I applaud anyone who dares to car camp at Coachella as I did.
Camping, in my opinion, is part of the experience. One thing I can say is preparation is key to a good time.
Failure to do so can single-handedly ruin your entire festival experience.
Here are 5 survival tips no one tells you about when camping at Coachella.
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Wherever the wind blows
1. The Wind Can Ruin Everything
The campsite is one giant open area and best friends with the wind.
Campsites will be DESTROYED if not set up and monitored correctly. End of day one, people were sleeping in their cars or on grass after the wind destroyed their campsites.
Here’s how to avoid being those people:
Take down any tarps or easy tents before heading into the festival. Once the wind picks up it ill swoop underneath any tarps and rips it off. It’s extra labor but so worth it.
Stake everything down and then again. If you think you’re good on stakes, think again. This is especially important if you forget to take your tarp down.
A well-staked tent means it can withstand the pressure of the wind hitting it. Plastic ones only like this.
One of the best Coachella camping setups you can have is re-purpose sheets for added shade.
2. It’s Always Sunny in California
Sure California weather is cool near an ocean, but guess what? You’re not near an ocean which means it’s blazing sun rays and HOT!
Here’s how to keep yourself cool:
Bring cool towels. It will keep you cool for hours.
Bring a pop-up canopy tent, or bed sheets if you are trying to save.
When you’re ballin’ on a budget like me, then spare sheets from my moms closet was my only choice.
Don’t mess with us when it’s time to shower.
3. The Shower Battle
Coachella tries to sell everyone on the VIP showers for shorter lines.
However, if everyone believes it and invests in the upgrade then guess what? Those lines are now a long wait.
Here are the best times to shower at Coachella:
If you don’t care about the last act at the festival, shower before the festival ends.
Believe me, the last act is not always the best one.
Shower before 8 am. You may think that is too early, but I promise you, once the sun comes out you will be roasting inside your tent.
Waking up will not be a problem when you are 100 degrees!
Best advice, get up and get to the shower.
Feel free to take a nap after while everyone else waits in line.
You can call me the guardian of coolers
 Ice (money) breaker
Bags of ice are expensive. $10 expensive. Trucks drive around the campsite for convenience but you most likely have to flag them down.
Here’s how to make your ice last:
Bring a Yeti Cooler. Well worth the investment, especially if you plan on camping ever again in your life.
This next one is a no-brainer, but you would be surprised.
Keep your ice chest in the shade. I can’t tell you how many people don’t do that.
A group of male (non)geniuses.
Let there be nightlight
Thankfully we have the suns light for the better half of the day, but what about at night?
Trying to maneuver through your campsite at night can be challenging.
Consider buying these camping items:
Buy a headlamp for around $10 – just like this one. You get light and two free hands.
Rather than trying to prop your phone up somewhere while you dig through your bag at night, or fight over the lantern, just place the headlamp around your head and voila!
Want a hands free light that also serves as a ceiling fan? Check this lantern out.
Just hook this to the top of your tent for some added light that also keeps you cool!
A must-have, plus it’s only $12.99.
Great time with great friends
P.S. Coachella Camping Checklist
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Portable Lantern with ceiling fan
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Blow up mattress (This one is comfy and doesn’t cost a fortune)
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Sheets that will keep you warm & night and cool in the morning
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Comforter
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Pillows
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Sleeping Tent & Easy Up Tent
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Full Length Mirror
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Alcohol and mixers (you’re welcome)
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Sun block
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Bug spray (there will be flies everywhere unless people throw their trash away)
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Towels (one for each day)
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Toiletries (i.e. loofa, makeup remover, dry shampoo)
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Portable Camping Griddle (big money saver)
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Eating utensils and paper products
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Work out clothes if you want to participate in main village yoga
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Warm clothes for at night
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Shoes you can get dirty
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Bandanas!! (Unless you want to inhale dirt for 3 days eewww)
Well there you have it. I hope this helped prepare you for what’s to come. Camping at Coachella whether tent or car should be experienced at least once. Follow this guide and you will have peace of mind knowing you can go into the festival and come back to your campsite in one piece.
