Country Thunder has a pretty subpar FAQ page, so we created this for all your Country Thunder questions. We want to give you tips and tricks to Country Thunder that you want! Send us any questions you have on our socials or by emailing us at hi@weroamawayfromhome.com.
Here’s a list of all the Country Thunder FAQs hyperlinked so you what you need faster:
- Can I bring my car to Country Thunder? What parking pass should I buy?
- What’s the easiest way to get to Country Thunder?
- Can I access the Country Thunder campgrounds with only a single-day pass?
- Can you buy ice at Country Thunder?
- Is there good phone service at Country Thunder?
- What is the difference between a single-day pass and GA pass at Country Thunder? What is the difference between a GA pass and VIP / RSVD pass at Country Thunder?
- What are the new catwalk access tickets at Country Thunder? What is Kona Island / NUTRL Zone?
- Are there enough food options to just eat at Country Thunder? Can I go without packing food for Country Thunder?
- What do you do about the dust at Country Thunder? My allergies suck!
- Will there be showers at Country Thunder? What are the bathrooms like at Country Thunder? How do I get clean at Country Thunder?
- What is the weather like at Country Thunder? What clothes should I pack for Country Thunder?
- What is the difference between the main stage and Copperhead stage at Country Thunder? What is Electric Thunder?
- Country Thunder maps & What’s a good meeting spot at Country Thunder for when I get separated from my friends?
- Is Country Thunder kid-friendly?
- Can I bring a lawn chair into the general admission area at Country Thunder?
- What happens if I put my wristband on too tight or I damage my wristband? Will Country Thunder give me a new one?
- Are fires allowed at Country Thunder?
- Are bikes allowed at Country Thunder?
- What is security like to get into the venue at Country Thunder?
- What is glamping at Country Thunder?
- HOW DO I TRANSFER RENEWAL RIGHTS FOR MY COUNTRY THUNDER TICKETS OR CAMPSITE?
PARKING
“Can I bring my car to Country Thunder? What parking pass should I buy?”
You need to have a parking pass to drive your car to Country Thunder. You can either buy an overnight parking pass or a day pass (both GA and VIP).
If you buy a day pass, your car MUST be gone by 2:30 am of the following day. So, if you buy a Friday pass, you must move your car by Saturday morning at 2:30 am.
There are two types of overnight parking passes: extra vehicle passes for campsites and general overnight weekend passes. Keep in mind that just because someone has space on their campsite does not mean that you are allowed to park on it! Campsites are limited to 2 cars/site. You can either buy an extra campsite vehicle pass or a weekend overnight pass. Be prepared to walk to your campsite with the weekend overnight pass!
NOTE: These passes sold out last year! Make sure to get them ahead of time!
GETTING THERE
“What’s the easiest way to get to Country Thunder?”
A common question we see on Facebook all the time is, “Is anyone going to Country Thunder after work? Can I hitch a ride???”
It’s definitely worth crowdsourcing your ride to Country Thunder Arizona 2019 if you know enough people going. The problem is people often have different schedules, different campsites, or no room in their car since they are hauling everything for the weekend.
There are a few options to help you get to Country Thunder:
1. Drive & Buy a Parking Pass: You can buy an overnight parking pass. Just because someone has space on their campsite does not mean that you are allowed to park on it! Campsites are limited to 2 cars/site. You can either buy an extra campsite vehicle pass or a weekend overnight pass. Be prepared to walk to your campsite with the weekend overnight pass!
2. Uber/Lyft: This is an option if you are desperate. This definitely works TO Country Thunder, but be careful about getting back! We’ve had friends that planned on doing this since they had single-day passes, but they ended up needing to hitch a ride back to Phoenix. Cost: $80 each way without surge pricing.
3. Organize a private shuttle or carpool: If you know a lot of people going to Country Thunder, try organizing a carpool with the person with the largest vehicle. This isn’t always possible because of scheduling, but it can increase how much space you get on your campsite and decrease the number of parking passes you need to buy. If you have enough people, a private shuttle could be a great option.
