As we inch closer to the return of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, happening April 15-17 and 22-24 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, there are a few last-minute things to know before you go to the festival.

There are notable changes with how you can pay for things and what to expect on the drive since the last time we all did this desert sojourn.

1. Coachella is cashless for 2022

One of the big changes is that according to its website, the festival has announced that it is going cashless for 2022. “Be ready to make any purchases with Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Wallet and contactless cards,” reads an answer on the frequently asked questions page.

The FAQ also notes that there will be a place for a cash exchange on-site marked on the map. (As of publication time Thursday morning, the map wasn’t yet posted on the festival’s website or in the app.)

2. The drive will be bumpier than usual

If you’re driving eastbound to get to the desert, expect to hit construction whether you’re taking the 60 or the 10 freeways.

The creation of truck lanes on the 60 in the Badlands area between Moreno Valley and Beaumont has slowed traffic through that area. There are also some closures planned during the week but they should be minimal to Coachella folks.

However, if you were planning on heading back west on Saturday, April 16, part of the westbound 60 will be closed from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Riverside County Transportation Commission plans to close the westbound 60 for paving.

My colleague David Downey has a story with more details about the upcoming closures and roadwork on the 60.

There’s also construction along the 10 Freeway throughout the Banning/Beaumont/Cabazon area all the way to Highway 111. Pay attention to the lane markings. Caltrans has more on that project.

3. The weather is looking good

For those of us headed to Indio for the first weekend, things are looking good. As of 9:30 Thursday morning, the National Weather Service has a high of 87 degrees on Friday with a low of 59; 87 and 58 on Saturday and 92 and 64 on Sunday. However, the forecast also notes wind gusts up to 20 mph during the day and 30 mph at night on Friday and up to 30 mph on Saturday during the day. See more details.

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