Camping is a great way to experience the natural beauty of a festival. The best part about camping at festivals is that you can bring in your own food, drinks, and tent! Sleeping in a tent under the stars with nature all around you will make for an unforgettable festival experience. This blog post includes our ultimate festival camping checklist to help make sure no detail goes unnoticed.

Festival Essentials

• Tickets
• Map and directions to the festival
• Map of the festival grounds
• Concert schedule
• Identity Documents (driver’s license, passport)
• Cash and ATM card/s
• Credit cards

Camping Supplies

• Tent
• Sleeping bag and sheets/blankets
• Air mattress or sleeping pad (optional)
• Pillow(s)
• Camping chair(s)
• Portable cooler with ice packs to keep food fresh longer. Be sure not to bring glass containers! Make sure your bags are locked tight – people will go through your cooler if it is not secured.
• Waterproof tent footprint to protect the bottom of your tent from mud/water
• First aid kit for small injuries, including sunscreen and insect repellent. Don’t forget about tick prevention! (optional)
• Sunscreen and sunglasses (you will be in full sun all day long!)
• Insect repellent
• Flashlight / headlamp / lantern (optional)
• Earplugs to block out noise from snorers/your neighbors. Consider bringing a pillow fort if you are sharing a tent with other people – it can help make your space more private and soundproof! (optional)
• Zip-lock bags for storing dirty clothes and trash (optional)

Camping Kitchen Supplies

• Cups
• Can opener (optional)
• Cooler with ice packs to keep your food and drinks fresh longer.
• Paper towels
• Trash bags – for leftover food, cooking supplies, and trash from the festival.
• Waterproof matches or a lighter to light your camp stove and fire pit (optional)
• Camping stove/propane tank with cooking supplies – pans, spatula, pot holders, tongs, plates, bowls, etc.

Food Supplies

• Sandwich supplies – bread, cheese slices, lettuce leaves, tomato slices/slicer, mayo, or mustard packets in individual plastic bags for easy access. You can also bring fresh vegetables to roast on the fire if you have a grill grate.
• Cookies or bars
• Fruits
• Trail mix with nuts and dried fruit (optional)
• Bag of marshmallows for roasting over the fire pit. Bring sticks! (optional)
• Food to roast on a grill grate – hot dogs, corn cobs, asparagus spears wrapped in bacon. You can also bring pre-cooked sausages that you can reheat over the fire. (optional)
• Pre-cooked sausage links and/or hamburgers for a quick meal if there is not enough time to cook your meat on the camp stove or grill grate.
• Beverages – water or sports drink to keep you hydrated during the day. Bring lots of water!
• Sweeteners and creamers – sugar packets, honey packets, cocoa powder/instant coffee packs (optional). You can also bring pre-made iced coffee or tea bags.

Clothing and Footwear

• Shoes
• Flip flops or sandals for wearing around your campsite during the day.
• Rain boots for those rainy days! (optional)
• Sweater/jacket for cooler nights camping by the fire pit, as well as a fleece blanket for sitting on. If you are camping in a buggy area, consider bringing insect repellent clothes/fabric spray to keep the bugs away from your skin! (optional)
• Hat
• T-Shirts
• Pants – consider bringing one pair of jeans or pants that can get dirty. You will probably want to wear them on the last day before you go home! (optional)
• Shorts – for wearing around your campsite and for when it gets hot during the day.
• Underwear
• Socks

Shower Supplies and Toiletries

• Towels
• Shampoo/conditioner in a small bottle or travel-size container for easy transport. You can also bring dry shampoo to save on space.
• Toilet paper or tissues in a plastic bag to throw away after use. Some festivals also provide portable toilets throughout the grounds.
• Wet wipes/baby wipes – great for cleaning up.
• Toothpaste and toothbrush, travel size mouthwash, or Listerine strips are also good to have on hand if you forget your normal toiletry bag. You can even bring small sample-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner that hotels give out
• Wet wipes or baby wipes are great for cleaning up after a dirty day of dancing, hiking, and camping out in nature. You can also use wet wipes if there is no running water in the porta-potties at your festival site. (optional)
• Bug spray – if you are camping out in an area that is buggy! (optional)
• Soap and loofah – for washing up before dinner or after a long day of dancing. You can also bring small
• Hairbrush and hair ties (optional)

