What to Pack for CMA Fest

Everything you need to stay comfortable, organized, and prepared for CMA Fest.

Written by Amanda Tempel

Date Published: May 30, 2026

Traveling to CMA Fest can be one of the most exciting times of the year for any country music fan, but navigating multiple stages, long lines, hot weather, and unexpected rain can quickly turn a dream trip into a stressful experience. Over the years, I’ve learned that having a well-packed clear bag and a few carefully chosen essentials can make all the difference. From electronics and snacks to wellness items and autograph supplies, this guide will walk you through everything you need to bring to stay comfortable, prepared, and ready to enjoy every moment of CMA Fest.

Before you leave for Nashville, try to buy as many of your CMA Fest essentials as possible. Once you arrive, items like cooling towels, portable fans, ponchos, sunscreen, hats, and phone chargers may be harder to find, more expensive, or unavailable when you need them most. If you plan, you can avoid last-minute delivery fees, limited store inventory, and the stress of trying to track down basic items during an already busy trip. I also recommend watching for off-season deals on summer items like fans, hats, and cooling towels during the fall and winter.

Affiliate Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

---

Clothing & Footwear for CMA Fest

Daytime Outfits

• Wear breathable, lightweight clothing for outdoor stages.

• Pack 2 outfits per day if returning to hotel before night shows.

• Avoid breaking in new shoes - choose comfortable sneakers or athletic shoes.

Night Shows at Nissan Stadium

• Dress for cooler evening temperatures.

• Small layers or a light jacket work well.

Tip: Hats, coverups, and UV-protective clothing help prevent sunburn during long daytime shows.

When I’m doing daytime activities, I usually take a break back at the hotel to change into something fresh before heading to Nissan Stadium. Comfort is key, especially since you’ll be standing in long lines and navigating crowded areas during the daytime shows. If you’re returning to your hotel first, empty your bag of any items you won’t need like souvenirs or autographed memorabilia. Trust me, it’s not the time to wear new cowboy boots; people have learned the hard way that you’ll pay for it in blisters. Opt for shoes that are broken in and supportive, because you’ll be walking long distances all day.

---

Packing for the Weather

• Backup sunglasses

• Sunscreen & Aloe Vera

• Cooling towel - I love these from Amazon because they come with a portable storage bag.

• Disposable rain poncho (buy before arriving downtown)

Tip: Check weather apps before heading out for the day.

I have screamed every word to “Delta Dawn” in Nissan Stadium while it was absolutely pouring. Did it bother me? Not at all, because I had my poncho, and the iconic Tanya Tucker was onstage. Rain can happen during CMA Fest, so it’s worth packing a disposable poncho before you get downtown. And when it’s not raining, the Nashville sun is no joke. Apply sunscreen before you head out and reapply it throughout the day.

Packing My Daily Bag for CMA Fest

Once I have my outfits planned, the next thing I focus on is my daily CMA Fest bag. Everything you bring into official CMA Fest locations needs to fit inside an approved bag, so this is where a little organization goes a long way. I detail the current bag rules in my CMA Fest clear bag guide, but my biggest tip is to group similar items together, so your bag does not become a mess by the middle of the day.

I like using these small organizing pouches for things like wellness items, electronics, autograph supplies, and personal essentials. It makes it easier to find what I need quickly, keeps smaller items from getting lost at the bottom of the bag, and helps me see what I have before I leave the hotel.

---

CMA Fest Clear Bag Essentials

This is the pouch I use for the items I want to reach quickly throughout the day. These are small, practical things that can easily get lost at the bottom of a clear bag, so keeping them together makes a big difference.

Concert essentials to pack:

• Card holder with your debit card, credit card, cash, and ID

• Hand sanitizer

• Ear plugs

• Mints

• Hair ties

• Tide Stick or Wipes (Handy for any BBQ stains on your white t-shirt)

• Rain poncho

• Sunglasses

Tip: Keep your passport secured at your hotel but make sure you have your ID with you before heading out for the day.

