A guide covering EV festival travel tips, including how to plan to bring your electric car for sustainable travel to an eco-conscious festival
02 Jan 2026
9 min read
If you’re heading to a festival this summer, there are plenty of reasons to bring your electric car with you. EVs make any long-distance road trip more sustainable and comfortable, and with many cultural events intrinsically linked to sustainable living, they make a welcome addition to any camping site.
So, if you’ve ever wondered whether you can drive to a festival in an electric vehicle, the simple answer is: yes!
Electric cars – identified by a distinctive green stripe on the license plate – are becoming increasingly commonplace on roads in the UK, thanks to a number of factors ranging from government incentives and ever-improving charging infrastructure through to the simple fact that EVs are better for the planet.
And when you consider the benefits of electric cars, it’s not hard to see why:
The first point above is a particularly key reason why bringing your EV to a summer festival is not only easy, but also worth it. Many festivals promote healthy and sustainable living, with many located close to public charging stations – or even providing their own.
That means you’ll never be far from a top-up, which can be especially beneficial for shorter-range EVs as, if you’re visiting a summer festival, it’s likely you’ll be driving quite a distance to get there. That said, most modern electric cars have ranges well in the hundreds which, combined with the UK’s growing public charging infrastructure, means you won’t have to worry about range anxiety.
Another exceptional reason to bring your electric car is comfort. UK summers are getting increasingly warmer, and one of the best things about EVs is being able to pre-cool your cabin before you drive. If you have a home charger, you can even keep your car plugged in and let the AC cool the car down without losing charge.
Tip: we’ve put together many tips to charging and driving an EV in hot weather. Check out our guide here.
Plus, electric cars tend to have a lower centre of gravity due to the weight of the battery. This makes them handle better on the roads, leading to an overall more comfortable drive – which is especially important on long trips.
Before you set off on your exciting festival trip, it’s worth running through our quick checklist below to make sure you and your EV are as ready as can be:
If you’re able to charge at home, make sure to charge your EV the day before you travel, ideally overnight to take advantage of cheaper rates and greener energy. That way, you can start your trip with a fully charged car to maximise your starting range.
Also, make sure everything in the cabin is set up, both in terms of the seats and any settings that might come in handy such as eco mode, driving assist, sat nav etc.
Whatever public network you plan to use, chances are you’ll need an associated app on your phone to use their chargers. Downloading them at home, with reliable Wi-Fi, will save you the potential stress of arriving at the charger only to discover you need an app and you don’t have signal.
Plugging in a device like your phone to charge it whilst driving will take away precious miles from your EV’s range, so make sure your phone is fully charged before setting off, as well as any power banks you might need during the festival (and don’t forget the cables!).
If you have them, it’s worth bringing along any solar charging accessories to further reduce the need to charge from your EV.
Websites like Zapmap make it easy to plan your charging stops, and it’s worth doing this before you set off for a more relaxed drive. But make sure you include one or two back-up charger options with every charging stop, just in case your first option is already in use by another driver.
Tip: whether it’s your first time charging in public, or you’re a seasoned veteran, be sure to follow the golden rules of public EV charging etiquette!
Aside from having fun (which, after all, should be your number 1 priority at any festival!), there are a few things you can do to make your time at the festival the best it can be with your EV.
For starters, getting to the festival with as close to a fully charged EV as possible will give you some peace of mind for whilst you’re there. Knowing your car has charge means you can easily get around if you plan on doing any driving during the festival, and it also means you’ll be able to make solid progress on the drive home once it’s over. To maximise your car’s battery, it’s worth setting it into any economy modes it has whilst it’s parked.
If you’re camping at the festival, you can camp in or near your EV just like you would with a regular car, although how comfortable and easy this is depends on the electric car you have. You shouldn’t have any trouble pitching your tent and camping near the car, but you may not be able to sleep in it if it’s a small one.
If you have got your car near to your tent, try and resist the temptation to use the battery to charge your devices, as this will reduce the amount of miles your car can cover when you’re ready to head home. Instead, bring plenty of portable battery packs with you (fully charged before setting off), and consider using solar chargers to keep your devices topped up sustainably.
