To get the full effect of Country Thunder Arizona, where the party rages well into the morning, it may be best to plan on camping out.
That’s why campsites at the four-day festival on a ranch near Florence, about an hour’s drive from metro Phoenix, sell out in advance.
Even the glamping sites are sold out for the festival’s return to Arizona the weekend of April 7-10.
However, Country Thunder has partnered with Lyte to help fans purchase tickets and campsites even after they’re sold out. You simply enter your email address and hit “request tickets” at countrythunder.lyte.com.
You can also try the AZ Country Thunder 2022 Campsite Buy/Sell/Swap group on Facebook or the Country Thunder camping ads on Craigslist if you don’t mind paying more than list price on a campsite.
For those of you who planned ahead and bought a campsite, this is what you’ll need to know before you go.
Glamping at Country Thunder
In the event that you find glamping on a resale website, this is what you get.
- One glamping tent
- Your choice of one queen bed or two twin beds
- Outlets for Small Electronics
- Air Conditioning
- 2 Weekend Platinum Experience tickets
- Access to the Glamping Lounge
- Access to luxury showers and bathrooms
- Dedicated hosts available 24/7
- Security posted 24/7
Each tent can accommodate a maximum of four people. Additional admission is $300/person and includes all amenities. Each Glampsite can purchase two additional admission tickets.
Premier Camping
In the event that you find Premier Camping on a resale site, it offers a private gated community with 24-hour security and convenient access to a private shaded Skybox, with elevated viewing for all main-stage performances, luxury restroom trailers and three meals a day for two people.
It’s also the shortest walk from any campsite to the show.
The Premier Campsite is 20’ wide x 55′ deep.
Other amenities include:
- Two Premier Admission tickets
- One Weekend Reserved Parking pass
- Dedicated Host available 24/7
- 1 water fill / 1 septic service
- 50amp power hookup
- Country Thunder swag bag (Including $25 for festival merchandise)
Parking at your campsite
If you plan on parking at your campsite, a vehicle parking pass was included with the purchase of each campsite. You can purchase one Extra Vehicle Pass per campsite for $65.
If your party requires more parking than that, you can purchase additional Weekend Overnight Parking, and they’ll watch your car for $80. A Weekend Overnight Parking Pass is good from 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, through 3 p.m. Monday, April 11.
Campsite rules
Upholstered household furniture is not allowed in the campgrounds. If you bring any of this furniture to the festival site, you will be fined $100. Arrangements can be made to have that fine returned by removing the offending furniture.
These are the other Country Thunder Arizona campsite rules:
- If you are dropping off a camper/RV for another fan, and you do not have full-event admission, you will need to purchase a Camper Drop Off pass.
- You must have a four-day wristband to access any of the camping areas. That means your friends with a single-day pass can’t hang out at your campsite.
- Your campsite includes one vehicle pass, which will allow one vehicle to enter the campgrounds. A vehicle is anything with a motor, including an RV. If you are hauling a trailer, the trailer will not require a vehicle pass.
- Your RV must fit inside your camping space (19′ x 39′ in most campsites; 25′ x 45′ in the Premier campground). Should your camping unit be oversize, you must purchase two sites side by side.
- Generators will be allowed to operate between 7 a.m. and midnight. If your generator makes excessive noise or gives off fumes, it will be shut off.
- No fires allowed (including fire pits and tiki torches). Gas and charcoal grills are OK.
- If you bring dogs, you need to clean up after them and keep them leashed.
- No ATVs, golf carts, mopeds, bicycles, skateboards, scooters, hoverboards or similar devices, with the exception of those permitted for handicap transportation.
- All vehicles will be subject to search upon entering the site.
- Country Thunder considers motorcycles vehicles. Should you choose to bring a motorcycle, it must have the appropriate tag. All motorcycles found without the appropriate credential will be impounded.
- Unlicensed vehicles, campers, trailers, motorcycles are not permitted on Country Thunder sites.
- Any vehicles found to be blocking the fire lane will be towed at the owner’s expense.
- Any stunting or unsafe operation of a motor vehicle is prohibited. Anyone engaging in this behavior will be reported and/or turned over to the local police.
- Any stunting, unsafe operation or violation with a motor vehicle is prohibited, and anyone engaging in this behavior will be reported and/or turned over to the local police.
- Country Thunder reserves the right to dismantle and/or remove any structure, pool, dance floor or any other item it determines to be a safety concern for patrons or staff.
- Anyone found causing damage to convenience showers, portable toilets on non-potable water stations will face eviction and criminal charges.
- Cruising or riding in the back of pickup trucks is prohibited.
- Anyone found participating in or contributing to underage drinking may be evicted from the grounds immediately without a refund.
- Unauthorized selling of items will result in seizure of merchandise, eviction and possible prosecution.
- No paid live music performances or campsite parties.
- Country Thunder reserves the right to refuse admission or eject any person whose conduct is deemed to be illegal, disorderly or offensive by management, without refund.
The breaking of any Country Thunder Arizona campground rules may result in your eviction with no refund.
Country Thunder reserves the right to move any site or camper at its discretion at any time prior to or during the festival. Best efforts will be made to relocate you to a site near the original location. But new placement will be at Country Thunder’s sole discretion.
Keeping Country Thunder campsites clean
Campers are encouraged to bring trash bags to the festival, pick up their trash and keep their campsite clean.
Bags should be placed in the large dumpsters found at the end of each camping row.
Owners of trash-filled sites will be subject to a fine and may have renewal rights suspended.
Additional trash bags are available from campground staff or at the campground office.
Other things to know before you go
The campgrounds open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 6.
If your camper or RV is being dropped off at the campgrounds by someone not attending Country Thunder, they will need a $20 Camper Dropoff Pass to give them access to the campgrounds from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6.
There’s a general store in the campgrounds, near the main entrance, that carries such necessities as toilet paper, ice and sunscreen.
There’s a shower in a facility next to the general store for a fee.
If you leave the grounds for any reason, make sure you return by 10 p.m. That’s when they lock the front entry gates.
Leave your food and beverage at the campsite. You can’t take them into the festival bowl.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.
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