The 25th spring Joshua Tree Music Festival runs May 13 to 16, 2027, at Joshua Tree Lake Campground in the Mojave desert. It's a small, family-friendly camping festival, and the desert decides most of your packing list. Here's what the festival itself tells campers, and what we'd bring.
What the festival says about weather
JTMF's own info page says May averages a high of 93°F and a low of 71°F, that a 20 to 30 degree swing can happen, and that wind blows through. It asks campers to come ready for sun, wind, cold and even rain.
Official camping rules worth knowing
- Every festival ticket includes walk-in tent camping. To keep your vehicle at camp you need a Vehicle Campground Pass, sized to your vehicle; they sell out.
- You can't drive in to drop off gear. Day parking is a short walk from the campground.
- Camping is first come, first served, with at least 12 x 12 ft guaranteed per tent camp. Arrive together to camp together.
- Shade must be staked down with rebar or similar. Staff may ask you to drop EZ-Ups that aren't secured or during high winds.
- White gas and propane camp stoves are OK. Charcoal grills and open flames are not; wood fires only in the metal fire ring barrels.
- Quiet generators are allowed in most areas from 8am to 10pm; the festival points to portable power stations as the silent option.
- No glass. Alcohol is OK in plastic bottles or cans in reasonable amounts; no kegs.
- No pets (registered service animals only).
- RVs without a reserved hookup site go to the dry RV camping area, first come, first served.
- Free hot showers 8am to 8pm, free filtered water (bring refillable containers), ice at the Camp Store, and on-site ATMs that can run out, so bring cash.
- Pack out by Monday at 11am.
What we'd pack for JTMF
- 12-inch rebar stakes with tennis-ball caps
- Ratchet straps to lash shade down
- 7-gal water jugs and a 32oz refillable bottle
- Wide-brim chinstrap sun hat and SPF 50 sunscreen
- Sealed dust goggles and a neck gaiter for windy afternoons
- A pashmina or layers for the temperature swing
- Jackery Explorer 300, a silent power station
- 2-burner propane stove (propane is allowed)
- Headlamp
- Collapsible wagon for the walk from day parking
More desert reading: our desert festival packing list, securing a canopy in wind and desert dust kit.
Source: joshuatreemusicfestival.com and its Festival & Campground Info page, checked Nov 2, 2026. Rules can change before May; confirm on the official site.