Camping Music Festivals: Where to Go & Hacks You Need to Know
Music festival season is about to begin. Unique festivals all across the country are ramping up to offer attendees a mix of great music, immersive art and amazing on-site camping experiences. Camping at a music festival means that there’s no need to worry about transportation to and from the grounds, and there’s no excuse to miss out on all of the fun acts and events happening around the clock. We’re breaking down the can’t-miss camping music festivals, plus need-to-know hacks from camping pros.
America's Best Camping Music Festivals in 2019
1. Coachella
California, April 12-14 and April 19-21
A popular California music festival, Coachella 2019 features such superstars as Ariana Grande and Childish Gambino. Surrounded by mountains and palm trees, the music festival offers a southern California camping experience. Attendees can sign on to car camping, preferred car camping, tent camping, lakeside tepee camping and safari camping in furnished tents and yurts. Learn more.
2. Stagecoach
California, April 26-28
California’s country music festival, Stagecoach 2019 will see popular headliners like Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt and Jason Aldean. Stagecoach is also held in the Coachella Valley of Southern California’s Colorado Desert region where daytime highs in April average 87 degrees—be prepared for the heat. The festival offers RV and car camping as well as a Safari Campground with prime RV spots and furnished, air conditioned Shikar-style tents. Learn more.
3. Lightning in a Bottle
California, May 8- May 13
Lightning in a Bottle is more than a music festival. It features over 150 talks with world visionaries, hands on workshops, health and healing practitioners, cultural offerings like dance and food, wellness workshops, performance art, meditation and so much more. All of that is in addition to the popular musical acts like Rising Appalachia and G Jones. Camping options include car camping, RV camping (with or without power) and boutique camping in luxurious tent rentals. Learn more.
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4. FORM Arcosanti Festival
Arizona, May 10-12
FORM Arcosanti Festival is three days of progressive music (Florence + The Machine!), art, architecture and wellness in Arizona. FORM reimagines what a festival can be, with no overlapping sets and immersive art and activities. A scenic Arcosanti Canyon campsite is included with each ticket. Other camping options include carefree camping, in which the tent and camping gear is provided for you, RV camping and the “patron lux” experience of a furnished luxury canvas bell tent. Learn more.
5. Summer Camp Music Festival
Illinois, May 24-26
Held in an open field rimmed by trees every Memorial Day weekend in Illinois, Summer Camp Music Festival hosts more than 20,000 attendees and 180 bands. Big acts in 2019 include Trampled by Turtles and George Clinton. All three-day general admission passes include tent camping, and those who want to snag the best tent camping spots can buy Thursday pre-party passes. RV electric and non-electric camping spots are also available. Learn more.
6. Backwoods Music Festival
Arkansas, May 31-June 2
Held in the heart of Ozark National Forest, Backwoods is a camping, music and arts festival featuring 2019 acts like Rezz, Umphrey’s McGee and Zeds Dead. Camping is included with general admission. Campers can choose from primitive car camping, primitive car camping with shade, RV camping, or tent and RV camping with electric, water and bathrooms/showers. Learn more.
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7. Bonnaroo
Tennessee, June 13-16
Held on a 650-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, Bonnaroo features over 150 bands and activities such as yoga, interactive art installations, watercolor painting and even a 5K footrace. This year's headliners are Phish, The Avette Brothers and Brandi Carlile. Camping options include tent camping, RV camping (with or without electricity), Le Bon Tents (pre-assembled tents which come with a variety of optional upgrades) and group camping (minimum of 24 people). Learn more.
8. Sonic Bloom
Colorado, June 20- 23
Held at Hummingbird Ranch in Spanish Peaks Country, Colorado, Sonic Bloom is the state’s premier electronic music festival. Shady trees, a bubbling brook and beautiful views await festival goers. 2019 headliners include Gramatik and Opiuo, in addition to art installations, yoga classes and other activities. Free walk-in tent camping comes with all general admission festival passes. Car camping and RV camping upgrades are available at an additional cost. Learn more.
9. Firefly Music Festival
Delaware, June 21-23
Taking place every year in the woodlands of Dover, Delaware, Firefly is the east coast’s largest music and camping festival. The 2019 lineup includes big names such as Vampire Weekend, Post Malone and Travis Scott. On-site festival camping options include tent plus car sites, pre-set camping and glamping packages with everything from simple pre-assembled tents to air-conditioned super glamping tents with beds and luxury linens, and traditional RV camping. Learn more.
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10. Electric Forest
Michigan, June 27-30
Electric Forest focuses on electronic and jam band genres and is held among the trees at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. 2019 acts include ODESZA, The String Cheese Incident and Kygo. General admission includes a camping spot and a parking spot. Upgraded camping options are “close and comfortable” tent camping spots, tent camping under the shade of trees, effortless camping (camp in a pre-set tent), and RV camping (with or without electricity). Learn more.
Pro Camping Hacks for Music Festival Goers
1. BYO shower. A quick shower after a long day of dancing under the sun will do wonders. Some festivals provide coin-operated showers, but if yours doesn’t, consider bringing a solar shower.
2. Watch the show comfortably. While enjoying hour after hour of live entertainment, you’re going to want to make sure you have a comfortable way to watch the show. Pack something to sit on, either a blanket for the grass or a camping chair that is compact and easy to carry.
3. Sun protection is a must. There’s no easier way to ruin your time at a music festival than with a sunburn. Prepare to be without shade all day long, and pack a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen—and apply it liberally and often. If you plan on spending a lot of time at your campsite and it’s not in the shade, a canopy tent is a good addition that will help keep you cool in the summer heat.
4. Plan your meals. Most festivals have food trucks where meals can be purchased. If you want to save money, pack a camp stove and some freeze dried backpacker meals that will provide the energy to keep you dancing all night long. If you don’t want to bother with a stove, peanut butter and jelly, trail mix, cheese and other easy-to-pack snacks will keep you satiated.
5. Stay hydrated. Bring your own reusable water bottle and, just to be safe, your own drinking water. Most festivals provide drinking water for attendees, but you’ll be happy you have your own stash back at camp for cooking and staying hydrated at night.
6. Get a good night sleep. The noise at a music festival can continue late into the night, so pack ear plugs to drown out the clatter. A ground pad or air mattress are also helpful for a comfortable rest. But if your air mattress requires a specific pump to inflate it, make sure your campsite has electricity.
7. Keep it compact. Remember that you may be required to carry your camping gear for long distances to reach your campsite. If you pack more than you can carry, be prepared to make multiple trips.
8. Plan for the weather. A hard rain can quickly turn a music festival into one giant mud pit. If rain is in the forecast, pack your rain boots and rain coat and prepare yourself for a wet and wild weekend.
9. Know what not to bring. Check out the website in advance for details on what you are and are not allowed to bring into the music festival. If anything you pack gets confiscated, there’s no guarantee you’ll get it back at the end of the festival. Be smart and follow the rules.
Are you ready for an outdoor adventure? Plan your camping trip!