Everything You Need to Know to Go to Bonnaroo 2025
Don’t mind the Tennessee heat and humidity—there’s magic to be found on The Farm
The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, held each June in Manchester, Tennessee, is, hands down, an experience unlike any other in the U.S., Europe, or beyond. At the end, you’ll more than likely be dirty, ragged, and supremely exhausted, but simultaneously bursting with love from the new friends made and the truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime musical sets experienced. Bonnaroo is both a proving ground and a hallowed ground.
Unlike other big-name fests overrun with celebrity influencers promoting their latest brand partnership, at Bonnaroo pretension is put to rest. Think, “Less Kardashian, more Woodstock.” First off, it’s hot and steamy (no, really, you’ll be sweating ceaselessly). It’s also often pouring rain, resulting in mud and, occasionally, literal mud-slinging. And the 700-acre grounds known as The Farm—the rolling tree-dappled land where Bonnaroo has been held since 2002—can result in concertgoers walking miles back and forth from stage to stage, attraction to attraction. But there’s a reason ’Roo, as it’s affectionately known to superfans, has one of the strongest communities on the festival circuit, many of whom make the trek back year after year after year. To them, Bonnaroo isn’t a long weekend—it’s a complete state of mind. The Farm is a place where magic happens. And with a little planning, you can have the experience of a lifetime.
Fortunately, artists get it, and tend to reward attendees’ tenacity and dedication with unique sets ’round the clock. Even a short list of past highlights is quite long: Beastie Boys’ last concert ever in ’09. D’Angelo’s return to the stage after a 12-year hiatus in 2012. My Morning Jacket’s covers-filled set in the torrential downpour of ’08. Mumford & Sons’ 2015 headliner featuring a rendition of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from my Friends” … with a little help fromMMJ, Dawes, Hozier, the War on Drugs, and others. Jay Z’s 28-song set in 2010. Radiohead’s mind-blowing ’06 performance. Paul McCartney’s three-hour tour de force in 2013. And then there’s the annual SuperJam, bringing together performers from across the spectrum. In 2007, Ben Harper, John Paul Jones, and Questlove led a 25-minute version of Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” before diving into “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder. That’s just a taste.
Here’s your guide to get the most out of Bonnaroo 2025, whether you are car camping, day tripping, or pampering yourself (relatively speaking) by staying at a local hotel.
Where is Bonnaroo, how do I get there, and how much are tickets?
Bonnaroo is held in Manchester, Tennessee, roughly an hour’s drive southeast of Nashville. Many attendees fly into Nashville International and rent a vehicle. Some folks, in pursuit of cheaper RVs, fly into Atlanta and drive north. This year’s fest runs Thursday, June 12 through Sunday, June 15, and four-day passes range from $480 for GA and $1,145 for VIP to $3,995 for Platinum and up to $26,000 for Roo Insider. Single day passes start at $169. More info here.
Where should I stay?
Well, your answer will define your ’Roo and there are several options, mostly based on your tolerance for dirt and need for sleep. If you want the full meal deal, join the fans who travel from all corners of the globe and car-camp, or rent an RV, and enter the holy campgrounds to mix with kindred spirits—one of the cornerstones of an unforgettable ’Roo. The Farm becomes a city overnight, complete with street names and signs—80,000 people suddenly living together under the southern sun and stars. If you choose this route, be sure to bring shade—tents, umbrellas, canopies… anything to block the sun and provide reprieve. Some fans sleep in portable hammocks, construct massive forts, splash about in kiddie pools, or build interactive art exhibits. Get creative! Just avoid sleeping in a closed car, due to risk of overheating. Most fans in the campgrounds rise with the sun or shortly thereafter as the temps rise. And be ready to accept that this party doesn’t stop—it just lulls for a few hours now and then. For more info on camping, FYI visit the Bonnaroo site. Premium, accessible, and VIP options are available.
As for hotels, there are several options walking distance from The Farm, and others further into Manchester accessible via shuttles. Within a half-mile is the Comfort Suites Manchester (indoor pool, gym, free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast), the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Manchester (buffet breakfast included), La Quinta Inn & Suites, Microtel Inn & Suites, and others for around $150 and up). Airbnb and Vrbo are options, too, but the longer you wait to book, the higher the cost. (Murfreesboro, approximately 40 minutes away, offers additional lodging).Some campers double-dip: party all night, crash in a tent, then pop over to a hotel they’ve booked nearby for naps and showers in the morning before returning for music in early afternoon. And for day trippers, returning to Nashville or another nearby city is an option.
How’s the lineup? Which artists should I see in 2025?
