Starting in February and running through April, travelers can find some amazing music festivals to visit. Many are located in fair weather states but spring is popular in the northern regions as well. As April approaches, things really heat up with opportunities to see live music, outdoors, across the country.
Many music festivals are a perfect fit for RVers as they offer camping options or have camping nearby. Tent camping is great but it’s certainly nice to have a proper bed, private bathroom and kitchen to enjoy between shows. This is especially true at the bigger events. The small town festivals are some of our favorites for RV living however. They often have great campsite and parking options in communities that are more accessible and big-rig friendly.
Put a few of these on your calendar to spice up the late winter and spring routine this year!
February Music Festivals
February is the slowest month for events but there are some gems out there. It’s cold up north but pleasant in the south and you will notice that theme in the locations of these events.
Key Western Fest
Florida is a hotspot for live music in the winter months and Key West is somewhere many RVers want to visit in general. This event brings great western style country artists along with the laid back vibe you expect in this beach town. Pam Tillis, Nikki Lane and a full lineup of great western artists are performing at these idyllic locations.
Ground Up Music Festival
Another great option in Florida, this one is located downtown with artists like Snarky Puppy and Gisela Joao. It’s an event for all ages at the North Beach Bandshell.
Birds Nest
With four nights of music and entertainment, this is a festival to attend for those RVers roaming the southwestern region. With big names like Duran Duran, Dierks Bentley and a many more headliners, you don’t want to miss this opportunity. Tickets will likely sell out for some of these shows so get on board sooner than later. Luckily, there are plenty of RV parks in the region to utilize as a basecamp.
Wintergrass Festival
Bellevue has a decent winter climate although it has more rainy days and a much cooler climate than Florida. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get outside and take advantage of the beautiful northwest landscapes and culture however. With four days of bluegrass and instrumental acoustic performances, the scene is laid back, inspiring and family friendly. It’s also near some great RV camping options.
Emo’s Not Dead 2024
Did we list a festival in Mexico? We sure did because this one is a daytrip from the San Diego border area. Ensenada has great RV camping (separate from the festival) and you might even continue south after the festival to spend more time on the beaches of Baja. The music actually takes place on a cruise but you can drive across the Mexico borderto meet the event on your own schedule and terms.
Fort Worth Music Festival
Texas is a music hotspot and it’s home to some of our favorite winter festivals. It has options in the big cities and small towns and the state is very camper friendly. The lineup at this amazing venue is fantastic as well. Uncle Lucius, Them Dirty Roses, Mila Rae and many, many more are performing. This is my personal favorite lineup for the month of February.
March Music Festivals
March is a magical month when northern states often see a little reprieve from the worst of winter and the southern climate zones are pretty much perfect. We see more live music and events popping up in Rocky Mountain states and some of the bigger southern festivals also occur in March.
For serious music festival goers, March is a big month with plenty of travel opportunities. Get your engine serviced, fill up the tank and reserve campsites in advance to make a run at the biggest music festivals this March.
Winterwondergrass
Colorado might be the bluegrass capital of the world these days. The state has world-class venues, numerous festivals and it attracts the biggest names in the business along with the up-and-coming talent groups. If you live in this region, dust off the RV and break out of your winter funk by hitting this iconic steamboat Springs event.
Extra Innings Festival
Spring training for Major League baseball draws visitors from around the country. Many travel in RV’s and the facilities and camping options are ideal for RVers in general. This festival brings everyone together after the practices and games to see big names like Chris Stapleton, Turnpike Troubadours and the Dave Matthews Band.
Get Lucky Festival/h3>
Another great option in the Rocky Mountain states, this one is hosted by the great Salt Lake city in Utah. RVers can take a tour of the national parks in southern Utah before jumping north a few hours for two nights of live music at the Great Saltair venue. Artists like Bear Grillz, Culture Shock and Dillon Francis are playing across a packed set.
South by Southwest
If you haven’t heard of this one…well, you most likely have. It’s one of the biggest events of the year and the artist list is hard to match. This is a serious musical festival so plan way ahead to ensure you find a place for the RV. Numerous people rent space in driveways if the RV parks fill up (and they will). The advanced planning is worth the effort however. You will see some of the best artists in one of the most electric environments around. It’s a bucket list event for musical festival lovers.
Big Ears
Tennessee is known for the music scene and it doesn’t disappoint with this unique festival. It centers around music but incorporates other arts as well with film and performances. If you’re looking for something with mixed media, this is a great option. It’s still well worth the trip just to see the music as well. They have a huge line-up of great artists.
Beyond Wonderland
California has a big music festival scene across the entire year. Located east of Los Angeles and near Big Bear Lake, Beyond Wonderland has an Alice in Wonderland theme and an action packed stage of dubstep and general EDM categories. It’s a one of a kind festival that is a blast for California convenient RVers.
April Music Festivals
As spring arrives, the weather warms up in the north but still holds out the heat down south. April is the go-anywhere month for music festivals and RVing in general. You might catch some snow in the Rockies and Sierra’s and even early rain in Arizona but it’s a perfect shoulder season month to push your boundaries and visit any number of the music festivals on the calendar. It’s a busy month and this is just a small sample of the opportunities available.
Mission Creek Festival
Iowa City might be one of the most charming midwest cities around and it’s the perfect place for a festival. RVers will find state parks and local campground options to stage for a long list of performers and a combination of literary events and presentations.
Grind City
There aren’t many places with as much soul as Memphis and Grind City brings the city to life with performances by Charlie Crockett, Nikki Land and a dozen or so more world class artists. If Memphis is within RV range, add this great option to your festival list.
French Quarter Fest
Let’s take it to New Orleans where music is at the center of the city's culture. This festival brings multiple sounds together with rock, blues, bluegrass and the New Orleans local beats. If you haven’t been to New Orleans for a show, hit this spring music festival.
Coachella Music Festival
Like South by Southwest, this music festival is a bucket list destination. They do have RV sites for rent but prepare for some sticker shock. It’s pretty dang expensive but worth the opportunity for many folks. There are places to stay outside the venue in this largely rural region as well. Prepare for over a week of non-stop action from the biggest performers in the world.
Tampa Bay Blues Festival
Great weather, welcoming people and a serious blues lineup make this one of the most attractive and albeit underrated festivals around. It’s certainly on my list and is something RVers within range of Florida should consider.
How will you travel this spring? No matter where you decide to roam or park, there is likely a music festival within reach. The energy and opportunity to experience world class music is never far away. Do some research and take advantage of your home on wheels when a festival is near.