4. Stagecoach Express Shuttle: This is a great, budget-friendly option if you’re leaving from the Phoenix area. They have set pickup times in two locations (Mesa & Apache Junction). A shuttle will save you a lot of time compared to trying to catch an Uber or Lyft home!
SINGLE-DAY PASSES & CAMPSITES
“Can I access the Country Thunder campgrounds with only a single-day pass? I’m only going one day, but I want to hang out with my friends at their campsite.”
Answer: Nope!
Unfortunately, you need a 4-day wristband to access the Country Thunder campground. Of course, there are ways you can try to get around it. In previous years, the way that they were able to enforce this was by having a separate entrance for single-day pass holders. In 2019, single-day pass holders received a wristband that looked similar to the 4-day GA. There is security that watches to make sure you have the correct wristband exiting the venue to the campgrounds.
That being said…. I do have a few friends that were able to walk around the venue to the campsites and got back into the festival (totally by luck) without anyone checking their wristbands closely. You can risk it and hope for the best, but just know you might be wasting your money!
ICE
“Can you buy ice at Country Thunder?”
The answer is yes, but it will cost you.
A lot of people go with groups that arrive at different times of the festival. Use these arrival times as ice delivery opportunities! Wednesday/Thursday campers bring the most ice, and Friday arrivals help you load up again. Make sure to have a plan on how to get the ice to your site if you aren’t parking on the campsite. (see Parking above)
Keep one cooler for ice ONLY so that it’s not being opened and closed throughout the week. When your other food/drink coolers need to be topped off, take a bag out of your ice-only cooler.
If you have one, bring a kid’s wagon as a food/gear/ice transport!
I’m all about saving money, but Walmart’s cheapest cooler will just not get you through the weekend. Let’s be honest.. they barely get through an afternoon BBQ. Invest in a Yeti or an Orion. You’ll use it for years!
If you’re on a budget, Walmart’s brand, Ozark Trail, has a higher-end cooler at about $150. Here are some other Yeti-alternatives if you want to save a couple bucks: Best Yeti-Alternative Cooler Review
Once you actually get the cooler, here are some tips on what to put in it: The Spicy Apron – Music Festival Essentials Drinks & Coolers
CELL PHONE SERVICE
“Is there good phone service at Country Thunder?”
The answer: “It depends.”
Some years it’s impossible to even send a text; others years, you can FaceTime. Plan on having no cell service, and be surprised if you do! You also have the added twist of people not having fully-charged phones, not being able to describe where they are after a few beers, and just enjoying their time at CT not looking at their phones.
We’ve had the same campsite for years, so that is our meeting spot. Some campsites are easier to find than others, so maybe the Electric Thunder tent would be a better place to meet.
We recommend printing out a map ahead of time so you can find your friends, get to the campsites, and know where you are going. After that, plan on meeting for certain bands. That’s the easiest way to keep track of everyone?
For example, “Everyone, meet at the Copperhead Stage before Chris Stapleton. If you’re not there by the time he starts, you’re on your own!”
Verizon did install several temporary cell towers for Country Thunder Arizona the past couple of years, so it’s improved . Several of my family members worked remotely on Thursday and Friday with no issues at all! Some people also bring portable hotspots to connect to WiFi as an extra boost for data and connectivity.
SINGLE-DAY VS. GA VS. RESERVED vs. PLATINUM
“What is the difference between a single-day pass and GA pass at Country Thunder? What is the difference between a GA pass and RESERVED pass at Country Thunder?”
Single-day passes only give you access to the concert for one day. You choose the day, but you only get access to the venue. You will NOT be able to access the campgrounds (see Single-Day Passes & Campsites above).
A GA 4-day wristband at Country Thunder gets you access to the music festival venue Thursday-Sunday and the campgrounds Wednesday-Monday. Inside the venue, you will only have standing/lawn area seating.
A Reserved 4-day wristband (previously VIP) at Country Thunder gets you access to the music festival venue seating area for your specifically reserved seat Thursday-Sunday and the campgrounds Wednesday-Monday.
