Festival · Coachella

Our Coachella Arrival Day: The Shuttle Pass Scramble and Checking Into Embassy Suites

Q: Which airport should I fly into for Coachella?

Palm Springs (PSP) is closest, but LAX often has more flights and better pricing. We flew into LAX and drove out, about two to three hours.

Q: Do you need a shuttle pass for Coachella?

No. A shuttle pass is a convenience for official shuttle-stop hotels, but general parking is free if you drive a car, so many people skip the shuttle.

By Janet
Coachella Weekend 2 · 7 min read

Janet in a pink two-piece set next to a tall cactus at the Embassy Suites Palm Desert entrance at sunset — First evening in Palm Desert. The plan for this day and what actually happened were two very different things.

Here is something I really believe about Coachella: the festival is only part of the trip. The travel day, the outfits, the hotel, even the drive out to the desert all become part of the memory. So for Weekend 2, Victoria and I wanted our arrival day to feel intentional, not rushed.

That was the plan, anyway. What actually happened was a little more chaotic, and honestly a lot more fun to tell.

The plan was a slow, dreamy start

We flew out of Orlando early on Thursday and landed at LAX before lunch. Flying in a day ahead of the festival is my favorite move, because it turns the first day into a real vacation day instead of a sprint to the gates.

On paper, the day looked like this: land, grab the car, sit down for actual sushi at a place I had wanted to try for years, spend the afternoon melting into a Korean spa, then take a slow sunset drive east into the desert. Arrive fed, relaxed, and glowing. Check in, unpack, sleep.

That is not what happened.

Then we realized we forgot the shuttle passes

We had done the responsible thing months earlier and planned around an official shuttle hotel so we would not have to drive after long festival days. We even had the shuttle passes. The problem? They were sitting at home, roughly 2,500 miles away.

So the spa and the sushi got scrapped. Instead of easing into the desert, we drove straight there to see if Will Call could sort us out. Nothing starts a festival weekend quite like speeding toward Indio hoping a stranger in a booth can save your transportation plan.

Janet from behind in a pink set looking up at a giant cactus at the Embassy Suites entrance — By the time we got to the hotel, the panic had turned into "well, this is a story."

The Will Call plot twist

We made it to the grounds, and with a little bit of convincing they actually let us on early. When we finally got to Will Call to ask about reprinting our shuttle passes, the woman helping us basically shrugged in the most helpful way possible.

First, she told us reprinting the passes would cost the same as they already were. Then she added the line that changed our whole trip: parking is free if you drive a car. Victoria and I looked at each other and just went, "ok then."

And that was it. Our carefully planned shuttle strategy quietly became a drive-and-park situation. Here is the honest takeaway I did not know before this trip: general parking at Coachella is free if you drive, so a shuttle pass is a convenience, not a requirement. If you have a car, you might not need one at all.

The lesson I paid for: double-check that the important stuff is actually in your bag, not just bought. But also, do not panic if a plan falls apart on arrival. Free parking existed the whole time.

Checking into Embassy Suites Palm Desert

Once the transportation drama sorted itself out, we finally pulled up to Embassy Suites by Hilton Palm Desert, and it immediately felt like the right call. It is about 25 to 30 minutes from the Empire Polo Club, which is close enough to be easy and far enough to feel like a calm home base after the crowds.

Here is why we booked it, and why I would again:

Spacious two-room suites, so there is actual space to spread out, get ready, and not live on top of each other for four nights.
Complimentary made-to-order breakfast every morning. A real breakfast saves more money than you would think over a festival weekend.
Evening reception, a pool, and hot tubs for the downtime you genuinely need after 10 to 12 hours in the sun.
It was an official shuttle stop (the whole reason we picked it), which still would have been perfect if we had, you know, brought the passes.
Much more affordable than the hotels closer to the venue, without feeling far.

Janet and Victoria taking a mirror selfie in their Embassy Suites room, Janet in a pink two-piece set — Home base for four nights. First order of business: change into something comfy and breathe.

We changed into the comfiest thing possible (a soft pink two-piece set that I basically lived in that first evening), wandered the grounds, found the most photogenic cactus I have ever seen right by the entrance, and finally exhaled. The dreamy spa arrival did not happen. But standing there in the golden hour with palm trees everywhere, it did not matter even a little.

Janet and Victoria smiling in a close selfie, hair and makeup done, ready to go — The two of us, finally relaxed and ready for three days in the desert.

What I'd tell a first-timer about arrival day

Fly in the day before. Arriving Thursday for a Friday start took so much pressure off, even on a chaotic day.
Book a hotel you actually want to come back to. Shuttle stop or not, a quiet suite with breakfast is a gift after the festival.
You can just drive. Parking is free with a car, so do not stress if the shuttle plan falls through.
Build in a buffer, then let go. Something will go sideways. The trips people remember are usually the ones that did not go to plan.

Get festival-ready

The belt bag, portable charger, mini fan, SPF, and comfort pieces I actually packed for the desert are all in my Amazon storefront.

See my Amazon picks → As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Before you go

If you are planning your own trip, save these: my festival essentials packing list, my Coachella outfit guide, and the full Coachella 2027 dates and tickets rundown.

Frequently asked questions

Which airport should I fly into for Coachella?

Palm Springs (PSP) is closest to the festival, but LAX often has more flights and better pricing. We flew into LAX and drove out, which is about two to three hours. It is a longer drive, but easy to make part of the trip.

Do you need a shuttle pass for Coachella?

No. A shuttle pass is a convenience if you are staying at an official shuttle-stop hotel and do not want to drive. But general parking is free if you drive a car, so plenty of people skip the shuttle entirely.

Is parking free at Coachella?

General parking is free if you drive. We ended up driving and parking after a mix-up with our shuttle passes, and it worked out completely fine.

Where should I stay for Coachella?

We loved Embassy Suites by Hilton Palm Desert, about 25 to 30 minutes from the Empire Polo Club. Spacious suites, free made-to-order breakfast, a pool, and a shuttle stop, for less than the hotels right by the venue.

Heads up: some links in this post are affiliate links, including my Amazon storefront, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Details are from my own trip and can vary, always confirm current parking, shuttle, and hotel info before you go.

Janet

Orlando mom, creator, and festival lover behind Planet Janet TV. I share the real travel, finds, and outfits I actually use. Come say hi on Instagram.

Pack like a pro

The fanny pack, charger, fan, and comfort items that make festival weekend actually fun.

Read the festival essentials list →