Coachella Camping Guide
A personal guide of recommendations and tips built from experience — for this year, next year, and every year after.
🚗 Getting There & The Tesla Setup
Sleeping in a Tesla was an absolute game-changer. All you need is a mattress, a comforter, and two pillows — especially with the AC running, it’s genuinely comfortable.
Tesla Charging Tip
When leaving the festival, get as far away from Palm Springs as possible before supercharging. The traffic near Coachella will eat your time — find a charger further out.
🏕️ Campground Essentials
Making Your Campsite Work for You
A good campsite sets the tone for the whole weekend. The non-negotiables for camping:
- Rug — something for the floor of your site
- Canopy — one per campsite, no exceptions
- Canopy shade panels — hook onto the sides to block direct sun
- Chairs
- Cooler
- Lights/lanterns — helps you find your site at night
Stake Your Canopy Down Properly
A lot of canopies flew this year. Stake them at an angle — it makes a huge difference in wind resistance. Don’t skip this.
Campsite Extras Worth Having
- A mirror (totally allowed to bring in, and incredibly useful)
- Bungee cords and zip ties for rigging things up
- A tarp for ground cover or shade backup
- A headlamp for navigating at night
- Duct tape and scissors — always comes in handy
- Biner clips
- A rubber mallet for staking
Campsite Location Tips
- Near Sunset Hill = easy to find, great landmark
- Along Main Street = harder to navigate, especially at night
- Play the campground games — there’s a real chance you can win VIP tickets
🍽️ Food & Drink
Easy Camp Meals
Keep it simple. The Trader Joe’s approach works great:
- Lentils/chickpeas in a boil-in-bag pouch
- Naan as the base
- Cook at camp for breakfast or lunch, grab dinner inside the festival
Minimal prep, minimal cleanup, fills you up.
Drinks
Don’t waste time on weak drinks. With limited hours, go for efficiency:
- Aim for 6–8% ABV (skip the 4–5% stuff)
- A Twisted Tea or similar hits well
- Vodka + mixer or a bourbon kept cold in the cooler are solid options
🎒 What to Pack
Festival Day Pack
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Backpack / hydration pack | Essential — stay hydrated |
| Portable charger + cable | Non-negotiable |
| Sunglasses | Must-have |
| Ear plugs | Protect your ears |
| Sunscreen | Reapply often |
| Lip balm | Desert air is dry |
| Deodorant | Multiple applications |
| Jacket | Nights get cold |
| Rollerball cologne | Easy, light |
| Bandana | Dust, sweat, everything |
| Disposable camera or Polaroid + film | Great for memories |
| Temporary wallet | ID + one credit card only |
| Hand sanitizer wipes | Porta-potty survival |
| Disposable toilet seat covers | Always bring these |
| Wet wipes | Clean up before you sit |
| Liquid IV | Electrolytes are key |
| Advil | You’ll need it |
| Allergy medication | Desert pollen is real |
| Saline nasal spray | Helps with the dust |
Camp Gear
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rug | Ground cover for your site |
| Canopy + shade panels | Stake it down at an angle |
| Camp chair | One per person |
| Cooler | Keep it stocked |
| Air mattress / sleeping pad | Comfort matters |
| Towel | Showers exist |
| Shower caddy with a hook | Hang it in the shower stall |
| Shampoo + toiletries | Full shower caddy setup |
| Headlamp | Navigating camp at night |
| Lanterns | Ambient campsite light |
| Paper plates, cups, utensils | No dishes to clean |
| Paper towels | General cleanup |
| Trash bags | Keep your site clean |
| Tons of water / water bottles | More than you think you need |
| Rubber mallet | Staking canopy/tents |
| Scissors | Always useful |
| Duct tape | Always useful |
| Bungee cords | Rigging and securing things |
| Zip ties | Same |
| Biner clips | Hanging things |
🎵 Music Festival Navigation Tips
- Yuma tent: Line builds fast — arrive at least 20 minutes early or you won’t make it in for the start of a set
- Mojave / Gobi / smaller stages: Same rule applies — get there early if you really want to see someone
- Don’t over-schedule: Leave room to wander and catch headliners — they always put on a show worth seeing
- Back-to-back sets: Don’t assume you can sprint between stages; factor in crowd, distance, and lines
👕 Outfit & Comfort Tips
- Pack separate loungewear for hanging around camp — especially important during the hottest parts of the day before getting ready
- Don’t put on your festival outfit too early; you’ll sweat through it before you even get in
- Bring something dedicated to sleep as well — a full outfit change rotation: lounge → festival → sleep
🚽 Bathroom Tips
- Always bring disposable toilet seat covers
- Always bring wet wipes to clean up the porta-potty before sitting
- Remember: there are flush toilets inside the festival grounds — use them when you can
Linked Map of Contexts