There is RSVD, RSVD Bronze, RSVD Silver, and RSVD Gold (listed by increasing order of price). RSVD Gold is closest to the stage, and RSVD is farthest from the stage. These wristbands sell out almost immediately, so it’s unlikely you can get one unless you find one on Craigslist or some other online marketplace.
4-Day Platinum Experience
Platinum Experience includes tickets with exclusive elevated lounge area and upgraded viewing area, executive flushable restrooms, and private food/beverage options (for purchase – not included). You’ll also get chances to win opportunities to get closer to your favorite artist! You get 1 reserved parking pass for every 1-2 tickets purchased.
This was a new ticket option for 2019, so it’s only been offered for 4 years. We haven’t heard great things about it. We spoke to several people who had the passes, and here is what CT Arizona people said:
The good: you were guaranteed to get pretty close to the stage, private bar, food, and toilet areas made it so you never had to wait in line for those things, your view was never obstructed, you got faster entrance to the festival via the side entrance, and the tickets didn’t sell out allowing last-minute purchase.
The bad: you weren’t close enough to truly see the performers (compared to RSVD) so you end up staring at the big screens most of the time, there is less of the CT dancing vibe, the parking pass included isn’t overnight, and the cost wasn’t worth the benefits.
Note: these tickets come with a hefty price tag of $600+/ticket.
KONA ISLAND/ NUTRL ZONE
“What are the new catwalk access tickets at Country Thunder? What is Kona Island / NUTRL Zone?”
Country Thunder’s new catwalk access ticket option includes standing only room in front of the main stage (called Kona Island / NUTRL Zone at Country Thunder Arizona and Reserved Standing in other locations).
The Kona Island / NUTRL Zone tickets come in pairs and include access to the Oasis, which is an area with bars, flushing toilets, drink/food ticket purchasing line, and a couple of other exclusive items (like the puppy booth of 2022). They also include renewal rights, which means you can renew your tickets before they go on sale to the public.
One of the biggest perks of having Reserved tickets at Country Thunder is the access to the catwalk of the mainstage. That being said, it can turn into a problem when people sneak in, don’t have a seat, and flood to the front of the stage. The Kona Island / NUTRL Zone ticket option is simply a way to make more money while controlling the mess that can happen in RSVD.
FOOD
“Are there enough food options to just eat at Country Thunder? Can I go without packing food for Country Thunder?”
Answer: NO! There are food options at Country Thunder, but they are expensive, have long lines, and offer a limited variety.
Pack your own food… and pack some food with substance! During my cousin’s first year, she and her 6 friends only packed tortilla chips and salsa for the whole weekend. They figured they loved it so much, that was all they needed!
Please help yourself and read this blog for the BEST music festival food. Music Festival Essentials: Food. The Spicy Apron has a lot of other great camping food options as well, but really plan on bringing things that you can eat straight from the cooler or cook up with a portable grill. There are no campfires allowed, so do not plan on using these to cook the 100 hotdogs that you bring. Hard-boiled eggs are a much better option!
In the festival, you can buy fair food. Outside of the festival, there is an expensive food tent. These lines take HOURS after the concert. Plan your munchies ahead of time!
This is our go-to meal every Country Thunder. It’s seriously SO GOOD and can be made completely ahead of time! Just throw it in the cooler and serve.
DEALING WITH THE DUST
“What do you do about the dust at Country Thunder? My allergies suck!”
We haven’t had very consistent rain this year in Arizona, so we think Country Thunder will be just as dusty as ever. We attend several music festivals in addition to CT, and the most common things we see people use to avoid inhaling dust is a bandana. If you’ve been to CT or Coachella, you know what we mean! They are cheap, easy to get, and a great starting point.
However, bandanas are kind of uncomfortable to wear. They are scratchy and always get tied up in my hair (am I alone in this?).
We prefer to wear these masks for keeping dust out (many designs available).
They are super soft material and aren’t a hassle to take on/off. They have become a total must-have for us at any music festival. The good news is masks are now easily available today, which wasn’t the case pre-2020.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
“Will there be showers at Country Thunder? What are the bathrooms like at Country Thunder? How do I get clean at Country Thunder?”
