Ah, Coachella. It’s dusty, it’s sweaty, and it’s an endurance test disguised as a party, you gotta be prepared.

Whether you’re roughing it at the campsites or kicking back at a bougie Airbnb, packing right is the difference between thriving and just surviving. So, here’s your ultimate, no-BS Coachella packing list.

THE ESSENTIALS (a.k.a. The Non-Negotiables)

1. Hydration

• A hydration pack (CamelBak, Vibedration, whatever—just something you can wear without spilling on yourself)
• Electrolyte packets (because tequila and 100-degree heat will knock you out, trust me)
• A refillable water bottle (yes, there are free refill stations, no, you can’t survive on overpriced canned water)

2. The Right Clothes (Festival Fashion Meets Function)

• Breathable outfits for the day (think mesh, crochet, vintage tees—hot, but not too hot. Yes, we do have perfect options for you.)
• A hoodie or jacket (the desert drops to arctic tundra levels at night)
• Comfortable shoes (if you think your brand-new cowboy boots will survive, you’re about to learn a painful lesson – unless you have a really comfortable one)
• Bandana or face mask (Coachella Valley dust storms are real, and they don’t care about your skincare routine)
• A hat and sunglasses (shade is a luxury, and your future self will thank you)

3. The Festival Lifesavers

• Sunscreen (SPF 50 minimum, because peeling skin is not cute)
• Baby wipes (for when the showers are questionable or non-existent)
• Portable charger (your phone will die, and finding your friends without service is an Olympic-level challenge)
• Cash & card (because not every food truck takes Apple Pay, and you will want that overpriced burrito at 1 AM)

IF YOU’RE CAMPING…

Camping at Coachella is like signing up for a three-day sleepover with 50,000 strangers who forgot deodorant. But if you’re about that life, pack smart:

• Tent & tarp (because that desert sun is brutal)
• Sleeping bag & pillow (inflatable mattresses are a game changer)
• Camping lantern & headlamp (finding your tent at 3 AM is a struggle in the dark)
• Portable fan (because waking up in a 120-degree oven of a tent is NOT the move)
• Foldable chair (so you’re not eating instant ramen off the ground)
• Cooler with snacks (festival food is good, but not $18-for-a-smoothie good)
• Toilet paper & dry shampoo (porta-potties = nightmares, and nobody’s hair survives this humidity)

WHAT NOT TO BRING (because security won’t let it in anyway)

• Glass bottles (RIP to your cute flask, security’s not letting it through)
• Big backpacks (small fanny packs or crossbodies only, otherwise you’ll be that person holding up the entrance line)
• Anything you’d be sad to lose (sunglasses, jewelry, sanity—it’s all at risk)

Now, this isn’t a sprint, it’s a three-day-long fever dream. Good luck babe, see you in the desert!