A Guide to Summer Festivals in an RV Rental

This vehicle is the heartbeat of your summer festival adventure. It’s your home, your transport, your shelter, your kitchen, your toilet, your shower… your everything. So it helps if you prepare well. Motorhome Republic has compiled the essential Q&A for all summer festival travellers in an RV Rental, motorhome or campervan.  

Ten key questions you must ask yourself:

This is perhaps the most important aspect to consider. Do you need 2-berth, 4-berth, 6-berth, etc? Some companies specialise in smaller campervans, while the bigger names can deliver larger motorhomes. Is someone coming at the last minute? If so, make sure you have the space and go for a larger RV – you don’t want to be too cramped during a summer fest!

While some festivals include food trucks, to save a lot of money you can prepare your own meals in your RV rental. So, what kitchen facilities and utensils are available in the RV and who is doing the cooking? You do not want to be caught hungry! Also, how big is the fridge?

Festivals aren't renowned for their cleanliness and your RV needs to be pretty spotless to get your deposit back. Do you require specific cleaning equipment? When you pick up your vehicle, ask the supplier what you can do to keep things clean.

If you want to make use of your own toilet, shower and sink you will need a self-contained RV. Dumping facilities are not guaranteed, so do some research to find out about local RV dump sites if you're staying long enough to need them.

Probably. If you can manage to turn up as early as possible, there's a better chance you won't get caught in a traffic jam. Large events always cause traffic issues though, so it's best to take this into account when planning your journey. Don't forget to bring plenty of music so you can jam while in a jam.

We'd recommend checking out the website for whichever summer festival you're attending to get your head around things like parking spaces, facilities, dump sites and special RV tickets. Motorhome Republic has you covered when it comes to motorhome advice, but don't neglect to check out the details for your chosen summer fest.

Festivals are known for their exuberant, creative atmosphere but unless you own your own RV, you should refrain from modifying it. It's essential that you return an RV rental in the same condition that you received it - otherwise you risk a substantial fee. Check your supplier's rules and recommendations around cleaning your motorhome before returning.

Depending on where your festival is being held, the weather conditions can be pretty harsh. Having an RV to stay in will shelter you from the worst of the heat, but it's still wise to take appropriate clothing and items like sunblock. Also, don't forget that in areas with an arid, desert-like climate it can get very cold very quickly when the sun sets.

Usually, yes. Your chosen festival will have more information on this, but it's not unusual for these special tickets to sell quickly so don't forget to book both the right festival ticket and your RV rental as soon as possible.

Of course you can drive to your camping spot, but most festivals do not allow you to drive vehicles around the festival grounds for obvious safety reasons. This shouldn't be an issue however as pretty much everyone at a festival is on foot, and the event will be designed with that in mind.

Hunting for a good spot to book your RV rental in the Western United States? Pick-up your RV from Salt Lake City, for good availability and a memorable road trip. If availability is low in Salt Lake City (which it may well be if there's a festival on nearby) consider Las Vegas for your RV rental. San Francisco and Sacramento should also be considered.