---

Electronics & Phone Essentials

You’ll be using your phone constantly at CMA Fest, whether you’re navigating downtown Nashville, checking the schedule on the official CMA Fest app, ordering a ride, or taking photos and videos of your favorite artists. Because of that, keeping your phone charged and backed up is one of the most important parts of your CMA Fest prep.

Phone and battery tips:

• Bring your phone charger with you each day.

• Pack a portable battery bank so you can recharge on the go.

• Look for charging station locations in the official CMA Fest app.

• Offload or delete apps you do not need before your trip to help preserve battery life.

• Turn on “Find My Phone” before you leave in case your phone gets misplaced.

Photo backup tips:

• Back up your photos each day when you get back to your hotel.

• Connect to WiFi and upload your photos to cloud storage.

• Do not wait until the end of the trip to save everything. If your phone is lost or damaged, you do not want to lose all your CMA Fest photos too.

App and payment tips:

• Download the apps you may need before you arrive, including the official CMA Fest app, Uber, Lyft, and food delivery apps.

• Make sure you are logged in and know your passwords before you need them.

• Since CMA Fest locations are cashless, make sure you have debit or credit cards available.

• Consider adding your cards to Apple Pay or Google Wallet as a backup.

• Do not keep all your cards or cash in one place. I like to keep one card at the hotel and carry another with me.

Physical backup tips:
Even though your phone can make the trip much easier, cell service can be unreliable during large events. A few paper backups can be a big help.

• If you are driving instead of using buses, shuttles, or rideshare, bring a paper map of the area.

• Keep a photo of your ID and passport on your phone in case of emergencies.

---

Wellness Items for CMA Fest

Pack a small wellness kit before you leave for Nashville. I’ve learned the hard way that not preparing in advance can lead to driving around looking for a Walgreens, only to find that the pain reliever or medicine you need is out of stock. Fingers crossed you won’t need any of it, but it is much better to have it packed just in case.

Items to pack:

• Prescription medications

• Vitamins

• Cough drops

• Pain reliever

• Cold/Allergy medicine

• Stomach medicine

• UTI medicine

• Bandages of different sizes

• Antibacterial ointment

• Blister bandages

• Menstrual bag: Pack a kit that includes wipes, a plastic fold-top bag for sanitary disposal, menstrual cups, pads, or tampons, pain relievers, a Tide Stick, and an extra pair of underwear. These compact packages from Amazon are designed to fit easily into your clear bag and include everything you might need for an emergency.

Tip: I pack a few of each item in my daily clear bag and leave the rest at the hotel so I’m not carrying more than I need. Don’t forget, first aid stations are located throughout CMA Fest for any additional assistance. This pill organizer offers a practical and space-saving way to organize your items.

---

Snacks & Food at CMA Fest

A little snack can go a long way during long days at CMA Fest. Packing non-perishable, festival-friendly snacks can help you stay fueled between activities, at your hotel, or while traveling around downtown, but always check the official CMA Fest and Nissan Stadium rules before bringing outside food into any official venue.

Recommended snacks to pack:

• Chips

• Nut butter packets

• Fruit

• Rice cakes

• Pretzels

• Non-chocolate granola bars

• Jerky

• Tuna or chicken packets with crackers

• Fruit & vegetable pouches

Food and drink options on-site:

• CMA Fest also has food and beverage options throughout the festival, including food trucks near Music City Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

• Nissan Stadium has specific rules for what food and drink you can bring inside, so check the stadium’s policies before attempting to bring outside snacks. We don’t want any snack left behind!

Tip: Even with food options on-site, having a few of your own snacks on hand can save time and help you avoid lines during busy festival hours.

---

Water Bottles at CMA Fest

Staying hydrated is essential at CMA Fest, but there are specific rules about what types of water bottles are allowed at different festival locations. CMA Fest also provides free hydration stations throughout the festival footprint, so knowing what you can carry ahead of time is key.

