Power Trip: Insider tips on how to get to the festival, parking and camping
Get your metal fingers ready, because the latest Goldenvoice music festival, Power Trip, is just two months away.
For first-timers heading to the Oct. 6-8 event featuring Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Metallica and Tool, here's a handy guide to what you need to know about the festival site, parking and camping.
Where is Power Trip?
Power Trip is being held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, the same 500-acre site as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach country music festival.
Empire Polo Club is located at 81-800 Avenue 51 in Indio.
If you're one of the many driving to the Empire Polo Club, it's advised to ignore your GPS on Monroe Road close to the venue and follow signs and personnel instead, otherwise it will be several minutes of driving in circles due to road closures, no left turn zones and other traffic restrictions.
Not driving to the site?
Taking a Lyft or Uber? No problem. There will be a rideshare stand operating on Avenue 49 and Monroe Street. Follow the yellow path in and out of the event for access. The highest wait times are expected between midnight and 2:30 a.m. each night.
There's also a designated friends and family drop off area in Lot 13 located at Avenue 52 and Madison Street.
Traveling on foot or bicycle? The site will be accessible at the following intersections.
Avenue 50 and Madison Street
Avenue 52 and Madison Street
Avenue 49 and Monroe Street
Avenue 52 and Monroe Street
Bike racks will be located on each color path and will be removed if locked to anything other than the designated racks. Lights and reflectors are required by law when biking at night.
Note: No pedestrian access will be available on Monroe Street been Avenue 49 and Avenue 52 or Madison Street between Avenue 50 and Avenue 52. Motorized scooters such as Bird, Lime, Jump or others are not allowed at Power Trip.
What you should know about the free parking
The free parking lots will open each day at noon and availability will run on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the lots are full, passholders will be directed to a nearby free park-and-ride location. Arrive early to avoid delays. Each passenger in your vehicle must be wearing an event wristband.
But now for the bad news. Don't expect to relive the glory days of the 1986 documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot." Tailgating is not permitted, along with RVs, golf carts, car camping and sleeping in your car overnight. Cars left after 2 a.m. will be towed.
ADA parking and other services are available. More information is available at powertrip.live/ada
Motorcycles may park in ADA parking lot.
Show up like a rockstar
For those willing to splurge, premium parking is available at $199.
The premium parking lot can be accessed with the add-on pass by traveling south on Monroe Street, making a right onto Avenue 49 and turning left into Lot 1.
For a once-in-a-lifetime event such as this, you might come up in a limousine, party bus or other commercial transportation. But before you book, be sure your company has a pass to utilize the Black Car/Limo Pass lot at the site, otherwise you'll have to be picked up and dropped off at the friends and family drop off area at the corner of Madison Street and Avenue 52.
What about camping?
There are three entrance areas for camping, which require an additional purchase at powertrip.live/camping. Camping hours are 9 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Monday. There will be no early access to the campgrounds. Do not arrive before check-in begins.
Check-in hours
Thursday: 9 a.m. to Friday 2 a.m.Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Companion Camping and Tent Camping
From Interstate 10 eastbound
Exit at Jefferson Street, continue to Indio Boulevard
Right at Jefferson Street
Left at Avenue 50
Follow signs to Lot 2A on left
Note: All friends and family, rideshare and taxi drop-offs are here on Thursday.
RV and Car Camping
From Interstate 10 eastbound
Exit at Jefferson Street., continue to Indio Boulevard
Right at Jefferson Street
Follow signs and traffic personnel to check-in lanes
Note: No Thursday drop-offs. Must use Lot 2A
Lake Eldorado
From Interstate 10 eastbound
Exit at Jefferson Street and continue to Indio Boulevard
Right at Jefferson Street
Left at Avenue 50
Right at Madison Street
Follow signs to Lake Eldorado on left.
More: Power Trip: Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Metallica to headline October festival. What you need to know
Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Power Trip: A guide to getting to the festival, parking and camping
