How to Camp Offsite for Coachella 2009

Camping onsite at Coachella has its benefits: easy onsite parking, your tent is only steps from the entry gates, and there are plenty of people who want to party all the time. BUT, camping onsite at Coachella has drawbacks too: no alcohol or hot food is allowed; your bags or painstakingly searched each time you enter the campground, you are assigned a space no larger than your 8x8 tent and campers are packed in like sardines. This year, try camping conveniently offsite from Coachella - you'll be amazed at the flexibility and the number of places that are within 10 miles of the festival that will be full of Coachella-goers!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tickets to Coachella
• Internet for campground research
• A little cash
• Camping gear

1. Do your research. I have found more than 10 places within 10 miles of the Coachella festival that are available for campers. These places include:
   
   1. Shadow Hills RV Resort
   2. Any of the Joshua Tree National Forest campsites/campgrounds
   3. Riverside National Parks campsites/campgrounds

2. Contact the places you are considering by phone or look them up online. Ask tons of questions. Are there modern facilities or are you going to be camping primitive style? Find out about their standard facilities - are there water and electrical hookups for RVs? Do they offer showers and bathrooms? Are the showers private or public? You need to know what you're getting yourself into. Some are more primitive than others!

3. If you are considering an RV Resort, see if they have anything special going on Coachella weekend. Some places offer a DJ by their pool, barbeques, cooked to order breakfast or various types of entertainment.

4. Ask about any special policies that may be in place for the Coachella weekend: does the campground allow visitors? Is there a minimum or maximum charge for the weekend? Are pool hours longer than normal?

5. Make your decision and make a reservation. Offsite camping can fill up just as fast as onsite camping, if not faster. Don't wait! Make your reservation immediately ... you don't want to be sleeping in your car at Del Taco!

6. Have fun! No matter where you camp for Coachella weekend, chances are there will be other festival-goers there too. Make friends, have fun and enjoy the great outdoors.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask all your questions up front and do not take anything for granted. Don't assume anything!
• Follow the established rules ... use existing fire rings, don't ruin the environment and clean up after yourself.

Resources

• Shadow Hills RV Resort
• Riverside County Parks
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Coachella Official Off Site Camping Page

[jenkinr]

on 2/10/2009 Interesting, I'm not sure what Coachella is. I assume it has to do with RV's. I love camping, but have never done any RV camping. I've been looking at an excursion this summer in an RV. 5*