Poll 1: The Accommodation Cold War
This is the big one, the decision that shapes your entire Bonnaroo reality. Is your group embracing the quintessential chaos of General Admission (GA) camping, where you become one with the dust and the 24/7 energy? Or are you splurging for a cushier
existence in VIP, with its air-conditioned lounges and cleaner bathrooms? Maybe there’s a contingent lobbying for a hotel and the daily shuttle grind. There is no wrong answer, but a mixed one is a recipe for disaster. A hotel-dweller will never understand why their camping friends are covered in glitter and grime by 10 a.m., and the campers will resent the hotel crew’s complaints about the shuttle line. Vote on it, commit to it, and book it. This isn't a democracy you can revisit when you’re melting in the Tennessee sun.
Poll 2: The Arrival Time Standoff
“Let’s just get there Thursday morning!” sounds reasonable until you’re sitting in an eight-hour line of cars, watching the veteran crews who arrived Wednesday already cracking their first beer. The day you arrive dictates your camping spot, your energy level for the first acts, and your entire setup timeline. Wednesday arrivals get prime real estate and a day to acclimate. Thursday arrivals get thrown right into the fire. Some people love the mad dash; others need a slow ramp-up. Settle this early. Decide if you’re the “get in and get settled” team or the “arrive just in time” squad. This will prevent the inevitable argument on I-24 as you watch thousands of other cars pull ahead of you.
Poll 3: The Money Question
Nothing sours a vibe faster than financial weirdness. Before you go, decide how you’re handling group expenses. Are you appointing a ‘Team Treasurer’ who fronts the cost for essentials like ice, water, and campsite snacks, with everyone settling up on Venmo later? Or is it a strict every-person-for-themselves system? The hybrid model—where someone buys the canopy and another buys the cooler—can work, but only if it’s tracked. A simple Splitwise group or a shared note is your best friend. Figure out if you're a communal-living commune or a loose confederation of individuals sharing a patch of grass. Settle it now before someone’s card gets declined buying the group’s third bag of ice on Saturday.
Poll 4: The 'Divide and Conquer' Mandate
Every festival group has two factions: the ‘Stick Together’ purists and the ‘See You at the End of the Night’ free spirits. The first group believes the shared experience is paramount, even if it means missing a niche electronic act to see a headliner for the third time. The second group sees the lineup as a personal choose-your-own-adventure. Trying to force one style on the other leads to resentment. The solution? Agree to a ‘Divide and Conquer’ strategy. Pick one or two non-negotiable sets to see as a full squad each day, and for the rest, let people roam. Establish a clear end-of-night meeting spot and time. This gives everyone the freedom they crave without the anxiety of a lost friend.
Poll 5: The Daily Energy Level
Are you the 'Rage from Noon to 4 a.m.' crew, subsisting on Spicy Pie and sheer force of will? Or are you the ‘Pace Yourself’ veterans who know a strategic afternoon nap at the campsite is the key to surviving until Sunday? This conversation is less about a strict itinerary and more about managing expectations. If half the group wants to be at Centeroo the moment it opens and the other half wants to chill at the campsite until 4 p.m., you’re going to have friction. A good compromise is agreeing on a ‘rally time’ each day—a point when everyone agrees to be ready to head into the main venue. It prevents the early birds from getting antsy and lets the late sleepers recharge without guilt.
Poll 6: The Exit Strategy
It feels insane to plan your departure before you’ve even arrived, but future you will be grateful. The post-Bonnaroo Monday morning traffic is legendary. Do you pack up everything Sunday night after the final headliner, ready to make a break for it at dawn? Or do you accept your fate, sleep in, enjoy a final campsite breakfast, and leave late Monday morning, knowing you’ll be in traffic for hours but feeling more human? This decision impacts your final night’s energy and your first day back in the real world. A split decision here is brutal, as half the car will be anxiously trying to leave while the other half is still half-asleep. Vote, commit, and stick to the plan.
