FestivalPlot

Camping at a festival with friends

Updated · FestivalPlot guides

The best part of group camping is having somewhere everyone can sit, eat and catch up. The tricky part is arriving in different cars with different gear and not much room. Start with who’s coming and what space you really have.

Two neighboring sites with a shared lounge (40 × 20 ft)Site 40 × 20 ft40 ft20 ft▼ Access / road (bottom)Canopy B10 × 10 ftCanopy A10 × 10 ftSUV6.6 × 16.5 ftSedan6.2 × 16 ftFolding tab…2.5 × 6 ftCha…Cha…Cha…Cha…Cha…Cha…Tent A8 × 8 ftTent B8 × 8 ft10 ftFestivalPlot · Illustrative 2D plan. Confirm official site rules and measure your own gear.
An editable example for friends who already have two neighboring sites, and only where sharing space across them is allowed. FestivalPlot cannot reserve adjoining spots.Open this layout in the planner

Decide what you’re sharing

One or two canopies might be plenty for several friends. The same goes for a table, a large cooler or a set of lights. Make a quick list of shared gear and let everyone handle their own sleeping essentials.

Place the tents and vehicles first, then add somewhere to hang out. Keep a clear path between the chairs, tent doors and cars instead of filling every gap with furniture.

Plan around your actual campsite

A group of six doesn’t necessarily need six separate tents, but you still need enough room for everyone to sleep. Use real tent and vehicle measurements in the campsite planner and check where people will walk.

Two neighboring sites aren’t automatically one big open space. Use the example to try layouts, but keep everything inside your own assigned area unless the festival specifically permits a shared setup.

Get the cars organized before travel day

  • Which car carries each camping pass, canopy and cooler?
  • Do cars need to arrive together, or did you book a specific group camping option?
  • Where will you meet if reception is poor?
  • What happens if one car is late?

You can write down your meeting plan with the free arrive-together tool. Share it before the drive, while everyone has service.

Rules differ by festival and year. Coachella’s published 2027 advance-sale information lists a separate Group Car Camping option requiring at least 10 spots, with one car per spot. It does not let you request a custom spot configuration. [1] The Lost Lands FAQ currently displays 2025 information saying cars seeking adjacent campsites must arrive together. That is historical guidance, not a confirmed rule for a future edition. [2]

A shared layout is a planning sketch, not a campsite reservation or permission to cross your assigned boundary. Recheck your own pass and the organizer’s current instructions.

Send one plan to the group chat

Use the two-site layout example or start with a blank campsite. Share an editable copy with your friends and decide who’s bringing the table, cooler, canopy, water and lights. The packing checklist can catch anything nobody claimed.

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the festival once you arrive.

Sources & further reading

  1. Coachella, 2027 Advance Sale — Group Car Camping — 2027 group option, minimum spots, vehicle requirements and changeable advance-sale rules.
  2. Lost Lands, Camping FAQ (2025) — historical arrival-together guidance; verify rules for the edition you’ll attend.

Organizer sources checked October 30, 2026. Event rules can change. The example is not an official festival site diagram and does not guarantee neighboring spots.

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