Festival-goers react to heavy traffic post-Coachella

The scene on I-10 Monday morning was filled with cars as campers from Coachella mixed in with local morning commuters.

“Monday morning between 7 and 10 is a tough time around the festival site so any other angles or ways or streets you can get around the festival area would definitely be best for everybody,” Jum Curtis, community services director for Indio, said.

The expected traffic is drawing these festival-goers to leave early. About 40,000 campers left the Empire Polo Grounds to go back home. Some are making sure they get prepare for the road.

“Drink a lot of water, that’s it. Drink a lot of water and make sure you slept enough,” Jura Askey of Los Angeles said.

It was advice one camper did not heed.

“Probably leave earlier and not stay until 3 a.m. like we did,” Augustina Mencheca of Simi Valley said.

Caltrans alerted drivers that traffic will be heavy on the 10 freeway between Indio and Beaumont and the 60 freeway between Beaumont and Moreno Valley for festival weekend. Officials are asking people to plan ahead avoid the delays by traveling early in the morning or late evenings.

For one camper taking the long haul to Sacramento, he has rest in mind.

“Switch off if you have multiple drivers, don’t get tired. If you gotta pull over, pull over,” Nick Trapasso of Sacramento said.