Bonnaroo Camping
For festival-goers car camping or tent camping for four days on the Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester, Tennessee.
- SeasonMid-June
- Length3-5 nights
- Sections8
- Items50
- Essential28
- Reviewed2026-10-07
Use this template All templates
Assumes a group of two to four arriving Wednesday or Thursday for Primitive Car Camping (about a 20 ft by 20 ft plot including the vehicle) during the mid-June festival (June 11-14 in 2026). Covers tickets and camping passes, the campground allowed and prohibited items list, Tennessee heat and storms, and shade and water logistics. Adapt for RV, glamping or Groop camping and re-check the official allowed-items list each year.
Check before you go
- Everyone needs a Centeroo ticket plus one camping and parking pass per vehicle; Primitive Car Camping plots are roughly 20 by 20 ft including the car. Vehicle re-entry is discouraged and carried a $40 fee in 2026.
- Campground rules (2026 list): glass, wood fires, kegs, weapons, drones, fireworks, bikes and scooters, pets (except service animals), glow sticks and laser pointers are prohibited; allowed are grills with up to 40 lb of charcoal or one 20 lb propane tank, generators under 4 kW with up to 10 gallons of gas, and personal alcohol (2 cases of beer, 2 boxes of wine, 1 to 1.75 L of liquor per person per car). Verify the current list.
- Centeroo (the venue) allows empty reusable bottles and hydration packs, blankets and point-and-shoot cameras but bans outside food and drink, chairs, wagons, bikes and backpacks with multiple pockets; check the current Centeroo list before packing a day bag.
- June in Tennessee: 90 F heat with high humidity, strong sun and thunderstorms with lightning and mud; tents are hot by 8 am, so a canopy and a fan matter.
- Free water refill stations are spread through Outeroo and Centeroo; showers at the plazas cost a small fee. Bring enough water for the drive in and the entry line.
- Dates, camping tiers (Groop, Mars and Moon Colony tents, RV, Accessible) and policies change yearly; check bonnaroo.com and the Help Center before packing.
What's inside
- Essential
- Optional
- Needs a permit
Tickets & Planning 6/8
- Centeroo ticket or wristband for every person
- Camping and parking pass for the vehicle (one per campsite) Covers everyone in the car; each person still needs a Centeroo ticket.
- Photo ID and a credit card
- Arrival day (Wed or Thu) and campground map reviewed
- Group meeting spot and a flag or landmark for your site
- Read the current allowed and prohibited lists for Outeroo and Centeroo
- Bonnaroo app downloaded for schedules and alerts
- Vehicle packed for a quick search: no glass, alcohol within limits
Shelter & Shade 5/8
- Tent that fits a 20 by 20 ft plot beside the car
- Pop-up canopy (10 by 10 ft) with weights or stakesTents become ovens by 8 am; the canopy is the escape.
- Tarps or sidewalls for extra shade
- Sleeping pad or air mattress with pump
- Light sleeping bag or sheet
- Battery-powered fan
- Camp chairs
- Rain fly, extra stakes and mallet for storms
Water & Hydration 2/5
- Reusable water bottle or hydration pack (empty when entering Centeroo)
- Gallon jugs of water for camp
- Electrolyte packets
- Cooler with ice (ice is sold on site)
- Personal misting fan
Food & Kitchen 2/6
- Propane grill or stove with a 20 lb or smaller tankOne tank per grill per vehicle, or two small Coleman-style canisters (2026 rules).
- Charcoal, 40 lb or less per grillNo wood fires.
- Food and snacks for the stay
- Alcohol within per-person limits, no glass
- Utensils, plates and trash bags
- Hand sanitizer and wipes
Clothing & Sun 4/7
- Sunscreen SPF 30+ and lip balm
- Hat and sunglasses
- Comfortable broken-in shoes plus rain boots or sandals
- Rain poncho or jacket
- Light breathable clothes and bandanas
- Warm layer for night
- Earplugs and eye mask
Health & Safety 4/7
- First aid kit
- Prescriptions in original containers
- Factory-sealed naloxone (Narcan) kit
- Phone, battery bank and solar charger
- Headlamp or flashlight and a lantern
- Group totem under 7 ft
- Locks for tent and car; valuables stashed out of sight
Centeroo Day Bag 1/4
- Small bag that meets current Centeroo bag rulesBackpacks with multiple pockets were banned inside Centeroo in 2026.
- Empty bottle, sunscreen, poncho, phone, ID and cash
- Blanket or towel
- Earplugs
Leave No Trace / Pack-out 4/5
- Trash and recycling bags
- Leave the campsite clean using the provided dumpsters and recycling
- Take tents, canopies and chairs home instead of abandoning them
- Portable ashtray for cigarette butts
- No glass and no wood fires at camp
Sources 2026-10-07
Rules, fees and conditions change. Verify with the official source before you go.
- Accommodations - Camping and Parking Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival · 2026-10-07
- What items are allowed and prohibited Bonnaroo Help Center · 2026-10-07
- Staying Comfortable: Tips from Experienced Bonnaroovians Bonnaroo Help Center · 2026-10-07