like getting dangerously dehydrated. Fill up for free at various water stands.

• Ibuprofen — For your friend who doesn't listen to you and opts for all beer and no water, or for yourself and your aching feet after standing for hours on end. Just make sure it's in its original container and not a baggie.

• A jacket or sweatshirt — You won't need it during the day of course, but you'll thank us when the sun goes down and the temperature drops.

Getting there (and home)

What's the best route to take? Primary routes to the polo club include Washington, Monroe and Jefferson streets between Interstate 10 and Avenue 52, along with Highway 111 at Jefferson and Monroe. These are all expected to be hard to access during festival weekends.

On each Friday of Coachella (as well as Stagecoach) and through each Monday, the following roads will be closed:

• Avenue 49 between Hjorth Street and Monroe Street

• Avenue 50 between Madison Street and Jackson Street

• Hjorth Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50

• Madison Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52

Additionally, Avenue 50 between Madison and Monroe Street likely will have intermittent closures and delays leading up to festival dates. For a full rundown on which roads the City of Indio expects to be impacted by the festivals, click here.

What if you don't want to drive yourself? Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft will operate at the rideshare stand at Avenue 49 and Monroe Street from 9 a.m. until 3 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Shade and phone charging will be available.

But be patient. Your wait time will be long regardless of when you leave, but the highest wait times are expected between 12 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. each night.

Uber is expecting a significant uptick in demand for rides, and is “increasing fares across the Palm Springs market during each weekend for the festival,” a spokesperson for Uber told The Desert Sun. Uber is placing a $20 special event surcharge on getting picked up from the festival grounds from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Can I take the train from Los Angeles? The answer is still no, unless you're a night owl. If you want to take Amtrak’s Sunset Limited line, note that it arrives in Palm Springs from Los Angeles at 12:36 a.m. on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and departs Palm Springs toward Los Angeles at 2:02 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Have other questions on parking, driving or other transportation? Click here.

Logistics, rules and safety

So you've got your wristband and essentials-filled fanny pack, now what? What else should you know before heading to the entrance?

I know it's not required, but what if I want to get a COVID-19 test before entering? There will be rapid 15-minute antigen COVID-19 testing services by Guardian Testing available at Indian Wells Tennis Garden and the Camping Hub.

Are there additional safety measures in place in light of the Astroworld tragedy? That's unclear. Goldenvoice says it can't "publicly comment on detailed, specific actions which are taken" because of safety concerns, but a few measures that will be in place again include bag checks, walk-through metal detectors and dog sweeps.

More: Coachella 2022 security: Police, security prepare as experts anticipate high-energy crowd

What items are prohibited? There is a long list of prohibited items on Coachella's website, but the items you might not realize are prohibited are the following:

• Aerosol products (including sunscreen)

• Audio recording devices

• DSLR/professional cameras

• Flashlights

• Glow sticks

• Selfie sticks

• Umbrellas

What if I'm harrassed or assaulted? In 2019, festival producer Goldenvoice began mandating an anti-assault and anti-harassment policy that will be in effect again this year. The Every One campaign mandates no tolerance of any form of sexual, physical or verbal assault or harassment. Trained ambassadors will be stationed throughout the festival grounds to offer assistance to victims of assault or harassment, and marketing materials will be posted to educate festivalgoers on available resources and rules.

What if there's another type of emergency? In the event of an emergency, information may be relayed on the video screens, over the audio system, and/or through mobile notifications.

Food and drink

What's on the menu this year? The Coachella app has details about food vendors, but expect everything from the return of Sweetfin Poke and ice cream shop Van Leeuwen to the debut of Slutty Vegan and Bolo (the "original crispy fried chicken sando"). You can find the full food lineup here.

What about those with dietary restirictions? Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options will be available.

Do I have to pay for water? Bottles are $2 and there are water refill stations located throughout the grounds.

Weather

Want to know what temperatures to expect this weekend? As per usual, it will be much hotter during the day than it will be at night, so don't show up at the festival grounds without a jacket.

National Weather Service meteorologist Casey Oswant said Thursday's mildly warm and windy conditions are expected to continue into the festival's first day on Friday, with a high near 87 and winds of up to 10 mph during the day and up to 15 mph at night.

"The main concern is that it is supposed to be pretty windy Friday evening and then during most of the day on Saturday," she said.

The forecasted high for that day is 87 degrees, while winds could gust as strong as 20 mph during the day and 30 mph at night. That means that those planning to stick around for Billie Eilish's headlining set may want to bring a light jacket along with their sunscreen.

For a more detailed weekend 1 forecast, click here.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2022: Ultimate guide to what to bring, rides, food, rules