These 13 summer music festivals are within a day's drive of Columbia

It's high time to lock the rock — and pop and hip-hop, country and so forth — into your summer calendar.

The promise of a great summer music festival already is calling, and living in the middle of middle America, Columbia music lovers have ample opportunities to travel for a great lineup of artists.

Here's what to expect from just 13 of the many summer music fests within a day's drive from mid-Missouri.

June 1-2: Railbird

Where: Lexington, Kentucky

Drive time: Around 7 hours

Vibe: Americana-leaning, laid-back, songwriter-forward

Artists to catch: Chris Stapleton, Lord Huron, Turnpike Troubadours, Counting Crows, Dwight Yoakam, Trampled by Turtles

Tickets: $185 general admission single-day; $340 general admission two-day

Website: https://www.railbirdfest.com/

June 13-16: Bonnaroo

Where: Manchester, Tennessee

Drive time: About 7 hours

Vibe: Influential — in a good way

Artists to catch: Maggie Rogers, Khruangbin, Cigarettes After Sex, Jon Batiste, Idles, Brittany Howard, Gregory Alan Isakov, Megan Thee Stallion, Jason Isbell

Tickets: $174-$445

Website: https://www.bonnaroo.com/

June 14-15: Boulevardia

Where: Kansas City

Drive time: Around 2 hours

Vibe: Eclectic, Midwestern, open-hearted

Artists to catch: Hanson, Thundercat, Ha Ha Tonka, Paul Cauthen, Big Freedia

Tickets: $35-$45 single-day

Website: https://boulevardia.com/

June 20-22, 27-29 and July 4-6: Summerfest

Where: Milwaukee

Drive time: About 7 hours

Vibe: Sprawling, crowd-pleasing

Artists to catch: Tyler Childers, Keith Urban, Sleater Kinney, Air, Carly Rae Jepsen

Tickets: Starts at $28 single-day; $62 three-day; $130 nine-day; additional tickets needed for amphitheater shows

Website: https://www.summerfest.com/

June 27-29: Blue Ox

Where: Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Drive time: About 9 hours

Vibe: Homey, resonant, string-centered

Artists to catch: Sierra Ferrell, Band of Horses, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Watchhouse, Sam Bush

Tickets: $145-$254

Website: https://www.blueoxmusicfestival.com/

July 12-13: 80/35

Where: Des Moines

Drive time: Around 4 hours

Vibe: Catchy and artsy, pulling in the same direction

Artists to catch: Killer Mike, OK Go, Hiatus Kaiyote, Bully, Susto

Tickets: $130 two-day

Website: https://www.80-35.com/

July 19-20: Sad Summer

Where: This touring festival will visit Milwaukee July 19, Chicago July 20

Drive time: About 7 hours to Milwaukee; 6 hours to Chicago

Vibe: Emotional, anthemic, galvanizing

Artists to catch: Mayday Parade, The Maine, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck

Tickets: $59

Website: https://www.sadsummerfest.com/

July 19-21: Pitchfork

Where: Chicago

Drive time: About 6 hours

Vibe: Whip-smart, self-deprecating

Artists to catch: Black Pumas, Jeff Rosenstock, Amen Dunes, Carly Rae Jepsen, De La Soul, Alanis Morissette

Tickets: $119 single-day; $239 weekend

Website: https://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/

Aug. 1-4: Lollapalooza

Where: Chicago

Drive time: About 6 hours

Vibe: Dynamic, a little zig with your zag

Artists to catch: Tyler, the Creator, Hozier, SZA, The Killers, Blink-182, Lizzy McAlpine, Deftones, Victoria Monet

Tickets: $149-$409

Website: https://www.lollapalooza.com/

Aug. 2-4: Hinterland

Where: St. Charles, Iowa

Drive time: About 4 hours

Vibe: Autumn in summer

Artists to catch: Vampire Weekend, Noah Kahan, Orville Peck, Chappell Roan

Tickets: At press time, all general admission tickets were sold except Saturday-only at $145

Website: https://www.hinterlandiowa.com/

Aug. 8-10: XRoads41

Where: Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Drive time: About 8 hours

Vibe: Nostalgic, familiar, joyful

Artists to catch: Journey, Brooks and Dunn, Old Dominion, Tanya Tucker

Tickets: $89-$99 single-day; $149 weekend

Website: https://www.xroads41.com/

Sept. 8: Outlaw Music Festival

Where: This touring festival will visit Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in the St. Louis area

Drive time: About 2 hours

Vibe: Legendary, y'all

Artists to catch: Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Southern Avenue

Tickets: $66-$328

Website: https://blackbirdpresents.com/concert/outlaw-music-festival-tour-2024/

Sept. 14-15: Music at the Intersection

Where: St. Louis

Drive time: Around 2 hours

Vibe: Funky, swinging, effortlessly cool

Artists to catch: Big Boi, Lettuce, Trombone, Esperanza Spalding, Robert Randolph, Samara Joy

Tickets : $95 single-day; $175 weekend

Website: https://www.musicattheintersection.org/

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: These 13 summer music festivals are within a day's drive of Columbia