12 Coachella 2025 Car Camping Mistakes to Skip

Festival season is officially underway with thousands of people attending. flocking to the desert for Coachella 2025. While festivalgoers are already prepping for the next big event, Stagecoach, I’m still not quite over Weekend 1 of Coachella—particularly the car camping mishap. As I watched from home, like everyone else who wasn’t at the Indio, Calif. event, the chaos unfolded as footage showed the events that took place on the campgrounds. 

TikTok is awash in users viral POV (point of view) videos Stop complaining about 12-hour traffic delays and the lack of drinking water. bathrooms The long queue to enter the Coachella camping grounds was a frustrating experience. Attendees, who spent at least $600 on tickets and an additional $150 or more to camp, described it as a travel nightmare similar to Fyre Festival. There’s been an apology from the organizers, but campers should also take note. 

As someone who lived full-time in vans and tents Since I have been camping for the past three years in the desert and other places, I am well aware of the importance to be prepared. In preparation for peak camping, I’ve outlined the top Coachella car camping errors and simple hacks to enhance your overall experience. private shower setup Take extra steps to get a good night’s rest. Amazon offers some excellent ideas. camping gear hacks for your next trip—some cost as little as $8 and could change everything.

Mistake: car camping without a plan for a second bathroom 

Dibbatu Disposable Urine bags

Let’s start with the basics. No matter what, access to a bathroom is a basic human necessity—and yet, it’s one that festival-goers did not have access to for Hours: Coachella: What you need to know. If you’re planning to pitch your tent at a music fest, backcountry campsite, or campground with a possible broken toilet, make sure you have a backup plan. Mine—buckle up, it’s not glamorous—is a disposable urine bag. Buy a 12-pack of disposable urine bags for only $8 and you’ll never have to use an empty soda bottle or someone else’s privacy bush.

Unpreparedness for high temperatures is a common mistake 

Solution: Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan

Coachella is not uncommon for temperatures to reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit. One car camper on TikTok Every morning, when I wake up, the sun shines through the window and I can’t help but be amazed. [that] I just started crying. The heat is so unbelievably intense that I begin to cry the moment I awake. Portable fans will keep your tent cool on hot days. This $16 option recharges via USB cable. eight to 10 hours Reviewers claim that the battery will run out before it does. The legs are flexible so that you can place it anywhere you like and direct it to the exact spot you want.

The temperature drops at night.

Kelty 30 Sleeping Bag Solution

Deserts can be hot and humid during the day but freezing cold at night. Prepare for wild temperature fluctuations with a quality sleeping bag like this one from Kelty—an affordable synthetic down option “for any casual or first-time camper,” Travel + Leisure Testers said. It is rated as low 30 degrees Fahrenheit. You can unzip it and use it as a quilt, or zip together another Kelty Catena bag to create a two-person bag.

Mistake: leaving your campsite unattended

Solution: Safego Portable Safe

Even though Coachella campground theft is rare, and thousands of campers attend every year, it’s important to secure your valuables in your vehicle when you leave. When camping at festivals, or anywhere in fact, I recommend storing small valuables inside this mini-portable lockbox. You can attach it to your steering wheels or other fixed objects within your vehicle.

Mistake: Using up all the battery power on your device

Jackery Solar Generators 240 V2 and Mini Solar Panels 40W

TikTok users have warned that Coachella’s charging stations are often packed by the end of the festival, when everyone is present. power banks Finally run out of power. As there are no charging points near my usual camping spot, I am unable to go anywhere without the Jackery generator or solar panel. The mini panel is not as heavy as you might think. It weighs only 2.6 pounds, and can be folded up into a size of 12 by 10 inches. The generator will charge your iPhone 12 times. With all the sun hitting the solar panel in the desert you’ll have an endless supply of energy all weekend.

Waiting in long queues for showers

Kipida Solar Shower Bag, 5 Gallon

TikTok users are a diverse group of people. @mayifancyyou The shower situation at Coachella was shown. You want to wait in line for free showers for over an hour and half? No, thanks. Even if you have to wait in line longer What about a “Super Duper Shower” for $10? No. My style is to spend $15 for a 5-gallon plastic bag with a flexible hose. I can prop this portable shower on the hood of my car for hand washing or hang it for a semi-warm shower anytime I want—no waiting in line required. Coachella attendees used an privacy tent You can also take a shower at your campsite.

Mistake: You lose your tent in a strong wind 

Fstop Labs Tent Stakes – 8 Pack – Screw-style

A camping trip can be thrown into chaos by the wind. A single gust of wind could send your carefully constructed tent flying. But Coachella doesn’t even allow If you don’t want to use metal tent stakes then the next best choice is the plastic type that screws into the soil. These are also just as sturdy. You can also find out more about the following: It is easier to use the type that you can pound with a hammer.

Bring too few snacks

Solution: Yeti Tundra 35 Cooler

It’s expensive to buy takeout at every meal, especially when traveling. Instead, get excited about camping cooking and cut fruit by investing in a cool box that stays cold. Yeti coolers are widely considered the best. best cooler Tundra, a brand that is rated the highest on Amazon in terms of ice retention. Drain the water before adding more ice and keep it away from the sun.

Mistake: Turning your car into a sun sauna

EcoNour Reflective Sunshade:

Most overlooked and underrated is a sunshade for your windshield summer camping must-have In my book. You want to prevent the interior of your car from turning into an oven, whether you sleep in it or use it for storing food and electronics. Amazon’s best-rated sunshade, with 75,000 5-star reviews, is said to block 99 percent of heat. People who live in really hot climates—like, high temperatures in the range of 124 degrees Fahrenheit—said it works wonders.

Mistake: Paying $10 for a black cup of coffee

Solution: Stanley Adventure All-in-one Boil + Brew 32-oz French Press

TikToker @amanderz7 I have a question to ask Coachella campers. “Why do people buy $20 coffees and matchsticks?” She continued, “That’s what’s going to make it a terrible experience—relying on the festival for food, water, bathrooms, all that.” If you’re in need of a boost, try grabbing a cold brew or using a French-press to brew coffee on the campsite. This Stanley mug will boil water You can also find out more about the following: Brews is the quickest and easiest way to campsite coffee I’ve found. For iced coffee enthusiasts, brew it in the early morning and store in your cooler to enjoy in the afternoon.

Sleeping without earplugs 

Ear Plugs with Loops

It can be hard to get quality sleep—or any sleep—in a packed campground, especially one at a music festival. You could save yourself from feeling tired and grumpy on the following day by investing in a pair of earplugs. The loop makes them more comfortable and noise-reducing without being too muffled. You can wear them even inside the festival, to lower the noise level. 

Water running out is a common mistake 

Solution: Umetass Collapsible 5-gallon Water Container 2-pack

It’s important to stay hydrated when camping in the heat. The fewer trips to the water station you make, the better. I was wondering if the collapsible 5-gallon jug that I use for car camping would work at places like Coachella. The festival does not have any rules that prohibit large containers from being filled. Reddit commenters also confirmed this. confirmed it’s not against campground etiquette—nobody cares. Pack only what you will need for your car trip and fold up the huge jug in the back of the vehicle until you are ready to refill it for the weekend. Bring a friend with you to the water station, as each of these jugs can weigh over 40 pounds.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter Each week, we will send you our top travel products.