Where to Stay for Coachella & Stagecoach
I lived right across from the Coachella grounds for many years, so I’m very familiar with all the communities right around the Empire Polo Fields: which are some of the best places to stay if you’re visiting for festivals. In this article, we’ll take a look at “Where to Stay for Coachella & Stagecoach” ~ from high-end home rentals in exclusive spots like the Madison Club (where the Kardashians own homes), to more affordable rentals….& hotels with great party pools.
Learn where to stay by Coachella for the festivals in April! Photo: Forbes.
Map of Coachella Accommodations
In a Rush? Here’s Where You Can Get Last-Minute Rooms by Coachella:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Morongo Casino Resort & Spa – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Riviera Resort Palm Springs (Formerly Margaritaville Resort) – Click here for rates & availability
Where to Find Last-Minute Rooms by Coachella!
The Biggest Hotels in Palm Springs Area
(Less Likely to Sell Out for Coachella):
Morongo Resort is a great out-of-the-box hotel choice for last minute Coachella rooms. Photo: Tripadvisor.
- Morongo Resort & Casino (300+ rooms) is actually in Cabazon, by the Outlets ~ not Palm Springs. But it’s a great out-of-the-box solution for finding last-minute Coachella rooms. They have over 300 rooms! So check prices here, & then shuttle, drive, or Uber to the Coachella grounds.
- The Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel (410 rooms) is attached to the Palm Springs Convention Center ~ so vibes aren’t the best, but you may get lucky finding a last-minute room.
- The Hilton Palm Springs (260 rooms) has pretty grounds, but fairly boring rooms;
- Hotel Zoso (163 rooms) has more character than most big hotels. The Coachella shuttle pick-up spot is an easy 10-minute walk from Hotel Zoso.
- Kimpton Rowan (153 rooms) has a great location downtown, facing the mountains ~ & a beautiful rooftop pool. Enjoy happy hour at their rooftop bar before heading to the Festivals…
- The Hyatt Palm Springs (200 all-suite rooms) is a little boring ~ but a decent choice for last-minute rooms.
- The Renaissance Esmeralda (560 rooms) is a fantastic choice for Coachella & Stagecoach, & one of the largest hotels in the desert. They’re located in Indian Wells, which is only a 15-minute ride to the Polo Fields. Their pool is amazing…this is a TOP PICK for me!
- The Riviera Resort (400 rooms) in Palm Springs is still my favorite in terms of size AND character, with pretty blue & white rooms + chic vibe + great pool area. Formerly called Margaritaville Resort.
You may have better luck finding rooms at the brightly-decorated Riviera Resort (formerly Margaritaville), which has 400+ rooms.
Overview of Home Rentals by Coachella
- The Madison Club: This VERY high-end golf community sits right across from the Polo Fields. But the only way you’re staying here is, A) You’ve got a TON of money, B) You know someone who’s got a TON of money, or C) You’re a Kardashian. Home rentals can be in the $50,000 range here, if not more.
- Rancho Santana: This is a mid-to high-end community next to the Madison Club, with NO golf course. It’s hard to score home rentals during Coachella, as most owners don’t like to rent out their homes (I know because I used to live there)! But if you can swing it: you’ll be able to walk across the street to the Polo grounds.
- **Indian Palms Country Club: Now, here’s where you’ll find a lot of Coachella rentals. The speed bumps here are a nightmare, but you’ll also find some of the most affordable rentals for Coachella. And you’re right across from the Polo grounds, to the east. Homes are more modest ~ & people do get lost in here because it’s so huge!
- **Mountain View Country Club: On the west side of the Polo grounds, you’ve got this gorgeous golf community. If you can afford it: this is a great place to stay. Homes have incredible mountain views, & you’re closer to Coachella’s entrance.
- **The La Quinta Cove: If you’re looking for more affordable rentals in La Quinta, check out the “La Quinta Cove.” This is a large area with thousands of homes, that’s not gated. Homes range in size. You’re about 10-minutes from the Coachella grounds here, depending on traffic.
- **PGA West: This is a HUGE community of golf-course homes, with everything from townhomes to multi-million dollar spreads. This is a great place for your Coachella search ~ & about 10-minutes from the Coachella grounds.
PGA West is located south of the Coachella grounds, & offers THOUSANDS of homes, condos, & town homes. Lots of inventory here!
Great Rentals in PGA West: Check out this PGA West rental that sleeps 18 people ~ with a fire pit & heated pool! Or this INSANE home that has one of the biggest pools I’ve ever seen in the desert….located right on the golf course.