The following are festivals that are widely known for being EV friendly, whether that’s providing charging infrastructure, promoting green travel initiatives, or using climate-conscious practices and policies:
Perhaps the UK’s most popular festival, Glastonbury is well known for having its iconic Green Fields, described as a sanctuary and the “beating heart” of the festival. The area has been powered by sustainable energy sources like wind and solar since 1984, making it one of the greenest festivals in the UK. It also has great public transport links, as well as plenty of public EV chargers nearby.
This Northamptonshire-based music festival was built around the core principle of promoting sustainability, with many on-site activities ranging awareness around environmental issues. The festival is considered a pioneer in carbon reduction, having worked hard to lower the festival’s carbon footprint, using renewable energy to power the festival, being entirely meat-free, prioritising recycling, and supporting low-emission travel options.
Over the four days it runs, Boomtown essentially transforms into an immersive fictional city. Sustainability is at the heart of the festival, with an ambitious goal of circular and Net Zero Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 2026, which they hope to achieve by promoting renewable energy, sustainable travel, and environmentally-friendly food.
The clue is very much in the name for this one! Green Man Festival takes place in the Breacon Beacons, and promotes a range of car sharing initiatives and green transport options to get to and from the festival. A quick check on Zapmap shows plenty of public charging stations available in the surrounding area, making it a great choice for EV drivers.
The family-friendly Latitude festival is all too aware of its environmental impact, with several pledges in its environmental charter aimed at lowering the event’s carbon footprint. Whilst it doesn’t (sadly) have any chargers on-site, the surrounding area has great EV charging infrastructure.
The World of Music, Arts and Dance is another stalwart of the UK festival calendar that also boasts a strong climate policy focussed on sustainable initiatives, like using renewable energy sources to power their stages. EV festival-goers can also benefit from nearby local charging stations for even greener travel.
Bluedot is one of the newer festivals on this list, blending music and the arts with science in a unique crossover that aimed to educate visitors about the planet and its environment. Festival lovers looking for a more educational experience find plenty to do here, including talks on astronomy and explorations of the cosmos. It’s a brilliant place to make a sustainable trip to in an EV.
Another family-oriented festival, featuring a star-studded lineup and plenty on offer for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. As well as a robust sustainability charter, the camp has a plethora of regional EV charging stations for drivers to take full advantage of for a sustainable and (hopefully) sunny festival experience.
Located in idyllic Dorset, the End of the Road festival features an eclectic mixture of artists set against the backdrop of a relaxing and friendly experience. Like other festivals on this list, electric car drivers visiting End of the Road won’t be short of public charging options.
Kendal Calling’s sustainability campaign, titled Leave Nothing Behind, makes the festival a brilliant place for eco-conscious travellers looking to do their bit to reduce festival waste. Their aim is for no tents to be left behind, which are often a huge problem for the environment when left at campsites. EV drivers can benefit from some nearby public charging hubs for an eco-friendly festival.
A lot of what you’ll need to bring with you will be the same for any eco-friendly festival, whether you’re in an EV or not. Things like reusable utensils like cutlery and a refillable water bottle are essential, and you could bring a solar battery charger for added renewable energy. The usual camping accoutrement like the tent, sleeping bags, chairs and so on should also be packed, as well as some items like sunshades or rechargeable cooling fans.
As for the electric car itself, you should make sure to have a Type 2 charging cable, as some fast public chargers are just a socket and don’t provide you with the cable, alongside the usual trappings like safety equipment and, of course, snacks for the journey.
Above all else, planning ahead is perhaps the most important when it comes to driving an electric vehicle to a festival. Making sure you know where all the nearest public chargers are, both enroute and at the festival, as well as which chargers your car can use (as not all EVs can use all rapid chargers), will save you some potential headaches later.
Tip: planning a long road trip in an EV is easy with our complete guide, which includes many tips to make long-distance trips smooth and stress-free.
Also, leaving with a fully charged car, or as close to as possible, will allow you to make solid progress on the (likely) long drive to whichever festival you’re attending. Fortunately, charging at home is the easiest and most cost-effective way to keep your EV topped up and primed for the festival season.
