Fans ready to enjoy RV experience at Stagecoach Country Music Festival

Unlike the Coachella Music Festival, car camping or camping in a tent is not an option at this weekend’s Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio.

However, festival goers can stay on the grounds if they’ve purchased a spot to park an RV.

At the corner of Madison Street and Avenue 52, country music fans in RVs began arriving Thursday morning ready to camp out for the weekend of music.

There were 1,300 spaces available, costing as much as $950, just outside the Empire Polo Club. All sold out.

At a nearby Ralph’s shopping center on Jefferson Street, several people driving RV’s stopped to regroup before setting up camp, and said experiencing the festival in the RV campground is the only way to go.

“I heard there’s dancing till 3 a.m., line dancing, people, you know, just ready to party and see these country bands,” said Jordan Callanan of Riverside, a first-time festival attendee.

Jim Vanderpoll of Chino Hills added festival-goers who leave the grounds miss out on a bond people make with each other inside the RV camping area.

“Everybody gets together and we have a good time. People play quarters and pong and stuff like that at night, and just have a good time,” he said.

Promoter Goldenvoice has changed the RV policy for 2014. Rather than having fans show proof they own the rig they’re taking on the property, this year they’re allowing rented or borrowed RVs on the grounds.

Country music stars Eric Church, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan are this year’s headliners.