When and Where

Electric Forest 2026 takes place at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan, from June 25 through June 28. Rothbury is a small town in western Michigan, about 30 miles north of Muskegon and 80 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. The festival grounds sit on hundreds of acres of wooded resort property, anchored by the legendary Sherwood Forest -- a real forest transformed into one of the most stunning art environments in the festival world.

Electric Forest is a four-day camping festival that draws around 45,000 people. It is smaller than Bonnaroo or EDC, and that is by design. The community is tight, the production is meticulous, and the vibe is unlike anything else in the festival circuit. People who go to Electric Forest do not just attend it -- they become part of the Forest Family.

Getting There

Flying In

The two closest airports are:

  • Gerald R. Ford International (GRR) in Grand Rapids -- about 90 minutes south. This is the most common fly-in option with rental cars available.
  • Muskegon County Airport (MKG) -- about 40 minutes south. Smaller airport with fewer flights but closer to the venue.

You will need a rental car if you fly in. There is no public transit to Rothbury and ride-sharing is impractical in rural Michigan. Book your rental car early -- they get scarce and expensive during EF weekend.

Driving (How Most People Get There)

Electric Forest is a driving festival. The vast majority of attendees drive in, and the carpooling culture is strong. The festival is within driving range of Chicago (4 hours), Detroit (4 hours), Indianapolis (5 hours), Minneapolis (8 hours), and Toronto (7 hours). These Midwest and Great Lakes cities account for a huge chunk of the crowd.

Carpooling is more than just practical at EF -- it is part of the culture. Check the Electric Forest subreddit (r/ElectricForest), the official Facebook group, and the Radiate app for ride-share postings. Many lifelong friendships start with a carpool to Rothbury.

Arrive Thursday morning for the best campsite selection. Wednesday early arrival is available with an add-on pass and gets you an extra day of camping and pre-festival activities. The line to enter can take 1-3 hours during peak arrival, so bring snacks, water, and patience.

Camping: Your Home for Four Days

Electric Forest is a camping festival. There are no hotels within walking distance and no daily entry -- once you are on the grounds, you are there for the weekend. Embrace it. The campground community is half the experience.

General Admission Camping

GA camping is included with your ticket. You get a designated space near your car to set up your camp. Sites are roughly 12x30 feet. Group camping is available if you want to guarantee your crew is together -- register as a group in advance through the EF website.

Good Life Village (VIP Camping)

Good Life is Electric Forest's premium camping experience. It includes a private entrance to the venue (no long lines), upgraded showers and restrooms, exclusive stages and performances, and a closer location to the festival grounds. It costs significantly more but sells out fastest. If you can afford it and comfort matters to you, Good Life is worth every penny.

Sherwood Forest Tents and Glamping

For those who want the camping experience without hauling gear, EF offers pre-set-up tent packages (Sherwood Tents) and glamping options with real beds, electricity, and furnished interiors. These range from $500-2,000+ per person for the weekend and sell out quickly.

What to Bring for Camping

  • Tent -- Go one size up from what you think you need. A 4-person tent for 2 people gives room for gear. Make sure your rain fly is solid.
  • EZ-Up canopy (10x10) -- Essential for shade. Your tent becomes an oven without it. Bring extra stakes and guy lines for Michigan wind.
  • Sleeping pad or air mattress -- The ground is uneven. You will not sleep well without cushioning.
  • Warm sleeping bag or heavy blankets -- Michigan nights in late June drop to the low 50s and occasionally the upper 40s. Do not underestimate how cold it gets.
  • Shade structure and tapestries -- Hang tapestries on your canopy for extra sun protection and to mark your camp.
  • Wagon or cart -- The walk from your car to your campsite can be significant, especially in GA. A collapsible wagon saves multiple painful trips hauling coolers and gear.
  • Cooler with ice -- Bring a quality cooler and pre-freeze water bottles. Ice is available for purchase inside but lines can be long.
  • Camp chairs and a small table -- You need somewhere to sit and prep food. Cheap folding chairs work fine.
  • Headlamp with red mode -- For navigating camp at night without blinding your neighbors.
  • Trash bags and recycling bags -- Leave No Trace is a core EF value. Clean up after yourself and your neighbors.

The Forest: Sherwood Forest Is the Centerpiece

Sherwood Forest is what makes Electric Forest unlike any other festival on earth. It is a real, dense forest on the festival grounds that has been transformed into a living art installation. Every tree is wrapped in LEDs and fiber optics. Handcrafted art pieces hang from branches. Interactive installations respond to touch, sound, and movement. Hidden stages tucked between the trees host surprise performances. Hammock zones invite you to lay back and stare up at the canopy of lights.

Walking into Sherwood Forest at night for the first time is a moment that stays with people forever. The forest glows in shifting colors, ambient music drifts through the trees, and the atmosphere is equal parts peaceful and electric. It is deliberately overwhelming in the best way.

Spend at least one full evening exploring the forest without worrying about set times. Wander every path, discover every hidden installation, talk to the performers, and let yourself get lost. This is what the Forest Family comes back for year after year.

