Music festival season 2019 is fast approaching. If you’ve decided to take the plunge and camp at a music festival, this one’s for you. I’m a type A planner when it comes to festivals. So when I was going to camp at my first festival (Coachella 2017), I naturally freaked out. “How much do I have to bring? What do I have to bring? How much is this going to cost? How do I pack for this?” were all questions that ran through my mind and I’m sure ran through yours. Have no fear though as camping at a festival can be fairly easy and can positively impact your festival experience. I love camping at festivals because it’s so easy to access the festival, you get to meet cool people and there’s usually fun amenities in the camp grounds. Once you figure out what works for your camping experience, it’ll be a breeze.

Preparation

First is to secure whatever camping passes you might need. For example, Coachella you have to purchase a separate camping pass alongside your ticket. You can split this with a group as well. Whereas Electric Forest, camping is included unless you want to pay more for VIP camping areas. Some festivals allow you to arrive a day before (with an early arrival pass purchase) which I highly recommend as it helps you get your camp set-up so that when the actual festival starts you’re ready to go.

Make sure you look on the website to see their resources on camping at that specific festival. This will include things like times when you can enter and exit the campgrounds, what items are and aren’t allowed, security and how big your camping space will be. These vary festival to festival so be sure to look on the festival’s website. Also see what the shower situation is like, if they charge for showers, when they might be typically busy (most are busy in the morning, I usually go an hour before I want to go in the gates because it doesn’t take long for me to get ready).

Get with your friends and coordinate when you’d like to get to the campgrounds. Some festivals say if you want camp sites to be next to each other you have to enter the campgrounds together (unless it’s a festival like Lightning in a Bottle where any and all areas are open). You can also determine with your group who will bring what and split costs as well.

IF you are going to fly I highly recommend seeing if you can find a Walmart close to the festival. I preordered camping gear for Electric Forest so it was ready for pickup when we got there. This was also made easy by renting a car to house all our stuff as well.

What to Bring

Found this awesome list from Festival Survival Guide and I’ve added some to it (don’t feel like you HAVE to bring everything I will put a ** meaning “helpful, but optional”). Be sure to check the festival’s website for what’s allowed and not allowed.

Camping Supplies

• Tent – This 8 person Coleman rocks
  • I used a 2 person for EF 2019 that I really liked
• Sleeping bag – This is the sleeping bag I use 
• Blankets & Pillows (you could buy a cheap one at a Walmart)
• **Air mattress (if you pack this also include pump or extra batteries for the pump, a patch kit for repairs, and sheets to cover it with)
  • You can also get a sleeping pad that you inflate without a pump
• **Headlamps or Flashlight
• Lantern
• Tarp
• Mallet or Rubber Hammer
• **Pocket knife
• Extra toilet paper
• Bath towels, at least one per person and an extra
• Chairs
• Coolers (it’s a good idea to pack a large for drinks and to use as a table and a smaller one for food)
• Jugs of water
• Small speaker (also include extra batteries), aux cord if needed
• **Car inverter for electronics CAUTION: using this can drain your car battery so just be careful how much you utilize
• Jumper cables
• Extra car keys (if you are camping with friends you may want to give them extra car keys or keyless entry devices so they can store valuables in the car and have access to it if you get separated)
• ** Flag (to mark your campsite so you can find it easily)
• **Fold out table
• ** Hammock
• EZ UP-Small shade tents can be helpful to block out sun and rain
• Tapestries to hang up for decoration
• Trash bags
• Stakes for Tents SUPER IMPORTANT SO YOUR TENT DOESN’T FLY AWAY
• Earplugs for if you have loud camp neighbors
• Portable charger
• Insect repellent

Food & Cooking Supplies

• ** Camping stove: You can get by without one, but if you’re able to bring one it definitely gives you more options for food
• ** Extra gas canisters
• ** Biodegradable dish soap
• Hand sanitizer
• ** Pots, pans, pot holders, spatulas, silverware, plates, napkins (a good rule of thumb is to figure out what kind of food you are bringing and make sure you have the necessary equipment to prepare it)
• Cups
• Ice (fit as much as you can into the coolers, making sure to keep half a bag in the plastic to use for drinks.  Ice will be sold on the festival grounds but it will be twice as expensive as in the real world so stock up as much as possible before entering)
• **Condiments (butter, ketchup, mustard, etc.)
• Gallon Jugs of Water or bring a reusable water bottle or jug to fill up throughout the weekend for the campsite.

