Bonnaroo RV Camping: What's Included and What's Not

Tennessee summer heat is one of the main reasons many Bonnaroo attendees choose RV camping. Air conditioning, a real bed, and a private bathroom between sets make a genuine difference over four days on a festival campground. At El Monte RV, we've helped groups plan festival road trips for years. Here's exactly what Bonnaroo's RV camping includes, what costs extra, and what to expect on-site.

What's Included With Bonnaroo RV Camping

When you purchase an RV camping pass for Bonnaroo, you receive a dedicated space within the festival's RV camping area. This is a reserved zone for motorhomes and campervans, separate from the general tent camping sections. The space gives you room to set up outside your vehicle with chairs, a canopy, or a small outdoor area, though the amount of space varies based on which camping tier you choose.

Your RV camping pass also gives you access to the shared campground amenities that Bonnaroo provides across its grounds:

• Shower and restroom facilities
• Water refill stations
• On-site food and merchandise vendors within the campground
• The broader festival campground community, including the Centeroo access that comes with your festival ticket

The key point to understand is that the RV camping pass is separate from your festival ticket. A festival ticket gets you into the music venues, stages, and Centeroo. The RV camping pass gets you an RV-designated space on the grounds. You need both.

Primitive vs Powered RV Camping

Bonnaroo offers two distinct categories of RV camping, and understanding the difference is essential before you commit.

Primitive RV Camping

Primitive RV camping is the standard and most widely available option. It does not include electrical hookups, water hookups, or sewer connections. You are parked on open ground with access to your onboard systems: your house battery, your freshwater tank, and your grey and black water tanks.

This is the experience that most RV campers at Bonnaroo have. It works well with a properly equipped rental RV, particularly one with an onboard generator and adequate battery capacity. Managing your power usage, water consumption, and tank levels over four days takes some planning, but it's entirely manageable and a good reason to think carefully about which RV class you choose.

Powered RV Camping

Powered RV camping sites offer electrical hookups, allowing you to connect directly to shore power. This means your air conditioning can run continuously without relying on a generator or battery, your refrigerator stays cold without fuel consumption, and you have a more comfortable baseline for the duration of the festival.

Powered sites are available in limited quantities, come at a higher cost, and typically sell out quickly. If powered camping is a priority, early access to tickets and camping passes is essential.

Common Questions

Is RV Camping Included With Bonnaroo Tickets?

No, RV camping is not included with a standard Bonnaroo festival ticket. A festival ticket grants you access to the performance areas, stages, and general campground. To park and stay in an RV on-site, you must purchase a separate RV camping pass in addition to your ticket. Both are required, and the RV camping pass is tied to a specific vehicle type and size. Verify the size restrictions against your RV's length before purchasing, as passes are generally category-specific.

Are Hookups Available?

Yes, hookups are available at Bonnaroo, but only within the designated powered RV camping sections. Primitive RV camping does not include any hookups. Powered sites exist as a separate, premium tier and are limited in number. If you're in a primitive spot, you'll rely entirely on your onboard generator, battery bank, freshwater tank, and holding tanks.

Can You Cook Inside the RV?

Yes, you can cook inside an RV at Bonnaroo, and it's one of the most practical advantages of RV camping at a multi-day festival. El Monte RV's fleet, including the Class C Small, Class C Medium, Class C Large, and Class C Family Sleeper, includes a full kitchen with a stove, full-size refrigerator/freezer, microwave, and kitchen sink. Stock the fridge before you arrive and you can cover most breakfasts and at least one meal a day, which adds up to meaningful savings over four days of festival vendor prices.

Many experienced Bonnaroo campers cite cooking in the RV as one of the best financial decisions of the trip. Having a cold fridge and a working stove means you're not dependent on vendor queues for every meal, and the money saved tends to go toward merch or extra experiences instead.

Can You Run a Generator at Bonnaroo?

Yes, generators are permitted at Bonnaroo, but quiet hours are in place and general campground etiquette applies. Most experienced festival campers plan their generator use around the times when they need it most: cooling down the RV before bed, recharging devices during the day, and being mindful of the hours when other campers are sleeping. Generator rules and quiet hours can vary by camping zone and may be updated year to year, so always review the current RV camping policies before arrival.

Generator use is unlimited and free with all El Monte RV rentals, which is a meaningful advantage for primitive RV camping where shore power is not available. You are not rationing generator time based on a per-hour fee, so you can run it when you need it and switch off when you don't.