Daytime CMA Fest Stages and Fan Fair X

At the outdoor daytime stages and Fan Fair X, guests may bring:

• One factory-sealed clear plastic bottle of water

Guests may also bring one of the following refillable bottle options:

• One empty clear soft plastic water bottle
  or

• One empty 32 oz Nalgene water bottle to refill at free hydration stations and water fountains

This applies to locations including the Chevy Riverfront Stage, Riverside Retreat, Dr Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park, Chevy Vibes Stage at Walk of Fame Park, Good Molecules Reverb Stage at Bridgestone Plaza, Wrangler Remix Stage, and Fan Fair X inside Music City Center.

Nissan Stadium Night Shows

The water bottle rules are different for Nissan Stadium night shows. Guests may bring:

• One empty clear soft plastic water bottle that can be filled at water fountains inside the stadium

Factory-sealed water bottles and Nalgene-style bottles are not permitted inside the stadium.

Tip: I keep it simple and bring a case or two of bottled water to keep at the hotel. That way, I always have water on hand before heading out for the day, and I don’t have to worry about losing or cleaning a reusable bottle throughout the week. I bring what is allowed for the location I’m visiting and recycle the bottle at the end of the day.

---

Autographs & Memorabilia

• Bring items you want signed

• Sharpie markers

• Plastic sheet protectors to store signed items safely

• Extra folder or envelope for autographs

If you are hoping to get autographs at CMA Fest, pack any photos, album inserts, 8x10s, or other items you may want signed before you leave for Nashville. I have an entire article with ideas for what to bring for autographs in my Fan Fair X guide, but my biggest tip is to always keep a Sharpie with you. You never know when you may run into one of your favorite artists, and it is definitely possible at CMA Fest.

I also like to pack plastic sheet protectors so signed photos and memorabilia do not get bent, smudged, or damaged while I’m carrying them around during the day.

---

Travel / Festival Info Card

Keep a paper backup of important info in your wallet, bag, and phone:

• Name & contact info

• Hotel name, address & phone number

• Emergency contacts

Tip: Laminate your Festival Info Card or keep it in a durable sleeve to protect it from rain, spills, or general wear throughout the trip. The card can be helpful if your bag is accidentally left somewhere and someone finds it, or if you lose cell service and need your hotel information. There are hundreds of hotels in Nashville, so having the exact hotel name, address, and phone number written down can make a big difference.

---

What Not to Pack

• Large umbrellas, chairs, coolers

• Non-clear oversized bags

• Aerosol sunscreen (spray cans prohibited in some areas)

• Glass bottles or Nalgene-style containers not allowed at stadiums

The official CMA Fest website provides a full list of prohibited items, including which types of cameras and other equipment are allowed. Be sure to check it before you start packing to avoid surprises at the gate!

Packing for CMA Fest does not have to be complicated, but a little planning can make your trip much easier. Buy your essentials before you leave, organize your clear bag by category, and double-check the official CMA Fest rules before heading downtown. With the right clothing, wellness items, phone chargers, weather gear, snacks, and backup information, you’ll be ready for long days, late nights, and all the country music memories that come with CMA Fest.

---

‍ ‍Related Guides

• CMA Fest Bag Policy Guide

• Ultimate CMA Fest Guide

• Autograph & Memorabilia Ideas

---

‍CMA Fest FAQ

Q: What should I pack in my CMA Fest clear bag?
A: ID, credit/debit card, cash, sunscreen, phone charger, ear plugs, snacks, water bottle, and small wellness items.

Q: Can I bring snacks and water bottles to CMA Fest?
A: Yes, but water bottles must follow CMA Fest guidelines. Snacks should be non-perishable and easy to carry.

Q: What should I pack for autographs at CMA Fest?
A: Bring photos, album inserts, 8x10s, or other items you want signed, plus a Sharpie and plastic sheet protectors or a folder to keep autographs from getting bent or damaged.

---