Want your next camping festival experience to go as smoothly as possible? From bungee straps to toilet roll, we’ve compiled the ultimate camping festival checklist that covers everything you’ll need. If you have a long drive ahead of you, take a look at our road trip packing checklist to ensure you’re all set from the second you leave the house. Find out everything you need to take to a camping festival for a fun-filled weekend.

What to take to a camping festival

1. Tent

Your tent will be your home for the duration of the festival, so be sure to remember it! It’s helpful to put up your tent a couple of days before the festival to check for any damage or missing parts. Before you pack, double check that you have all parts of the tent, including the pegs and ground sheet.

2. Sleeping bag

A good sleeping bag is essential for a camping festival, giving you a cosy place to sleep at night. Even in the summer months, camping can get pretty cold at night, so don’t forget to pack this. 

3. Roll mat

If your campsite is particularly hard or lumpy, a roll mat will be your best friend. Place this under your sleeping bag to create a more comfortable area to lie down. Your back will thank you in the morning!

4. Rucksack

Typically, you’ll be packing your festival supplies into your rucksack, so it’s pretty hard to forget. But, if you were considering not bringing a rucksack, you may want to reconsider. You will need a sturdy bag to carry all of your supplies to your campsite – oftentimes this may be a long walk from the car park. A strong rucksack will help you carry everything you need in one trip, and is handy for fitting lots of essentials inside. 

5. Bungee straps

Bungee straps come in handy for a range of activities, from kayaking to securing loads for long trips. Aside from making it much easier to pack things into your transport to the festival, bungee straps have plenty of uses in the campsite. At the end of the festival, you may struggle to fit everything into the bags you brought, especially if you’re packing up in bad weather. You should never leave rubbish or equipment behind at a campsite, so bungee straps give you some extra room to bring your things back home. If your tent or sleeping bag won’t fit in their original bags, use a bungee strap to hold everything together. Plus, if your rucksack ends up overfilled, you can secure it with a bungee strap to prevent things from falling out. 

6. Small day bag

The last thing you want at a camping festival is to lose your essentials. So, bring a small bag to carry with you in the day to keep your phone, money, ID, and other items in. Crossbody bags or fanny packs are good places to start, and are unlikely to fall off your body. Keep this bag small, as many festivals won’t allow large bags out of the campsite. 

7. Ticket

Imagine arriving at the festival with all your gear, only to realise you left your ticket at home. It happens more often than you think, and chances are you won’t be allowed into the festival. Don’t make this mistake – triple check that you have the correct festival ticket before you leave.

8. ID

Many festivals require photo ID both on entry and to buy drinks at the bar. So if you look younger than 25, your ID is essential so that you can make the most of the camping festival. No matter your age, you should remember to bring ID in case this is checked at the festival.

9. Money

Lots of camping festivals will have bars, food stalls, and shops around the site. Check before you leave whether the festival takes cash, card or both. Try not to bring too much cash, however, to avoid it being lost or stolen.

10. Clothes

The clothes you pack will depend on the weather, duration of the festival and your personal preferences. As a general rule, you may want to bring a waterproof jacket for rain, and a warm jumper or hoodie for when it gets cooler at night. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes for each day, as well as clean clothes for your journey home. Remember to pack plenty of underwear, too!

11. Reusable water bottle

Camping festivals usually have water stations for people to refill their water. So, it’s very useful to bring a reusable water bottle to keep yourself hydrated. If there are no showers or taps, you can also use your bottle to brush your teeth and wash yourself back at your tent. 

12. Bin bags

It’s inevitable that you’ll end up with some rubbish at your camping festival, so bin bags are essential for keeping your campsite tidy. They can also be used for storing any wet and muddy clothes, or to keep shoes and wellies when you’re not wearing them. Plus, some camping festivals will pay you for bags of rubbish, so you can make some extra cash by collecting trash from around the campsite.

13. Tissues

No one enjoys using a portaloo at a festival, especially when there’s no toilet roll. Avoid this by packing plenty of your own tissues or toilet roll. Tissues are always helpful to have on hand at a festival, so be sure to pack them.

14. Toiletries

Does your campsite have showers, taps, or nothing at all for washing? Once you know this information, you’ll know which toiletries to pack. If you won’t have access to showers, take into account that you may need to bring wet wipes to clean yourself with. On top of this, don’t forget the essentials such as your toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant. No one likes a smelly camper.

15. Camping chair

Camping chairs can seem like a hassle to pack, but you’ll definitely appreciate it at your camping festival. You may spend lots of time sitting around your tent and campsite, and the floor can get pretty uncomfortable. Bring a camping chair with you for a comfy place to relax before you head into the main arena.

16. Torch

There might not be any lighting at your campsite, so a torch is very useful to have on hand. You may be tempted to just rely on your phone, but this will drain your battery very fast! So, pack a torch in your rucksack to light your campsite. 

17. Towel

Whether your campsite offers showers or not, you will probably find yourself needing a towel. Bring a small, microfibre towel that won’t take up too much space, but will definitely come in useful everyday.

18. Handheld mirror

It will be pretty difficult to find mirrors at a festival, so it helps to bring your own. Do your hair or makeup in the mirrors, or just to check yourself out before you enter the arena. However, some festivals don’t allow mirrors, so read up on the rules to avoid having your mirror confiscated.

19. First aid

Camping festivals are usually pretty rough and ready, so you may find yourself with some scrapes or blisters from being on your feet all day. Bring some plasters and antiseptic creams for any small injuries, but be sure to visit the medical tent for serious injuries. You can also bring painkillers for aches and pains.

20. Portable charger

If your camping festival spans over a few days, it’s unlikely your phone will be able to last the whole time. A portable charger will stop your phone from dying – just make sure you charge the charger first.

21. Snacks

If your festival allows food, bring some snacks along. You will probably get hungry whilst at your tent, and festival food can be pretty expensive. Avoid fresh items that need to be refrigerated, and opt instead for crisps, breakfast bars, and other non-perishables.

Camping festival checklist

Use our handy checklist to tick off everything you need to take with you to a camping festival. We’ve included everything listed above, plus some optional extras, so bear your own requirements and the festival rules in mind when packing. 

• Tent (check you have all parts)
• Sleeping bag
• Roll mat
• Rucksack
• Bungee straps
• Festival ticket
• Photo ID
• Cash or cards
• Reusable water bottle
• Bin bags
• Tissues or toilet roll
• Camping chair(s)
• Torch
• Towel
• Hairbrush
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Suncream
• Wet wipes
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Makeup or other toiletries
• Handheld mirror (if allowed)
• First aid essentials
• Medication
• Portable charger
• Waterproof jacket
• Small bag
• Suitable footwear
• Warm jumper
• Change of clothes for each day
• Underwear
• Snacks

Bungee cords and bungee straps are useful tools for all things camping and exploring. Get your hands on some convenient cords ahead of your next camping experience. Contact us to learn more about our products.