Yes, there are showers that you can pay for ($8/shower in 2022). It gets the job done, but it’s nothing special. Bring a swimsuit if you plan on using this option. Bring travel shampoo/conditioner/body wash if you want to use your own. There are often sponsors handing out free samples too!
The bathrooms get NASTY towards the end of each night and will make you feel dirty. The later in the day, the worse the port-a-potty situation. They are cleaned each day and actually are decent in the mornings… most of the time. By the end of the night, most of them are out of toilet paper and/or overflowing! We always recommend getting your own for your campsite.
If you don’t want your own port-o-potty, time to practice squatting or invest in a SheWee! Yes, I have one… No, I can’t use it well.
You can also bring your own shower! Buy a solar shower, shower tent , or shower toga for privacy 🙂
PACKING FOR THE WEATHER
“What is the weather like at Country Thunder? What clothes should I pack for Country Thunder?”
You should pack for very hot and very cold weather. Country Thunder temps can range from the 100s to the 40s! It’s usually hot in the day to where many girls just wear a swimsuit top and cut-offs. But it gets so cold at night, that I often wear a hoodie, sweatpants, wool socks, and long sleeves underneath (especially when I tent camp). I also recommend bringing a very light wind/water resistant jacket in case it does rain. It happened two years ago!
Bring your cowboy boots, a hat, sunscreen, swimsuit (both for showering and to stay cool), shorts and tanks, warm clothes, sporty clothes for when you just want to be comfy, tennis shoes (for when you get blisters from your boots/cute shoes). Check out our ultimate RV packing checklist for all the general camping must-haves.
Email us with more questions at hi@weroamawayfromhome.com with any packing questions you might have.
MAIN STAGE VS. SIDE STAGE VS. ELECTRIC THUNDER
“What is the difference between the main stage and Copperhead stage at Country Thunder? What is Electric Thunder?”
The main stage hosts the headliners of Country Thunder. Copperhead stage (formerly side stage) is much smaller and hosts typically lesser-known artists (not always!). You can often catch artists at both stages. If you really liked someone, see if they are playing again on the other stage. The set times usually overlap so that you can listen to music all the time! See the Country Thunder 2024 lineup here.
Electric Thunder is the tent located towards the entrance of the venue. It is home to the festival’s line dancing lessons and competition as well as the nightly after party with a mix of club and country music!
Each year, they add more and more to this tent. Can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store.
FINDING MY FRIENDS
“What’s a good meeting spot at Country Thunder for when I get separated from my friends”
Here are some great meeting spots if you need to meet up and don’t want to get lost in the crowd:
- Bathrooms outside of Electric Thunder Tent. These are usually not as crowded as the other bathroom locations because they are at the back of the venue. It also lets everyone have the chance to empty their bladders before the next adventure.
- Your campsite. This is actually only an OK meeting place depending on where your campsite is… If you are out in the boondocks of Desperado, you probably don’t want to make this your go-to.
- Left side of Copperhead stage. This stage can get pretty busy, but the left side (when you are facing the stage) is usually less crowded and you get to watch music while you wait.
- The campground showers. These are located between Starlight Preferred and Roadrunner. They’re usually pretty easy to find and would be a good spot if you’re meeting people from other campground locations.
Here are the Country Thunder Arizona maps for 2024:
COUNTRY THUNDER KIDS
“Is Country Thunder kid-friendly?”
Answer: Not really, but some people do bring their kids.
The first year we went, my little siblings/cousins came along (ages 11-13). Country Thunder is a party everywhere you go. There are so many mostly-naked drunk people around that it probably is not a great place for your little ones. As you walk through the campgrounds, you WILL see stripper poles, inflatable anatomically-correct dolls, drinking contests, men in patriotic banana hammocks, and more. Sure… if they are young enough, they might not remember. But… it’s WAY more fun without them. Trust me, this is a great time of the year to just be as crazy as you want without any worry of what your little ones are up to! 🙂
GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING
“Can I bring a lawn chair into the general admission area at Country Thunder?”