Per usual, Bonnaroo’s lineup is an eclectic mix spanning virtually all genres. Saturday’s pop-conquering headliner Olivia Rodrigo is highly anticipated. Aussie psych-rock travellers King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are playing a festival-first three-day residency. Cali bedroom-pop darling Remi Wolf is hosting the typically surprise-packed SuperJam on Saturday, this time billed as an “INSANELY FIRE 1970S POOL PARTY SUPERJAM,” so dress appropriately. Elsewhere, don’t miss Friday headliner Tyler, The Creator, who remains a dynamic force in hip-hop and beyond, showcasing his latest album-length opus, Chromakopia. Beabadoobee, performing on Saturday, has been making waves with her nostalgic-yet-fresh take on alt-rock. GloRilla, also Saturday, has quickly risen in rap with her bold lyrics and commanding presence. Hozier will close out the fest on Sunday with his larger-than-life soulful sound. More than 150 other acts will satiate fans’ every taste, spanning indie royalty like Vampire Weekend, Modest Mouse, and Queens of the Stone Age on to country star Luke Combs, French dance duo Justice, pop-punk icon Avril Lavigne, hardcore rap duo Insane Clown Posse, Southern hip-hop icon Nelly, and beyond.
How’s the food?
Since most are camping, fans typically fire up a big breakfast or lunch over the grill to fill up before heading into the festival, and bring snacks in their backpacks to top off throughout the day. Onsite, the festival offers an array of options. Expect southern cooking at its finest—fried chicken, biscuits, dumplings, and more—plus taco trucks, smash burgers, corn dogs… you name it. A few fan favorites: Homeslice Pizzeria, which uses all local fresh ingredients including Nashville sourdough; The Inka Trailer food truck from Nashville, serving up Peruvian eats like empanadas, chorizo fries, and spicy chicken sandos; and Pho Cue Vietnamese + BBQ—don’t miss their smoked brisket egg rolls. New to 2025 is Bonnaroo’s Farmfare program that requires all vendors to source at least one ingredient locally or from a family farm. If you’re a platinum ticket holder, you’re in store for a premium dining experience with celebrity chefs, backstage air-conditioned buffets, and a full-service complimentary Centeroo bar.
Bonnaroo is notoriously environmentally tough. How do I not just survive, but thrive?
First off, self-care is important at Bonnaroo. It’s hot. Really hot–the temperature is often in the mid-90s Fahrenheit, the humidity over 85%, and overall heat indices over 100. You need to stay hydrated and out of the sun as much as possible. Drink water. The Farm offers copious hydration centers to refill bottles, plus fountains and misting areas to cool off. And many of the artists often make use of hoses and water toys in their sets if you can’t bear to break away. Obviously, apply sunscreen liberally. In Centeroo, the mainstage area and spiritual heart of Bonnaroo, there are resources for exhausted fans in need of medical attention.
How should I dress at Bonnaroo?
Less is more. Think swimsuits, shorts, tank tops, hats for protection from the sun, sandals or breathable athletic shoes, and a backpack for water, sunscreen, snacks, and other necessities. That’s it. It’s rarely cold enough at night to necessitate anything more—especially when you’re surrounded by thousands of other fans, and even more especially when you’re all dancing.
How do I avoid having to walk back and forth too many times to my campsite?
Brass tacks: You’re going to get your steps in at Bonnaroo. Get acquainted with the map—grab a pen and circle the locations of your campsite, food/water, and the stages you want to visit. Make a daily plan. It’s a massive farm, but that’s part of the adventure. And there’s good news: Bonnaroo recently paved many key roads to decrease dust created by the various moving vehicles (golf carts, artist trucks) and launched JamTrack, a trolley that circles the festival grounds, dropping concertgoers at key stops on The Farm. Check out the map.
So… how are the bathrooms?
Back in the day, well, yeah, the Honey Buckets had a lot of honey. But nowadays, they’re pristine. The festival has installed flushing toilets and even showers at central Plazas throughout the campgrounds—the showers run $10 a rinse and are typically open 6 a.m. to midnight, and crews maintain Plazas around the clock. (Select premium camping packages include shower vouchers). Bring sandals, dorm-room style. More info can be found on the Bonnaroo site.
What else is new? And what other Bonnaroo elements or experiences should I see?
The Infinity Stage, all-new in 2025, is a groundbreaking venue boasting spatial sound, synchronized lighting, and a three-dome, open-air design, creating the world's largest immersive outdoor 360-degree audio experience. There’s the aforementioned Roo Residency, and don’t miss Where in the Woods, a stage in a forested area of the campgrounds with its own EDM lineup. For the first time in 2025, each day will highlight artists from select cities, including Nashville, Austin, New Orleans, and Atlanta–check out the full lineup here. Beyond the music, in Centeroo there’s yoga, a Ferris wheel, a massive fountain, and a marketplace where fans can purchase arts and crafts including signed posters. There’s even an annual 5K run around The Farm, a parade through Outeroo (a.k.a. the campgrounds), and also Planet Roo, a chill-out zone and “haven for sustainability, wellness, and global consciousness.”
I’m sober—is Bonnaroo still fun? How do all types of fans fit in?
It sure is. And there’s even a section of the campgrounds dedicated to sober, straight-edged, and otherwise intoxicant-free campers. Daily meetings and more are available via a Soberoo booth in Centeroo. Bonnaroo is all about inclusivity—it’s the spirit of the festival, and has continued with new measures taken to ensure fans of all types enjoy their experience. Bonnaroo is introducing a trans camping experience, as well, called The Beyond. Formerly known as She-Roo, The Beyond is focused on providing a space welcoming to fans regardless of their gender expression. This area will also feature a community area where fans can dance, relax, party, and hang out. Bonnaroo also offers similar setups for solo campers and families.