First Aid Kit

• Athletic tape
• Band-aids
• Blister bandages
• Scissors (optional)
• Ibuprofen or other pain relief medicine – for those aching muscles! (optional)
• Hand sanitizer, wipes, or gel – to clean your hands after using the porta-potties at your festival site!
• Feminine hygiene products such as tampons/tampon applicators, menstrual cups, etc. (optional)

What Not To Bring

• Do not bring more than you need – Remember you’ll need to take all it home again. Most things can be bought on-site if necessary.
• Please don’t bring gazebos. 
• No portable laser equipment or pens are permitted.
• NO animals (except registered guide dogs).
• No sound systems or drums.
• No generators.
• No sky lanterns or kites, unauthorized fireworks, or wax flares.

FAQ

Q.Do I have to bring a tent?

A: If you’re camping, yes. Festival tents can be large and roomy enough for more than one person (and even your friends!) to sleep in comfortably if necessary. You could also consider bringing an inflatable mattress or sleeping pad instead of a traditional air mattress that will have to be blown up.

Q.Do I have to bring my own food?

A: No, most festivals will provide free water and some even provide festival meals for sale! But it’s a good idea to pack healthier options if possible so you don’t wind up spending too much money on over-priced festival snacks that aren’t great for you.

Q.How do I keep my things safe?

A: Use a dry bag or plastic storage bin with a locking lid to store your valuables inside of and lock it up securely near the festival entrance. If something does get stolen, report it immediately! You can also bring an additional small backpack/bag to carry around your essentials such as wallet, phone, sunscreen and chapstick.

Q.What should I wear?

A: Depending on the festival you’re attending and the time of year that it is held in – there are a few things to consider when packing for your trip! For instance if it’s late spring/early summer then you’ll need to pack for warm days and cool nights. Long pants, shorts, leggings or skirts are usually appropriate depending on the event – just keep in mind that it may be muddy! If it’s hot out during your festival trip consider wearing breathable fabrics like cotton so they won’t stick to your skin.

You may also want to bring a light jacket or sweater if it’s an outdoor event and the weather forecast calls for chilly evenings so you can add layers before heading out at night when temperatures drop. A small foldable umbrella or poncho is always good to have on hand just in case! And bringing two pairs of shoes (one closed-toe flat/hiking shoe and one open, strappy sandal) will help you make it through the day.

Don’t forget to bring some sunscreen along with a hat if it’s sunny out! And don’t forget your sunglasses either – festival goers are always on their A game when they have great accessories like these!

Q.What should I bring to the Porta Potty?

A: Depending on how long you’ll be at a festival and what type of porta potties are provided for your event, it’s always a good idea to have wet wipes or hand sanitizer readily available. If the porta-potty doesn’t have running water, bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you!

Q.What if I need to use the bathroom?

A: Most festivals will provide public bathrooms and many even offer free showers for those who are camping. If not, consider bringing along an emergency supply of toilet paper in your car or tent just in case.

Q.What if I need to charge my phone?

A: Most festivals will have charging stations or “power banks” available for purchase, but don’t count on them being able to accommodate everyone who needs a boost! Bring along extra portable chargers and/or cables so you can juice up your devices as needed throughout the day.

Q.What if I need medical attention?

A: Most festivals will have on-site first aid or EMTs available in case of emergencies, but make sure to let someone know where you are just in case! You can also bring along some over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and bandages for minor injuries that may occur.

Q.What should I do if it rains?

A: If you’re camping at a festival that happens during the summer months, chances are there will be some rain! Don’t get too worried though – most festivals are held on large fields so the mud shouldn’t stick around for very long and won’t ruin your shoes or clothes!

Q.What other things should I know?

A: Depending on the festival, you may need to bring along some type of camping equipment like a tent or sleeping bag. Check out their website to find out what they require ahead of time so that you can prepare accordingly. You’ll also want to consider bringing extra cash just in case the ATM lines are long, but make sure to keep your money and ID safe in some type of waterproof bag or container.

Remember that many festivals will have souvenir shops where you can purchase band shirts, cute accessories, sunglasses and more! You may also want to bring along a reusable water bottle so you don’t end up buying a bunch of disposable ones over the course of your weekend.

You’ll want to be prepared for whatever weather and conditions that you might encounter during your festival trip, but don’t stress too much! If something doesn’t work out as planned just remember that it’s all part of the adventure and make sure to take lots of pictures!