Answer: Yes! With some requirements…
Lawn chairs are actually the best way to enjoy the GA area! However, the chairs need to be soft lawn chairs (the folding kind). You are not allowed to bring in chairs with canopies/umbrellas built into the chair. You will need to remove the bag that holds the chair to be checked. The website says that the chair bags are allowed. However, be warned that their clear bag policy might prevent you from bringing in certain bags depending on the size of the bag and the person checking you.
Here is the bag policy: https://www.countrythunder.com/policies
DAMAGED WRISTBAND
“What happens if I put my wristband on too tight or I damage my wristband? Will Country Thunder give me a new one?”
Answer: Yes, for a fee.
In previous years, the fee was $20 but they have not clarified a price for 2024. You will only be allowed one replacement per wristband. Make sure not to make them too tight! The wristbands do tighten naturally while you sleep and if they get wet. Your wrists also swell!
FIRE
“Are fires allowed at Country Thunder?”
Answer: It depends.
There are no open flames allowed at Country Thunder. However, gas and charcoal grills are allowed. According to the website, “Bonfires and any fire of any kind, including tiki torches, are PROHIBITED in the campgrounds. Gas and charcoal burning grills are permitted.”
Many people have self-contained propane firepits that seem to be ok with the Country Thunder crew!
BICYCLES
“Are bikes allowed at Country Thunder?”
Answer: Yes!
This has been debated on so many Country Thunder forums, so I reached out directly to Country Thunder. They confirmed that bicycles are definitely allowed. They are a great way to get around the campgrounds. Seasoned bike-bringers say to bring an extra tire tube if you really plan on using bikes since tires might pop on the dirt roads.
SECURITY LINES
What is security like to get into the venue at Country Thunder?
In 2021, Country Thunder security lines to get into the venue were pretty long. They did slightly improve for 2022 and 2023, but they still took a long time. This is no surprise, and it’s only there to keep us all safe. However, it means that you need to plan for this if you want to make sure to see your favorite artist. We only caught the tail end of a couple of artists because the lines took 45 minutes!
*TIP* If you have RSVD tickets, there is a separate entrance near the Glamping section. This entrance is ONLY for higher level ticket holders and you will be turned back if you try to enter with a GA or Single Day ticket
GLAMPING
What is glamping at Country Thunder?
Glamping started at Country Thunder Arizona in 2018. Essentially, they take care of everything for you. It includes your tent, 2 Platinum Experience tickets (see above), showers and flushable toilets, and all the bedding you need. There is security to make sure no other Country Thunder guests go into the Glamping section. This cuts both ways… it means even if you want your friends to visit, they can’t come see your campsite! Click here for a little promo video from CT to show you more.
A different alternative to glamping if you are hesitant to tent camp on your own is to rent an RV! Many people do this for Country Thunder since it’s the only time of year they camp.
HOW DO I TRANSFER RENEWAL RIGHTS FOR MY COUNTRY THUNDER TICKETS OR CAMPSITE?
As of 2024, Country Thunder Arizona is no longer allowing the transfer of renewal rights. You can transfer the tickets for a single year use through your AXS account or sell your ticket + rights directly through AXS.
If you sell your renewal rights through AXS, you will not be able to select a specific person to receive the tickets. They go into a fan marketplace that can be purchased from anybody.
If you transfer your ticket through AXS, you can select who will receive your ticket. However, you will still need to renew the ticket on your own for 2025.
Essentially, the Country Thunder Arizona campsite and ticket sale economy has shifted significantly through this change. The only way to “sell renewal rights” is to give the receive full access to your AXS and Country Thunder account.
WHEN DO I RENEW MY COUNTRY THUNDER CAMPSITE?
You can renew onsite during Country Thunder or online before the end of the week after Country Thunder. They do offer payment plans!
Country Thunder is so special to us because it’s where Mike proposed to me 9 years ago! We go each year for our anniversary and just want to help people have as much fun as we do. It takes a lot of planning, but it’s totally worth it! Full disclosure: my mom and aunt do most of the planning. I help spread the word about what matters most. 🙂
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