Travel Extras That Make Festival Camping Easier

Every El Monte RV rental comes with the essentials built in: a full kitchen, bathroom, sleeping areas, air conditioning, and unlimited free generator use. But a four-day festival is a specific kind of trip, and the right add-ons can make a noticeable difference. Travel Extras are optional add-ons you can book alongside your rental, and several are particularly well suited to festival camping.

A linen kit takes bedding off your packing list entirely, which matters when you're already hauling festival gear. A kitchen kit adds the cookware and utensils you need to actually use the built-in kitchen. An outdoor furniture add-on gives you somewhere to sit outside the vehicle without adding chairs to your luggage. A Wi-Fi hotspot keeps your group connected on large festival grounds where mobile networks get congested.

These add-ons don't change what the festival provides. They change how ready you are when you get there.

What Bonnaroo RV Campers Talk About

The conversations in Bonnaroo-focused Reddit communities and camping forums tend to circle the same practical concerns year after year. Heat management is almost always at the top. Veterans consistently advise newcomers that the heat is the biggest variable at Bonnaroo, and RV air conditioning is one of the most commonly cited reasons people upgrade from tent to RV camping after their first year. Midday temperatures push most campers back to camp during the hottest part of the afternoon, and having a cool RV to return to makes that a rest rather than a retreat.

Early arrival is another recurring theme. Arriving a day or more before the festival opens allows you to secure a better spot, set up without pressure, and settle in before the crowds build. RV setup takes more time than pitching a tent, and doing it in a calm environment makes the rest of the festival much easier.

Experienced campers talk about generator use constantly: what to run, when to run it, and how to be considerate of nearby campers. Groups that think through their power usage before arriving tend to have a smoother time than those who figure it out on the fly.

Why Rent an RV From El Monte RV for Bonnaroo

El Monte RV offers a range of vehicle classes suited to different group sizes and comfort preferences. Smaller Class C options like the Class C Small are easier to manoeuvre into a festival campsite and suit groups of two to four. Larger options like the Class C Large add sleeping capacity for bigger groups, with multiple bed configurations and more living space to decompress in after a long day on site.

All El Monte RV rentals include unlimited and free generator use, which is critical for primitive RV camping where you'll be managing your own power supply. Optional add-ons through Travel Extras let you customise the setup further: linen kits, kitchen kits, outdoor furniture, and Wi-Fi hotspots can all be booked alongside your rental.

Powered RV sites and rental inventory for peak-summer festival weekends both fill up fast. If Bonnaroo is on your calendar, securing your rental alongside your festival passes is the smartest move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy a separate pass for RV camping at Bonnaroo?

Yes, you need to purchase a separate RV camping pass in addition to your festival ticket to camp in an RV at Bonnaroo. The festival ticket covers your access to the stages and performance areas. The RV camping pass covers your vehicle's space within the RV camping sections of the grounds. Neither substitutes for the other, and passes are typically tied to specific vehicle lengths, so check the size requirements carefully before buying.

Can I plug in my RV at Bonnaroo?

Yes, you can plug your RV in at Bonnaroo, but only if you have a powered RV camping pass. Primitive RV camping is the more common and widely available option and does not include electrical hookups. If you're in a primitive spot, you'll use your onboard generator and battery systems for power throughout the festival. If hookups are a priority, book powered camping as early as possible, as those spots are limited and sell out fast.

Does the size of RV I rent affect my experience at Bonnaroo?

Yes, the size of your RV has a direct impact on your comfort and practicality at Bonnaroo. Smaller RVs are easier to manoeuvre into a festival campsite, while larger Class C options add sleeping capacity and more living space, which matters when you're spending significant time inside escaping the heat. Always check Bonnaroo's current size restrictions against your RV's listed length before purchasing a camping pass.

Is cooking in the RV practical at Bonnaroo?

Yes, cooking in the RV is one of the most practical advantages of RV camping at Bonnaroo. All Class C and Class A rentals from El Monte RV include a stove, full-size refrigerator/freezer, microwave, and kitchen sink. With a well-stocked fridge from a grocery stop before arrival, you can cover most breakfasts and at least one meal a day without paying festival vendor prices, which adds up significantly over four days.

Should I book my RV rental for Bonnaroo as early as possible?

Yes, booking your RV rental as early as possible is strongly recommended for Bonnaroo. The festival takes place in June during peak summer travel season, powered camping passes are limited and typically sell out quickly, and rental inventory for popular festival dates can disappear weeks or months in advance. Securing your El Monte RV rental as soon as your festival plans are confirmed gives you the best selection of vehicle classes and pickup locations.