Psst. . . Looking for more California fun? Check out a few of these posts:
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5 Instagram Worthy Spots at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
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A Not So Secret Photo Guide to Los Angeles
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What to Pack for Los Angeles in the Summer
Have any camping survival tips? Share in the comment below!
This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission (at no cost to you) when you purchase through these links, which helps me keep my lights on and order pizza from Dominos! I am extremely grateful. Thank you.
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This would be an adventure. I’ve never been to Coachella. I think at this point I’m too old. If I went now, I’d be all, “Why is everyone being so loud?”
Hey hey you’re never too old to dance at a music festival. Coachella does a great job at bringing in a variety of artists. I saw Ice Cube then Guns & Roses!
I’m so conflicted when it comes to festivals I really want to go but I don’t think I could handle the situation. Especially in the UK where it rains a lot and you end up knee deep in mud!
sun block is a must indeed!!
Yessss!
I’ve definitely passed my Coachella years. But, it always looked like such a fun time. And it was close to where we lived which would have been convenient!
As I’ve said before. . . No one is ever too old to go dancing at a music festival like Coachella! It’s an all ages festival. Families go haha.
I’ve never been to Coachella. It sounds like a wonderful experience, though. Thanks for the tips you provided.
Thanks for reading! Hope you make it there some day soon!
I wish I could attend it! I feel like I’m a little to old to attend festivals like that any more.
I feel silly. I have lived in California my whole life and I have not made it out to Coachella yet. I have heard it is amazing. Thanks for the great tips if I get the chance to go.
That’s crazy. Yeah hopefully you make it out one day. Thanks for reading!
This sounds so exciting I would’ve love to do something like this with my friends when we were younger.
Wow exciting experience and good for you! Oh I wish am a camping-type of lady.. but my situation is so OC its hard for me to adjust for camping.
Love your photos!
Thank you so much!
I would love to go camping one day, because since I came to the US i never experience how they camp here. lol yeah it’s kinda odd, but it’s a great feeling i bet. Especially to this kind of camp. Thank you for sharing this article.
It looks like a blast. I’m too old to go now. I think it’s probably for the 20 something crowd.
I have always wanted to make it to Coachella. I think it would be a fun experience. It’s a bit far for me since I am in Florida, but one day.
This is so cool and I’ve been to Coachella and totally loved every part of the experience. Your tips are bang on especially regarding sun block, bug spray and ice – gosh they sell everything there for such a high price 🙂
Not only is everything overpriced but sell out fast. Best to come prepared. Thanks for reading!
Just wow.A line fir shower .You need ice to cool down and flies! I like camping but in cooler regions.Jot weather camping makes me uncomfortable. Had fun reading this.
I don’t think am over my Coachella years; having fun doesn’t get old. What you need to do is just adjust with you age. Most of camping I did in Coachella were not preplanned, but pop up ideas. That might be why I never enjoyed them as much as other dudes seemed to. However, after reading this article I just know what to do right in Coachella camping. See you there, I am not missing them anymore.
Wow! good for you! You all travel a lot. It’s always been my dream to travel like a lot haha. Anyways, thank you for sharing this article it looks really fun and you all enjoyed it!. Hopefully 2018 would be greater than before!
Thanks for reading! May Coachella get better with every year haha.
I’ve camped at the venue twice now and will again this year. One thing that should be noted when considering how to stake down everything. No metal stakes are allowed inside the grounds. This is for safety reasons. Sadly most EZ up tents and regular sleeping tents come with metal stakes. Not to worry, you can buy a HUGE box of 100ct for like $10 on Amazon. Not only will you be the only person with the proper stakes but you’ll be everyone’s hero.
That is great advice – one I completely forgot to mention. Thank you for sharing!
Wow. Takes “camping” to another level. 🙂
Festival camping is its own realm that’s for sure. Thanks for reading 🙂
Wow! Such awesome tips in regard to Coachella camping survival, I love camping in different places, I remember there were awesome days when I’d first time camping in Coachella for the fun of it and it was fantastic, I glad to have a blog to accompany me in my quest.
Wow! Such awesome tips in regard to camping, I love camping in different places, I remember there were awesome days when I’d first time camping for the fun of it and it was fantastic, I glad to have a blog to accompany me in my quest.