How to Have the Best (and Safest) Coachella Camping Experience (With List) - The LA Girl (2024)

Coachella, the land of fringed boots, flower crowns, delicious food, unforgettable memories, and amazing music. And if you decided to REALLY go for it, you’re Coachella camping. Lucky for you, the campgrounds are a walk and a skip away from the festival which makes it extra fun and extra easy for you and your squad. So to ensure you have a blast, here are 8 tips for the best and safest Coachella camping experience.

Keep Track Of Your Camping Spot

Camping at Coachella is one of the best ways to make memories, make new friends and hang out with your crew before and after the shows each night. But when you arrive at your spot, whether it be tent camping or car camping, make a note of where you are! There are “street” numbers to help you, but taking a picture of your surroundings never hurts. Finding your camping spot in the dark is never fun and should be avoided at all costs. Check out the rates for camping here.

Coachella Camping Packing List

If you’ve never camped before, it’s best to do a “practice” run before you go. You should know how to set up your tent and make sure you have all your pieces so you don’t get into an annoying situation when you’re already in the middle of the desert. Here is a list of what to bring:

Tent
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Cooler
Water
Ice
Scissors
Chairs
Led string lights and tapestries to hang (for a vibe)

Pro tip: Get a pump spray from home depot or Amazon for under $10 and fill a gallon of water to act as a mister with a drop of peppermint essential oil or eucalyptus essential oil to create a spa water mister.

Pack Baby Wipes

Coachella camping has showers. They may not be as fancy as the new Safari Glamping tents, but they functional. Sanitary? Relatively. If you bring flip flops and wake up early, you won’t have to wait too long and it’ll be smooth sailing. But maybe that first night is colder or dustier than expected. So we suggest, bring baby wipes. They don’t have to be a substitute for a shower but they are a savior if it’s too cold for wet hair before bed.

No Glass On The Camp Grounds

You’re almost ready for an amazing Coachella camping experience!. But wait, you are planning to pack food and possibly alcohol, right? Of course! Don’t forget a big rule when heading into the Coachella campgrounds: they search all vehicles and do NOT allow glass. Whether it’s a bottle of alcohol or a jelly jar, sorry it’s a no-go. Security doesn’t care and will make you toss it. Save yourself some time and money and transfer whatever things you may need into plastic containers. ProTip: Pack beer cans instead of bottles.

Don’t Forget Your Charger

Take it from the many people who get stuck at the scarce charging stations around the camping and festival grounds, you do NOT want to forget portable chargers! Yes, you can technically charge your phone in your car if you’re car camping, but how many hours can you leave your car running and how many phones can you efficiently charge while at camp? Bring those portable chargers and life will be a breeze as you walk around AND charge your phone.

Drink Lots of Water

Please don’t be the person to pass out from dehydration. It’s dangerous to get rushed to the medical tent because you forgot to drink water in between those beers and co*cktails. Have fun, drink those margs, but don’t forget to drink plenty of bottles of water. You can even bring a pre-filled waterbottle and fill them up at the camping sites, they will have free & clean refill stations set up. You’ll thank yourself later.

Bring a Hat & SPF

Hopefully, your cute Coachella outfit has some sort of hat included to protect you from the sun. And if you’re going to rock any beauty trend, rock a a high SPF. Because we want that beautiful skin of yours to be protected from those harsh desert sun rays.

Protect Yourself From The Dust

Think you’re too cool for a bandana? Or maybe you don’t want to be one of “those” people? BE one of them and bring it with you! With some luck, the wind will be minimal and the grounds won’t be too dusty. But if the wind picks up, having a bandana will prevent you from breathing in dust all weekend.

Bring Cash

Now imagine, it’s the end of Day 2, you’re walking back and you are TIRED. If you bring cash, you can pay a pedicab and get back to your camping spot in no time. You may have to splurge, but it will be worth it.

Now that you’re prepared, go get that cute photo in front of the Ferris wheel and don’t forget to tag @thelagirl in your photos. Also, check out the hottest festival parties you need to be at.