Rock Your Weekend: The Complete Guide to Packing for a Camping Music Festival

Camping music festivals are an absolute blast, but they need serious prep to keep the good vibes rolling. Avoid rookie mistakes—like my first festival disaster where I ended up with a broken flip-flop, a dusty throat, and soaking wet gear. Learn from my mishaps and get ahead of the game by diving into our epic guide before you hit the festival scene!

These essentials are a must for any camping festival and will come in handy for any other music festival too. Our ultimate gear list has been fine-tuned over years of festival fun, ensuring you’re ready to rock the weekend. Being prepared for anything is the best way to guarantee a good time. With everything you need at your fingertips, you can fully enjoy your festival experience and lose yourself in a weekend of good jams, good vibes, and great company.

Camping Supplies

When it comes to festival gear, your camp setup is everything—it's your home away from home for the entire festival! If you've ever been camping before, you know that forgetting just one tiny item can turn your weekend upside down… like running out of toilet paper, am I right?

This list of music festival camping supplies is your ticket to festival glory. Remember each of these items, and you’ll be the envy of your neighbors!

• Tent
• Heavy-duty stakes
• Shade structure/easy up
• Sleeping bag
• Air mattress or sleeping pad & pump
• Extra blankets
• Pillows
• Tarp
• Headlamps
• Lantern
• Tent fan
• Portable charging device for all your electronics
• Hammer
• Scissors
• Duct tape
• Zip ties
• Rope
• Extra toilet paper
• Bath towel
• Camping chairs
• Inflatable couch
• Cooler full of prepped food
• Reusable water bottle
• Bug spray
• Jugs of water
• Stereo/music player
• Trash bags
• Paper towels
• Extra car keys
• Car jump start cables
• Hand warmers, hot hands

Optional

• Flag or tiki torches (to mark your campsite)
• Fold-out table
• Rug for common areas
• LED/solar lights/string lights to decorate your area and help find your tent at night
• Hammock
• Tapestries to hang up for decoration
• Wagon and bungee cords to transport your gear
• Spray bottle for cooling down
• Totem to find your friends or your camp

Food & Cooking Supplies

When it comes to food, the choices are all yours! Keep your energy levels high with healthy and nourishing snacks. Pack easy-to-grab goodies and meals that are simple to prepare in the dark or with limited supplies. Meal prep is your best friend—seal pre-made food in storage containers or ziplock bags. Load up on fruit, cut veggies, chips, sandwiches, and granola bars for on-the-go munching. And don’t forget ingredients for grilled cheese, quesadillas, and soups—they’re perfect for sharing on those chilly festival nights!

• Camping stove
• Extra gas canisters
• Biodegradable dish soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Pots, pans
• Cooking utensils
• Cups and mugs
• Flasks
• Forks, spoons, knives
• Ice
• Condiments
• Coffee or instant hot chocolate and tea
• Sweetener: sugar/honey/creamer

Toiletries & Personal Items

Stay fresh and fabulous at the festival with our must-pack toiletries and personal items. You want to feel like you are staying at a 5 star hotel right? Some of these essentials are often overlooked, even by festival pros. Don't forget to check them off your list before heading out, so you can stay feeling great and looking awesome all weekend long.

• Mirror
• Makeup
• Face gems, biodegradable glitter, temporary tattoos, face paint
• Travel shampoo/conditioner
• Solar shower
• Face wipes
• Body wipes
• Ear plugs
• Sleeping mask
• 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.)
• Cold medicine
• Eye drops
• Lip balm
• Nail file/clippers
• Vitamins
• Emergen-C or Airborne
• Cotton swabs
• Sunscreen
• Lotion
• Razors or shaving kit
• Condoms (if you don’t mind dirty festival sex)
• Hairbrush, clips, ties, bobby pins, headbands
• Wigs
• Deodorant (please don’t forget deodorant!)

Apparel & Accessories

Get ready to slay the fashion game at the festival! It's your time to shine, so pack outfits that scream your unique style. From funky costumes to laid-back loungewear, anything goes! But don't forget to check the weather forecast and come prepared for any surprises Mother Nature throws your way. Whether it's scorching heat or unexpected rain, be ready to rock with layers, cozy fur coats, and waterproof gear. And remember, comfortable shoes are a must-have for navigating all types of terrain, so bring your favorite closed toed kicks and flip-flops for ultimate festival freedom!

• Shoes (pack at least one pair of walking shoes as well as flip-flops and sandals)
• Boots
• Socks for day and night
• Costumes
• Daytime outfits
• Nighttime outfits
• Skirts, jeans, shorts, leggings, joggers
• Dresses, rompers, onesies
• Tanks, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, hoodies
• Kimonos, dusters, vests, jackets
• Fur coat
• Headpieces/crowns/crazy hats
• Sleeping clothes
• Bathing suit
• Hats for day
• Hats for night
• Sunglasses
• Belts
• Undies and bras
• Scarves & gloves
• Raincoat/poncho & waterproof shoes
• Jewelry
• Backpacks or holsters
• Handheld fans

Necessities

Don’t forget these important items that seem obvious but can easily be left behind:

• Ticket/wristbands
• ID
• Cash/credit cards
• Phone/camera

Extras

Get ready to amp up the fun factor at your campsite! Pack all the essentials for epic entertainment like hula hoops, glow toys, frisbees, soccer balls, and playing cards. Let your creativity run wild with crazy costumes and accessories—this is your time to shine! And of course, don't forget your trusty camera to capture all the unforgettable moments. If you and your crew are musically inclined, bring along your instruments to take your camp hangouts to the next level of awesome!

• Flow toys (hula hoops, poi, etc.)
• Frisbees, volleyball, sports games
• Slack line
• Yoga mat
• Musical instruments
• Card games

We hope this music festival gear list helps you be more prepared for your upcoming music festival adventure!