The Closest Hotels to Coachella
Top Hotels in Indio by Coachella
Indio hotels like the Hampton Inn & Fairfield Inn & Suites (which is cuter than the Hampton & a Marriott property ~ where you can use Marriott points) sell out quickly, as they’re the closest hotels to the Coachella grounds. Fantasy Springs Resort is another option that puts you super close to Coachella.
Fantasy Springs is a much larger resort (with 250 rooms), & you may be able to find last-minute rooms here. Check prices at Fantasy Springs on Expedia.
Indian Palms Country Club, which is mentioned above in the “Home Rental” section above, also has a hotel ~ & this is the absolute closest hotel to the Coachella grounds (but it sells out quickly).
Fantasy Springs Resort is most likely to have last-minute rooms ~ they’re the biggest resort in Indio.
Great Hotels in La Quinta by Coachella
Smaller hotels in La Quinta like the pretty Chateau at Lake La Quinta sell out quickly, as there are only 24 rooms. The La Quinta Resort, on the other hand, has 796 rooms!!! While they’ll still sell out: it takes them longer. But this is also one of my favorite hotels in the world! Their grounds are set right against the mountains, & they have over 35 pools. Some turn into real parties during Coachella!
There’s also a sister resort next-door called Legacy Villas, which offers hundreds of beautifully-furnished 2 & 3-bedroom condos, all with pools.
There’s an Embassy Suites across from Old Town La Quinta: which is a solid option if you want something a little more subdued/not a real “party” hotel. I know….because I used to live here too! There are over 300 spacious rooms, many with kitchens: so you may get lucky finding last-minute Coachella or Stagecoach rooms here. Check rates on Booking.com.
Legacy Villas is right next to the La Quinta Resort. It’s cheaper, with beautiful grounds & large condos that are great for groups.
Overview of Hotels in Indian Wells
Indian Wells is a 15-minute drive to the Coachella grounds, depending on traffic. There are three big resorts here that have beautiful pools & LOTS of rooms:
- Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa (215 rooms ~ the most chill);
- Renaissance Esmeralda (560 rooms ~ the most fun with a nightclub & GREAT pools); & its neighbor:
- Hyatt Regency Indian Wells (530 rooms ~ the most family-friendly with pool slides, etc).
You’re more likely to find last-minute rooms at the Renaissance Esmeralda or the Hyatt, as they’ve both got more inventory than Tommy Bahama’s.
The Hyatt’s pool area has massive water slides. Photo: American Express.
Renaissance Esmeralda has some of the largest pools in the desert ~ & during Coachella, it can get crazy! Photo: Renaissance Esmeralda.
Best Hotels in Palm Springs for Coachella
Finally, we head to Palm Springs. It’s a 45-minute drive from Palm Springs to the Coachella grounds (more with traffic), so if it was me: I’d only stay here if I was just going to the Festival for one day. But that’s just me! Hotels here are more *hip* than those located right by the Coachella grounds, so there is a trade-off in that respect.
Great Party Pools During Coachella:
The Saguaro Hotel is a candy-colored dream & great for Instagram photos, with 245 rooms. This is one of the most reasonable hotels in Palm Springs, with a fun Mexican cocktail bar ~ but 4 people max per room. The Ace Hotel & Swim Club has two popular outdoor pools, & during the Festivals, they are happening. Though not quite as popular as they used to be…
ARRIVE Hotel Adults-Only is a newer spot that caters towards the younger, influencer-type crowd (but not in an obnoxious way), & it’s where I’d stay for a Palm Springs weekend. It’s hip & modern, with a fresh feel. Great pool area & coffee on-site as well.
The Ace Hotel has long been known for its “hip” pool vibes. Especially during Coachella & Stagecoach!
For celebrity sightings during Coachella, you’ve got the Parker Palm Springs ~ which is pricey, but ideal for privacy-seeking celebs. The scene during Coachella is elevated chic. L’Horizon is another place where you might spot celebs (like Kiersten Dunst), & Villa Royale also feels like a super-chic celebrity hideaway.
Many of these places may be sold out by the time you book. So for a bigger hotel in Palm Springs, check out the 400-room Riviera Resort (formerly Margaritaville Resort). It’s got great decor & a gorgeous pool area, with beautiful mountain views.
Villa Royale has that intimate vibe celebs love. But with just 38 rooms: it books out quickly during Coachella.
