Festival season separates the prepared from the miserable. After covering festivals like Stagecoach, CMA Fest, Tortuga, Country Thunder, anand plenty of smaller ones, we’ve put together exactly what you need and what you can leave behind.
This is the packing list we wish someone had given us before our first festival.
The Non-Negotiables
Forget one of these and your whole weekend suffers.
Documents & Money
- Festival tickets/wristbands (screenshot AND printed backup)
- Camping pass if applicable
- Valid ID (you’ll need it for drinks)
- Credit/debit cards plus $100+ cash (ATM fees at festivals are brutal)
- Health insurance card
- Car registration and insurance
Power
- Portable charger, minimum 20,000 mAh (you’ll use more than you think)
- Multiple charging cables
- Car charger for the drive home
- Portable Solar Powered Charging – Recommended EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
What to Wear
Festival fashion matters, but comfort wins when you’re on your feet for 12 hours.
Footwear (Most Important Decision)
- Broken-in cowboy boots – New boots will destroy your feet. Wear them around the house for weeks before the festival.
- Comfortable sneakers – For when boots need a break
- Slides or sandals – Campsite and showers only
- Rain boots – If there’s any chance of rain, these are mandatory. Festival mud is real.
Clothing
- Denim shorts or cutoffs (2-3 pairs)
- Flowy dresses, rompers, or skirts
- Tank tops (bring extras because you’ll sweat through them)
- Band tees or graphic shirts
- One flannel (works as a layer when it cools down)
- Jeans for evening (1-2 pairs)
- Light jacket or hoodie for night
- Swimsuit (many festivals have pools or water areas)
- Way more underwear and socks than you think you need
Accessories
- Cowboy hat or baseball cap
- Bandanas (style + dust protection)
- Sunglasses with a strap (so you don’t lose them)
- Statement belt buckle if that’s your thing
Sun & Weather Protection
You’ll be outside 8-12 hours a day. Respect the elements.
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ (big bottle, not travel size)
- Lip balm with SPF
- Aloe vera for inevitable sunburn
- Wide-brim hat
- Cooling towel (game-changer for hot days)
- Poncho or packable rain jacket
- Small umbrella
Camping Gear
If you’re camping on-site, you’re building a temporary home for 3-4 days.
Shelter
- Tent (practice setting it up before you leave)
- Ground tarp (goes under the tent)
- Sleeping bag or blankets
- Sleeping pad or air mattress + pump
- Pillow from home (don’t rough it here)
- Pop-up canopy for campsite shade
- Tapestry or extra sheet for privacy/shade
Campsite Comfort
- Folding chairs (essential)
- Small folding table
- Cooler with plenty of ice
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Lantern for the campsite
- Battery-powered fan
- Earplugs for sleeping (camps stay loud late)
- Eye mask
Food & Drink
- Reusable water bottle (hydration is everything)
- Easy snacks: granola bars, trail mix, fruit
- Bread, peanut butter, and jelly for quick meals
- Coffee and a way to make it
- Electrolyte packets (Liquid IV, Pedialyte)
- Your drinks of choice
- Bottle opener and corkscrew
- Paper plates, cups, utensils
- Trash bags (remember to take care of the location, pick up after yourselves)
Health & Hygiene
Festival bathrooms are an adventure. Be prepared.
Toiletries
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Strong deodorant
- Dry shampoo (essential)
- Baby wipes/body wipes (when showers aren’t happening)
- Face wipes
- Hand sanitizer (several small bottles)
- Toilet paper (festival bathrooms run out)
- Quick-dry towel
- Travel shower supplies
- Feminine products
First Aid
- Any prescription medications
- Pain relievers
- Antacids and anti-diarrheal
- Allergy medicine
- Band-aids and blister pads (critical)
- Bug spray
- Aloe vera
Your Daily Festival Bag
What you carry into the venue each day. Check the festival’s bag policy since many require clear bags.
- Clear bag or approved backpack
- Portable charger
- Sunscreen (travel size)
- Sunglasses
- Cash, cards, ID
- Chapstick
- Hair ties
- Hand sanitizer
- Empty water bottle to fill inside
- Earplugs (protect your hearing)
- Bandana
Nice to Have
- Bluetooth speaker for the campsite
- String lights to decorate your camp
- Hammock
- Polaroid or disposable camera
- Playing cards
- Duct tape (fixes everything)
- Fanny pack for hands-free convenience
- Binoculars for far stages
Leave at Home
- Glass containers (not allowed)
- Drones
- Professional cameras (check rules)
- Expensive jewelry you’d hate to lose
- Anything irreplaceable
Pro Tips
Arrive early on Day 1. A good campsite makes everything better.
Take a photo of your campsite location. Every row looks identical at 2 AM, especially if you’ve been drinking all day.
Pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, especially the first day.
Make friends with your neighbors. Share drinks, share shade, share phone chargers. Festival neighbors become weekend family.
Hydrate between drinks. Most festival problems trace back to dehydration.
Download the festival app. Set times, maps, and notifications are essential.
What’s your must-pack festival item? Share your tips @BonfireCountry.