Six Ways to Ensure Your Next Camping Festival is a Success

Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned vet, these six tips will help you have a stress-free weekend at your next camping festival.

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A camping festival can make or break your festival season — they’re deeply immersive but come with their fair share of challenges. Unlike city festivals, there’s much more preparation involved, which can make them seem daunting.

For city festivals, last-minute planning is much easier, as most necessities are on-site or just a quick ride away. But for events such as Lost Lands, which host campers for almost an entire week in a remote area, it’s imperative that you arrive prepared. Camping festivals require attendees to keep a running checklist of what to pack.

With potentially limited resources and spotty cellular service, there’s nothing more beneficial than having a plan for your campsite and beyond. We’ve rounded up six things to consider when prepping for and arriving at your next camping festival.

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Six Ways to Ensure Your Next Camping Festival is a Success

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Photo Credit: Jess Gallo for Insomniac Events

Get a Lay of the Land Upon Arrival

After unpacking and setting up your campsite, walk the grounds with your rave fam and identify the nearest Porta Potties, water refill stations, and showers. Other key locations to be aware of are general stores, ice vendors, communal grills (if available), and any areas with campground programming. Most importantly, you’ll want to identify where the closest medical station is should an emergency occur or you need assistance with a general injury.

Take a leisurely walk from your campgrounds to the gates to the festival to estimate the time needed to make it in for your favorite sets of the weekend. Many times, the festival does not provide an accurate map for the campground, so walking the expansive area will help you navigate the festival like a pro.

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Photo Courtesy of Electric Forest

Weatherproof Your Campsite

Thanks to climate change, the weather is more unpredictable than ever. With this in mind, it’s always better to over-prepare.

For potential rainy weather, pick up four pool noodles to prop in the corners of your canopy to keep water from pooling up and collapsing the structure. If you cannot store your luggage in a car during the day, be sure to place your belongings in trash bags in case water seeps into your tent.

Wind can quickly wreak havoc on campsites. Utilize sandbags and heavy-duty camping stakes to ensure your site doesn’t fly away. On windy days, always be sure to drop your canopy down before heading into the festival grounds for the day.

There’s nothing worse than coming back from the afters to a damp sleeping bag. If you’re camping in a climate where moisture builds up at night, a container of Damp Rid in your tent makes all the difference.

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Photo Credit: Rampage

Make Sure You and Your Rave Fam Never Get Lost

As much as wandering the campgrounds looking for your site is a rite of passage, getting to bed at the end of the night will be so much easier if you drop a pin in your preferred maps app. Along with a pin, it’s always great to make note of a landmark or two to help guide your way home.

To navigate the inevitable lack of service, come up with a meeting spot at the beginning of each day for any must-see sets, as well as a place to regroup with the squad after official programming ends.

Additionally, while we hope there’s no need to use it, set an emergency plan with your group at the start of the weekend. Should anything happen on site, you’ll have a defined location to meet without worrying about service.

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Photo Courtesy of Elements

Beat the Heat by Coming Prepared

Hot days can be unbearable without a plan to stay cool. Decorate your campsite by hanging colorful tapestries or curtains from your canopy for a respite from the sun. An additional canopy over your tent, or strategically placed rechargeable camping fans, will help you sleep in longer. For those who like to get ready in the car, windshield shades are a must.

Hotter temperatures mean ice melts faster. Instead of filling your coolers with ice, opt for frozen water bottles. These often hold up longer than a bag of ice, and you’ll always have a cold drink on deck! Keep drinks and food in separate coolers and only open when necessary.

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Photo Credit: Scott Hutchinson for Insomniac Events

Illuminate Your Campsite After Dark

Make sure you’re not coming back to a pitch-dark campsite by investing in lighting. Battery-powered or solar string lights are both fashionable and functional, while lanterns illuminate the site for nighttime cooking.

To avoid accidents during late-night adventures or trips to the Porta Potties, illuminate tent stakes with a small LED light or by putting glow sticks around them to prevent injuries. If you’re looking to kick back at the site after a long night of dancing, a rechargeable LED projector can cast galaxies and color-changing lights on the ceiling of your canopy while you pump tunes through your speaker.

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Photo Courtesy of Bonnaroo

Level Up Your Camping Experience by Packing Like a Pro

If you’re ready to invest in your camping setup, a portable power station is an absolute must. Opting for higher wattages allows for powering rechargeable fans and electric water kettles, as well as charging your phone, portable charger, and digital camera.

To keep your tent mess free, pack a folding TV tray to use as a bedside table. Not only will this save space in your car, but provide a place to leave your eye mask, earplugs, lantern, and anything else you may need throughout the night.

An over-the-door shoe organizer is the perfect place to keep small but important items for your campsite. It’s easily overlooked, but you’ll want to make sure you have zipties, binder clips, scissors, sandwich bags, as well as Narcan and a first aid kit. Hanging this from the frame of the canopy makes all items easily available when needed.

If you’re looking to go the extra mile, bring your campsite to life with decor. From outdoor rugs to disco balls and themed decorations, bring your space to life with personality and make it feel like a home. With a little preparation and creativity, your campsite can not only be a place to recharge, but also an unforgettable part of your festival experience.

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