The festival season is upon us! With rising festival costs and an unpredictable economy, budgeting for your festival fun, cutting costs where you can and using money-saving hacks should be top priority as you plan your trips.
4-step music festival budget
Here’s a quick 4-step list on where to start when making a successful music festival budget. Consider starting a budget as soon as you know you’ll be attending a festival.
- Choose your festival. Pick the event, dates and location that fit your music taste.
- Set a total budget. Decide how much you can realistically spend in total. You want to consider the tickets, travel, lodging and daily expenses:
- Buy tickets early. Score early-bird deals or use a buy now, pay later (BNPL) app to break up the cost of tickets over time.
- Book travel. Save money by booking flights or getting together carpooling plans as soon as you can afford it.
- Reserve lodging. Whether you’re going to a hotel, campsite or Airbnb, lodging fills up quickly, so book as early as possible.
- Estimate daily expenses. Plan ahead for daily expenses and extras, like food, drinks, merch, parking and how you’ll get to and from the venue.
- Start saving monthly. Divide your total budget by the number of months until the festival to hit your goal gradually.
- Stick to a budget. Use a budgeting app or prepaid card to track your spending and stick to your predetermined budget.
Music festival budget tips
Planning ahead and setting a budget are two great ways to get ready for your summer music fest adventures.
- Make reservations ahead of time. Prices for flights and accommodations go up as you get closer to the date. The sooner you make those arrangements, the quicker you can lock in lower prices.
- Set a budget. Decide how much you have to spend and stick to it. Make sure to account for tickets, travel, lodging, parking, food and drinks and miscellaneous expenses. Plan to add at least 10% for incidentals. Consider downloading a budgeting app to keep you on track or setting up automatic transfers for seamless savings.
- Start saving early. Set aside money every month to go toward your festival fund rather than relying on credit cards to pay your way. In the months leading up to the event, try to avoid unnecessary spending and throw those extra dollars into your festival savings account.
- Buy now, pay later (BNPL) for tix. With ticket prices for festivals running up to $600 or more, it might be easier to pay for tickets in installments with a BNPL app like Affirm rather than all at once.
Tip:
Many venues no longer accept cash, so you can only pay with a card. Make sure you check on this before you go. You may want to load your festival funds onto a prepaid debit card to keep yourself from overspending. It’s also not a bad idea to keep $20 or $50 on hand in case of an emergency.
How to cut music festival costs
Consider these strategies to save money on festival costs.
- Buy tickets on presale. While not always true, you may be able to save money on tickets by purchasing them on presale before they’re available to the general public. Get notified of early sales by subscribing to events through social media accounts or on the festival website.
- Fest local. See what’s happening in your area this summer. You don’t necessarily need to travel to enjoy a great musical festival.
- Pass on the hotel. Camping, crashing with nearby friends or splitting the cost of a home rental are a few ways to avoid the high cost of hotels, especially if you didn’t plan ahead and book early.
- Use your credit card rewards. If you’ve been stacking up travel points or cashback rewards on credit cards, now might be a good time to take advantage of the perks you’ve earned.
- Road trip. Skip pricey plane tickets and carpool with friends to your favorite music festival. You can take turns driving, split gas and meal costs, and enjoy the open road as part of the whole experience.
- Pack your own food and drinks. If the venue allows it, bring in your own snacks and beverages. This could save you hundreds of dollars over a three-day festival. If you can’t bring food in, eat before you go to minimize costs.
- Don’t buy merch at the fest. Prices for festival merch are typically inflated during the event itself. If you really want a souvenir, buy online before or after the festival to save money.
- Bring stuff to barter or sell. Got a knack for crafts? Bring some of your own merch to sell or trade.
- Consider volunteering. Most music festivals are looking for volunteers to take tickets, assist with setup or cleanup, facilitate parking or help with other duties. Some festivals, like Outside Lands, offer free admission as a thank you. But spots fill up fast, so you’ll need to sign up early.
Festival financing options if you need help covering music festival costs
If you don’t have the cash you need, consider these options to help you finance your festival experience.
- Personal loans. Online lenders can often fund personal loans within a day or two, and you could use the loan proceeds to finance your music festival vacation. If you have good credit, you could qualify for rates as low as 6% or 7%. But only borrow as much as you can afford to easily pay back, and try to repay it early to save on interest.
- BNPL travel loan. If you haven’t saved up enough money yet — or it’s a last-minute trip — a BNPL travel app like Uplift is a way to finance your trip and pay the funds back over time. But rates could be as high as 36% if you don’t have great credit, and it’s not the best idea if you’re already in debt and think you’ll have trouble making the payments.
- Cash advance apps. You probably can’t borrow enough from a cash advance app to pay for your whole musical festival experience, but it could be a good fall-back if you find yourself a little bit short.
How much do festivals actually cost?
Tickets for musical fests can run you anywhere from around $200 to $600, and that’s just for general admission tickets. If you want a VIP experience, expect to pay $1,500 or more for a three-day festival. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other expenses to factor in. Even if you’re frugal, a multi-day music event could cost you at least $1,000 or more.
Here’s a breakdown of other costs to keep in mind as you plan for summer festival fun.
Travel
Unless the festival is local, you’ll need money to get there. Flying is typically the most expensive way, with average domestic flights around $400, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). But keep in mind that costs vary widely depending on where you’re coming from and will likely be higher if you’re flying to a peak destination on a weekend.
You could drive, or take a bus or train, which saves you money. But whatever your means of travel, estimate the costs and add them to your total musical festival budget.
