Your Ultimate Packing Guide For Festival Camping This Summer

Preparing for a three-day festival is in no doubt worse than packing for a holiday. There is a thin line between overpacking and under packing and it’s always so hard to find the middle.

Here’s a run-down of how to properly pack for your festival as well as a few essential items that you shouldn’t forget to bring with you.

How to pack

Check the weather

This is probably the most nerve-racking part of the lead up to a festival. So, before you even begin to think about packing, consider checking what the weather will look like! There is no point in packing for 20-degree weather, when the forecast is showing a 70% chance of rain, or vice versa.

Pack as light as you can

We know this is much easier said than done, but in the long run, it will work out way easier for you across the weekend. It’s not only getting your luggage to the campsite that’s a struggle, but it’s bringing everything home with you as well, and leaving your tent at the festival is NOT an option.

If you’re going with a big group of people, then try and divide the load evenly ensuring two people aren’t packing the same things.

@jerry__anthony camping at coachella for the first time ever but let’s make it a little vintage western #coachella #coachella2025 #carcamping #coachellacamping ♬ original sound – Jerry

Steer clear of the suitcases

Bringing a suitcase as your chosen mode of luggage will more than likely end in a disaster. Wheeling a 20kg through the woodland area to your campsite will not only leave you with a mucky suitcase, but also a potentially broken suitcase that you’ll have to find a way to bring home.

This why the first step of packing lightly is vital, so you’re able to carry all your luggage.

Divide your bag into sections

Unlike going on holidays where you’ll be in a hotel room/ apartment, you have very limited space in your tent. This means knowing where you’ve packed your items in your luggage can save you a whole lot of time spent flinging your clothes around the tent.

If you have recently ordered clothes online which have come in plastic bags, they are great for dividing up your items. Pop all your items in one bag each, for example, outfits, toiletries, makeup, underwear and so on (even include a spare bag for your dirty clothes).

Not only is your bag neat and tidy, but it also prevents everything from getting wet in the event of a sudden downpour!

Check the festival requirements

Not every festival has the same requirements. Whether that’s for the amount of alcohol allowed, liquids in general or toiletries, keep an eye out for the regulations before packing.

You wouldn’t want any items taken off you before the weekend has even started!

@emmamcphrsn A uk festival would send Americans into a coma #coachella #creamfields ♬ original sound – Jerry

What to pack

Bin bags

Bringing bin bags to festivals are essential. Not only are they great for making sure your campsite is looking fabulously tidy for the whole weekend, but they are great for hanging up in your tent.

In the event of sudden rainfall, or even just for the drips of condensation waking you up in the morning, binbags are a must-have for keeping everything clean and dry.

Tissues

Tissues are a must have to bring with you to a festival, especially when it comes to portaloos. You never know whether you’ll get one with or without loo roll…

Fairy lights

Coming back to your tent at 1am in pitch black with no phone battery can be a nightmare (this is also your sign to remember a power bank). Bringing a pack of fairy lights are great to hang up inside as well as a helpful way to find where you are in the sea of different coloured tents, wires and pegs!

@auradrop What do you guys think? Would you spend a ton of time and energy for just a weekend?!? #festivalsetup #musicfestival #festivalprep #carcampingideas ♬ original sound – gunby

Bottles of water

Bottles of water can be heavy to bring, but they are great to have around the campsite. The queues for the showers and sinks can sometimes be extremely long, so if you just want to brush your teeth by your tent, or have a quick freshen up, then bottles of water are great to have!

Spare runners

If you have space in your luggage, then use it wisely for something like a spare pair of runners. Trust me, if you’re just wearing your docs for the whole weekend, your feet will be in bits!

Two light jackets

We’re not wishing bad weather on any festival this year… but if it is doom and gloom on the run up to the festival weekend, one lightweight jacket won’t hack it, you need TWO.

If you get caught in a downpour on the first night, it is more than likely that the jacket you were wearing will not be dry for the rest of the weekend. Bringing two jackets will save you from this malfunction. We wouldn’t want your gorgeous outfit to get ruined!

@jessicaletticiax Nothing worst than when you’ve got to put a rain coat over your cute outfit! #trending #fyp #festivalvibes #festivalfashion #festivaloutfit ♬ original sound – mattheus

Mirror

Need we say more? Don’t forget to bring a mirror!!

Lightweight food

Food at a festival can be spenny, so bringing some lightweight snacks or food like noodles is great if you don’t want to spend money for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Words by Nikita Hall