You’ll have better luck finding rooms at brightly-decorated Riviera Resort (formerly Margaritaville), with over 400 rooms.
Where to Stay for Coachella & Stagecoach
The bottom line for any hotel mentioned above is: BOOK. AS. SOON. AS. POSSIBLE!!! Many are already sold out, which is why I’ve honed in on the bigger hotels here, where you’ll have a better chance of scoring last-minute rooms.
xoxo Noelia
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Help!! There’s a group of 15 of us who are looking for accommodations for Stagecoach 2023. It doesn’t seem like any of these hotels offer rooms large enough for us?? What else can you recommend?
Hey Tiffany! Thanks for your question. So I think hotels are out of the question for you guys, & even Airbnb you may have trouble finding a house large enough. VRBO is your best bet (I link to it in the article). I’d either get 2 houses that sleep 8 people, or try to find one that sleeps over 10….but that can be hard to find! Look up “Luxurious Villa Living in Indio,” which sleeps 12 ppl. The “Epic Journey” house (with a shark in their pool!) sleeps 16 & is still available. The “Spanish Modern Retreat” sleeps 13 ppl, & on a budget: “Desert’s Luxury Escape” is a new home WITH a pool that costs $1,500/night during that weekend (i.e. VERY cheap)!! ALL of these rentals mentioned are still available right now, but will book up quickly. Good luck!! xoxo Noelia
Do you have any recommendations for private car services ? Looking to hire someone for the weekend of stagecoach but looking for a referral and someone reputable. Thank you!
Hey Kristin! I’m sorry to say that I don’t have any good referrals for you; I used to live right across the street from Coachella so we would literally walk or bike across the street. If anyone else reading this post has suggestions, please feel free to contribute! Good luck : ) xoxo
How long would it take to walk from Indian Palms to the Coachella grounds?
Hi Johnny, that would depend on where in the community your house is. Some houses in Indian Palms are so far back, it could take you 30 minutes just to walk to the front gate! But it will probably take between 20-45 minutes or more, depending where the house is. Biking would be MUCH faster, & there are bike racks at the entrance to Coachella. Hope that helps!
Good article, you can tell you’ve lived by Coachella. Looks like PGA West is the spot for us – and luckily, they’ve got a lot of housing choices!
Thanks for your comment, Alli. PGA West is a great choice for Coachella ~ especially if you’re with a big group! Good luck : ) xoxo Noelia
Our group just rented a big house on VRBo in Indio, based on your recommendations. Good to have advice from a local, thanks
You’re so welcome, Ariana! Former local, but yes ~ I’ve spent a lot of time down there : ) Have a great time! xoxo
If you were choosing between a house in PGA West or a house in Mountain View for Coachella, but the Mountain View one was a little more expensive: which would you choose? There will be 8 of us, and both houses accommodate this size group and have a pool.
Hey Michael, I’d definitely go with the Mountain View one, simply for its closer proximity to the Polo Fields. It will be easier to get to & from Coachella from there. Plus, there are often large parties held in the large Polo Estates off of Madison, which sits between Mountain View & the Polo Fields. So you might stumble into some fun parties/people-watching! Hope that helps : ) xoxo Noelia
This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. Question: do some people bike to Coachella? We’re staying in Indian Palms, and it looks like the walk will take us awhile.
Hi Trey, thanks for your comment! So yes, people definintely bike to Coachella (including my brother, who lives across the street)! There are massive bike racks by the entrance, so bring a lock & make sure to remember where you left your bike on the rack! Good luck : )
I can’t believe they shut down one of the Stagecoach nights for wind. Has this happened many times that you know of?
The wind can definitely be an issue at Coachella & Stagecoach, Ashley! Usually, not to the point where they shut the festival down ~ although I believe that did happen about 10 years ago, when the venue essentially turned into a dust bowl. You never know what’s going to happen at Coachella/Stagecoach!!
Hi Farrah, great question! I totally feel you: sometimes it’s better to stay AWAY from the crowds ; ) So don’t stay ANYwhere in La Quinta or Indio; these 2 cities are the most impacted by Coachella. I’d actually make a slightly out-of-the-box suggestion: try looking at hotels or Airbnb’s in Desert Hot Springs (famed for their many spa/hot spring hotels), OR around Joshua Tree. Those cities are far enough away from the Coachella grounds that you should still be able to find good options. Because even cities like Palm Springs(which are 45 minutes from Coachella ~ without traffic) are still insanely busy during Coachella time. Hope that helps! xoxo Noelia