Other transportation
Depending on where you stay, you may need to pay for travel to and from the venue. Some places may offer shuttles, or you may need an Uber, bus or other means of transportation. That could add another $20 to $100 each way, depending on how far your lodging is. If you drive, you’ll typically have to pay for parking or walk a good distance, which is not a bad idea to save money and get your steps in.
Accomodations
The average price of a hotel room is around $158, as of May 2024, according to a study by JD Power. And, like airline tickets, prices tend to go up on weekends or when events are going on in the area.
Home rentals, through sites like Airbnb or VRBO, could save you money if you’re splitting with a group of friends. But they could fill up fast, so you may need to book months in advance.
Some music festivals allow camping, but it’s usually not free. You might be better off getting a campsite nearby, which could cost anywhere from $10 to $50 for basic sites without hookups or amenities. However, campgrounds, like hotels, may also jack up prices in anticipation of a huge festival crowd.
Food and drinks
You might pay as much as $15 for a lemonade or $20 for a burger at festival prices. If you’re there for three or four days, that could add hundreds to your tab. Eating before you enter the festival grounds can help keep temptation at bay — even better if you’re allowed to bring food and drinks in.
Festival merch
Like food and drinks, you’re probably going to pay premium prices for souvenirs while you’re there. Think $45 for a T-shirt, $80 for a hoodie, $35 for a hat or $25 to buy a tote. If you must buy something while you’re there, pick just one item to help stick to your budget.
Miscellaneous
It’s also a good idea to allot a portion of your budget for incidentals like sunscreen, a portable charger, an extra hat or anything you might have forgotten to pack.
Top 10 music festivals in the US
Here are our top picks for some of the biggest and most popular music festivals in the United States. All dates are for 2025 general admission tickets unless otherwise indicated.
| New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival | $369 for a 4-day pass | New Orleans, Louisiana | April 24–27 May 1–4 |
Jazz, gospel, blues, funk, R&B |
| Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) | $280 for Sunday pass (3-day passes sold out) |
Las Vegas, Nevada | May 16–18 | EDM |
| Governors Ball | $359 for a 3-day pass | New York City | June 6–8 | Rock, electronic, hip hop, folk, pop |
| Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival | $460 for a 4-day pass | Manchester, Tennessee | June 12–15 | Rock, jazz, Americana, hip hop, electronic |
| Lollapalooza | $415 for a 4-day pass | Chicago, IL | July 31–August 3 | Alternative rock, heavy metal, hip hop, techno, punk rock |
| Outside Lands | $529 for a 3-day pass | San Francisco, California | August 8–10 | Indie rock, pop, hip hop, R&B, electronic |
| Austin City Limits | Not released | Austin, Texas | October 3–5, 10–12 | Rock, country, folk, hip hop, EDM |
| Rolling Loud | Not released | Miami, Florida | December 13–15 | Hip hop, rap |
| Ultra Music Festival | $349.95 for a 3-day pass | Miami, Florida | 2026: March 27–29 |
Electronic dance music (EDM) |
| Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival | $599 for a 3-day pass | Indio, California | 2026: April 10–12 April 17–19 |
Pop, hip hop, indie, rock, electronic |
Cheap musical festivals
Looking to enjoy a music festival without going broke in the process? Check out these free or more budget-friendly festivals around the country. We also included options for single-day passes or one-day events. All dates are for 2025.
| Breakaway Music Festival | Varies by city, $69 to $139 for a 2-day pass | Multiple cities | April–October | EDM, hip hop, pop |
| Country Thunder | $166 for a 1-day pass | Multiple cities | April, May, July | Country |
| Roots Picnic | $225 for a 2-day pass | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | May 31–June 1 | Hip hop, blues, soul, electronic, funk, jazz |
| Chicago Blues Festival | Free | Chicago, IL | June 5–8 | Blues |
| Summerfest | $30/day | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | June 19–21 June 26–28 July 3–5 |
Mixed |
| Telluride Bluegrass festival | $130 for a 1-day pass | Telluride, Colorado | June 19–22 | Bluegrass, folk, country, brass |
| ComFest | Free | Columbus, Ohio | June 27–29 | Mixed |
| Reggae on the Rocks | $110 | Near Morrison, Colorado | August 23 | Reggae |
| Hardly Strictly Bluegrass | Free | San Francisco, California | October 3–5 | Bluegrass, country, funk, rock, soul |
| Dusk Music Festival | Not released | Tucson, Arizona | November 15–16 | Pop, indie, rock, electronic, hip hop |
Saving for summer festivals can be tough if you’re living paycheck to paycheck. Consider these ways to bring in extra cash before your trip without going into debt.
- Sell your stuff. Do you have old electronics, sporting equipment or other items of value gathering dust in your garage? Consider selling them on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or other sites to earn cash for your trip.
- Pick up extra hours. If your job allows, see if you can take on some extra shifts at work to put toward your festival savings fund.
- Get a side gig. Drive for Uber or Instacart, walk dogs, freelance or pick up odd jobs to bring in cash for your trip — the internet has made it easy to earn extra money fast, no matter your skills.
Bottom line
Attending a two- or three-day music festival can get pricey, and some of the expenses are unavoidable. But planning ahead and sticking to a budget can help manage the costs while still having a great time. Camping instead of staying in a hotel, road tripping instead of flying and bringing your own food and drinks are just a few ways to save big.
Frequently asked questions
What not to forget at a music festival?
Don’t forget your sunscreen, a refillable water bottle and a debit or credit card — because some festivals may not accept cash. You may also want to pack a hat, sunglasses and a see-through bag to carry your gear.
How do you survive a three-day music festival?
It may be easier said than done, but do your best to stay hydrated, protect your skin and get enough sleep. Another good idea is to map out the acts you most want to see — that way, you won’t miss your faves.
