Electric Forest – Pros & Cons of Popular Camping Options

Electric Forest tickets are about to go on sale you guys I am freaking out! I have a breakdown of all the ticket options up on the blog, but if you’re wondering the pros and cons of various options, I got you. Keep reading 🙂

Car Camping vs. Tent Camping

There are various options in GA and Good Life where you have the option to camp next to your car or camp in tent-only camping. Here are some is a comparison between the two.

Car CampingTent Camping
Works as storage for your stuffYou’ll use your tent as storage
No guarantee how far of a walk you’ll have to the festival gatesCloser access to the festival gates
Car is right next to your campsiteIf you drive, you’ll park your car
in a lot then walk to your campsite
Can use car for charging electronics and getting readyUtilize tent for getting ready, bring charger for phone
Easiest way to get to and from the campgroundsEasier option if you can’t rent a car or don’t have access to a car
More cars in your caravan more room you have to play withMay luck out and get more space since it isn’t as organized
as car camping
More flexibility to bring all your camping gearWorry about bringing your tent and your sleeping supplies

GA vs. GA Maplewoods

GA is the cheapest ticket out there at Electric Forest and Maplewoods is a step above GA here is a comparison between the two if you are curious. Shoutout to Amy Conte for helping me with this one.

GAGA Maplewoods
The cheapest option – $375Cost is $725
Camping in an open field, no shade so your campsite could get really hot during the dayCamping under trees a.k.a. SHADE is huge when it comes to temperatures at your campsite
No guarantee how close you’ll be to the festival gates




Mapelwoods is first come first serve and is even closer to the entrance than the RVs, and debatably just as close as Close and Comfortable was in 2019. 
Fun fact: You can hear the music that’s inside the festival perfectly. On Thursday morning, Amy woke up to the sweet sounds of Odesza doing their soundcheck. And once the festival starts, Tripolee is basically the soundtrack to the rest of your day from Mapelwoods. I ran back to my campsite during a few sets from Tripolee and didn’t miss a thing! 
Showers – cost is $7 and they’re in big trailers. There are only open during certain hours that you can shower. Go at noon to avoid lines.VIP bathrooms and showers. HUGE. And free. Amy highly recommends taking a shower between 2am – 8am. The water pressure is the best then and they’ve usually been recently cleaned late at night. They were also air-conditioned.
Choice to car camp or tent camp (see above table for comparison)No cars at Mapelwoods, you park your car outside of the campsite. You can go back to your car as much as you need to. It just means your car isn’t right on your campsite and accessible at all times. The only part of this that is hard is carrying all of our things to the site, but as long as you don’t wander super far to set up, it’s only like a 3 min walk, give or take, from your car to your site.
Limited to camping spot parameters if you car camp, tent camping may be more open with spaceYou can camp wherever you want and take up as much space as you want. Being able to come as we please, and not stress over our spot and if there was enough room was huge. My group, like a lot of groups, left at different times and from different places. Whoever got to Mapelwoods first claimed our area and that was that! Alleviates so much stress. 
Can visit your friends anywhere in GA campingMay be difficult to bring friends into Maplewoods if they don’t have a wristband
Located in an open fieldLocated in somewhat of a forest you’re going to encounter more mud, more bugs, and lots of uneven ground. Make sure before you stake your tent into the ground, you’re not laying in a ditch of mud and leaves. Keep your tent closed as much as you can.
Longer wait times getting into the festival and longer wait times getting in and out of the campgrounds on arrival and exit days. The later you come the higher the chances you’ll get placed in farther camps where it’ll take 15-20 minutes to walk to the festival gates.If you can’t make it for early arrival, be prepared to be screwed. We pulled into Mapelwoods around 6pm on Wednesday and were able to find a spot. By Thursday, Mapelwoods was totally full. It may fill up even quicker with the Tuesday early arrival. If you can’t make it until Thursday or Friday, try to have someone in your crew there for early arrival to hold down a spot. Otherwise, you might be sleeping in that ditch of mud and leaves.
Sleep can be as good as you make it depending on rowdy neighbors or if you get placed by the RVsI’ve never slept as well as I did this past year in Maplewoods for a few reasons: the shade, nowhere near the RV’s which go offff until 6am. Silence + shade = happy camper
Family, community feeling between neighbors in GA. Easy access to Main Street amenities which are great ways to meet people: The Brainery, vendors, food, general storeThe people and the vibe. Lots of forest vets go for Mapelwoods, everyone is super respectable and kind. I really felt that Mapelwoods truly embodies that forest spirit.

GA vs. Good Life

If you’re curious between GA life vs. Good Life hopefully this helps. GA gives you all the basic necessities whereas Good Life can add a little more to your forest experience. (this is not including Maplewoods, Camp Hush, Camp Good Times or Effortless Camping)

GA Good Life
Starting at $375Starting at $775
Car Camping & Tent Only Camping optionsCar Camping, Tent Camping, Log Cabins, A/C Tents Options
GA Access to the FestivalVIP Access to the Festival
Pay $7 for trailer showersA/C Bathrooms & Showers
Amenities in Main StreetAmenities in Good Life Village
GA ViewingAccess to premium viewing decks
Access to Group Camping and GA RVsAccess to Good Life Lounge
Pay for add on arrival passSome Good Life wristbands include early arrival
GA entrance into the festival3 shortcut entrances into the festival at Sherwood Court, Sherwood Forest and Ranch Arena
Happy Hours and Brunches
Concierge Service
24 hour shuttle service to different camping areas

RV Pros & Cons

If you are looking into RV options, here are some things to think about.

ProsCons
Easy access to RV parties with surprise guestsRV parties can go til very early in the morning (pack earplugs ;))
Split costs with friendsCost can get expensive
Closer to the venue entrance
Spacious and is your home
Can add power to it
Logistically works well for a group

I hope this helps you in choosing which ticket to go with for Electric Forest! Happy forest 🙂

thanks for reading! xoxo, Ade

join the vibe check newsletter​

The Vibe Check is your weekly dose of motivation, mindful tips, and vibey tunes. Straight from me to your inbox, so you can stay inspired and aligned all week long.