What to Bring (Beyond Camping Gear)

  • Rain gear -- Michigan weather is unpredictable in June. Pack a packable rain jacket and waterproof shoes or boots. If it rains, the grounds get muddy fast.
  • Warm layers -- A heavy hoodie or fleece for nighttime. Temperatures swing 30-40 degrees between afternoon and 3 AM. Layers you can add and remove are key.
  • Comfortable shoes for long days -- You will walk miles on grass, dirt, gravel, and forest paths. Broken-in sneakers or trail shoes are ideal. Bring a backup pair in case your primary pair gets soaked.
  • Portable charger -- 20,000+ mAh for a camping festival. There are limited charging stations but you cannot rely on them.
  • Sunscreen and bug spray -- Michigan woods mean mosquitoes, especially at dusk. Bring DEET-based spray or permethrin-treated clothing.
  • Body wipes -- Showers exist but lines are long. Baby wipes or shower wipes between real showers keep you comfortable.
  • Earplugs -- High-fidelity for the music, foam for sleeping. Your camp neighbors will be up when you want to sleep.

The Music

Electric Forest's lineup blends jam bands, electronic music, indie, funk, and soul in a way that no other festival quite replicates. You will hear world-class DJs on the main stage, a jam band in the forest, an indie folk act on a hidden stage, and a funk ensemble in a clearing -- sometimes within the span of an hour.

The schedule is dense. Multiple stages run simultaneously from early afternoon through late night. The curated stages tucked into Sherwood Forest are some of the most special -- intimate performances in magical settings where you are 20 feet from the artist surrounded by glowing trees.

String Cheese Incident is the unofficial house band of Electric Forest, playing multiple sets across the weekend with elaborate production and guest sit-ins. Even if jam bands are not your thing, an SCI set at EF is a must-see for the spectacle alone.

Use CrowdShuffle's schedule builder to plan your days and manage the inevitable conflicts. With this many stages, you will always be missing something good -- accept it early and enjoy where you are.

The Community: Forest Family

Electric Forest has one of the strongest community cultures in the festival world. The "Forest Family" is not just a marketing phrase -- it is a real ethos that shapes how people behave at the festival.

Trading Culture

Bring pins, stickers, kandi bracelets, or small handmade gifts to trade with other attendees. Trading is a beloved EF tradition. People design custom pins and gifts months in advance specifically for Forest trades. It is a way to connect with strangers and take home physical memories. Even something simple like homemade friendship bracelets or stickers will be appreciated.

Random Acts of Kindness

You will see people handing out free water, snacks, stickers, and compliments throughout the festival. Many attendees plan specific acts of kindness -- giving out fruit popsicles during the heat of the day, offering free phone charging at their camp, or leaving encouraging notes on strangers' tents. This is not performative. It is just how EF works.

Camp Neighbors

Introduce yourself to your camping neighbors when you arrive. You will be living next to these people for four days. Share food, share shade, share stories. Some of the best friendships that come out of Electric Forest start with a "hey, want some breakfast?"

Money Tips

  • Food: Budget $35-50/day inside the festival. Meals run $12-18 with a wide variety of options including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. Bring your own breakfast and snack supplies for the campground to save money.
  • Drinks: Beer $10-14, cocktails $14-18 inside the venue. Many people bring their own drinks for the campground (no glass containers).
  • Merch: Official EF and artist merch is available. The custom art vendor section in the festival is also worth browsing -- local artists sell handmade jewelry, clothing, and prints.
  • Ice and supplies: Available at the general store inside the campground. Prices are marked up but having ice available is essential. Bring enough cash or card for daily ice runs.

Insider Tips From Forest Veterans

  • Wednesday early arrival is worth it. The extra day lets you set up camp without pressure, meet your neighbors, and enjoy pre-festival activities. The Wednesday night vibes are special -- everyone is excited and fresh.
  • Explore every path in the forest. Sherwood Forest has hidden stages, secret installations, and surprises that are not on any map. Wander deliberately. Take paths you have not taken before. Look up.
  • Bring more warm clothes than you think. Michigan nights are cold, even in June. Multiple people every year underestimate this. A heavy hoodie and warm pants for nighttime are not overkill.
  • The Hangar is the late-night spot. When the main stages close, The Hangar keeps the bass music going into the early hours. If you have energy left, this is where you spend it.
  • Hammock zones are sacred. Bring a portable hammock (ENO or similar) and find a spot in the forest. Laying in a hammock surrounded by glowing trees with ambient music drifting through the air is peak Electric Forest.
  • Plan for no cell service. Service is unreliable in rural Michigan with 45,000 people. Designate meeting spots with your crew, screenshot the schedule, and download offline maps. A two-way radio is useful for larger groups.
  • Prepare gifts to trade. You do not need to spend a lot. Handmade kandi bracelets, pins, stickers, or even just sharing snacks at your camp counts. The trading culture is about connection, not value.

Plan Your Electric Forest Trip

Ready to join the Forest Family? Use CrowdShuffle to explore the Electric Forest 2026 lineup, discover which artists match your listening habits, and plan your trip with travel logistics for getting to Rothbury.