Food

Bring things easy to make and snack on. I usually have breakfast like bananas and a PB&J then protein bars and snacks on hand to have before I go into the festival. Then I’ll usually have 1-2 meals inside the festival gates. I account for this in my budget so I can enjoy the food at the festival too.

Toiletries & Personal Items

• Travel shampoo/conditioner
• Face wipes
• Baby wipes
• Toothpaste/Toothbrush, Mouthwash
• First aid kit (Band-Aids, Neosporin, etc.)
• Pain medicine
• Pepto and antacids. Any medications you are taking (birth control, anti-anxiety pills, motion sickness meds, etc.)
• Vitamins
• Emergen-c
• Sunscreen
• Lotion
• Razors
• Condoms to practice safe sex!
• Hairbrush, clips, ties, bobby pins, headbands

Clothes & Gear

As far as clothes go it’s up to you what to pack. Pack items that you are comfortable in and that you’re okay if they get dirty. Also, pack for whatever weather situations. Especially if there is a chance of rain pack extras of everything.  Sometimes night time can get cold so bring clothes for that.

• Shoes (pack at least one pair of walking shoes as well as flip flops and sandals for showers)
• Rain shoes
• Socks
• Your outfits for the festivals
• Clothes to hang out at the campgrounds in
• Sleeping clothes
• Bathing Suit if needed
• Bandanas (these can be wildly handy for many reasons as well as for fashion)
• Hats
• Sunglasses
• Undies and bras
• Scarves, gloves
• Raincoat
• Hydration Pack or Backpack

Bring fun stuff to do at the campsite like hula hoops, glow sticks, Frisbees, soccer balls, playing cards and anything else you like to do that’ll pass time at the campsite.

How to Pack

I have a video specifically for packing for Electric Forest. I flew from Austin to Michigan and flew with two suitcases and a backpack. I filled one suitcase with clothes and toiletries and the other suitcase had our tent, sleeping bag and a blanket.

When I went to Coachella I fit everything I needed in duffel for the weekend then brought a sleeping bag and pillow. I camped with a huge group so we packed all of our cars with everything we needed. Fingers crossed you have a car with a lot of space to fit your stuff, food, and camping supplies.

Costs

Prices may vary depending on the camping passes per festival, how much stuff you buy for your camp site and how much you can split with others. Coachella I spent maybe under $200 for pitching in for food for the campsite and my portion of the pass. Electric Forest was maybe closer to $300 because it was split between my friends Peyton and I and if I’m including the rental car price in there as well. Look for quality camping items, but also compact so you can use them again and again. I’m considering investing in things like an EZ Up and Tent that I can travel with since I plan to hit two camping festivals this year.

General Tips

• Security varies per festival so just double check that you don’t have any prohibited items. As long as you’re nice to security they’re nice to you. Usually takes about 10 minutes for them to look through your car unless they catch wave you might be hiding something then they’ll look more thoroughly.
• Once you set-up camp, take a walk around the campgrounds to familiarize yourself with where bathrooms, showers and amenities are.
• Take advantage of the amenities the campgrounds have to offer. There’s usually vendors, seminars, interactive games and more to help pass the time by.
• Most festivals have a general store with items in case you forgot something.
• Ice varies per festival whether you have to go to the general store or someone is driving around with it. Have cash just in case!

Hopefully this has you feeling prepped and ready to camp at your next music festival! Comment below any tips you have!