Ever since I wrote (twice) about my serious misgivings about Burning Man and how the annual event will survive on an extremely hot and unpredictable planet, I’ve been asked by friends and acquaintances whether it is still worth going if they’ve never been before.
My answer to that is a big yes. If you’ve been wanting to go, and you have the means to do so, you absolutely should.
I certainly won’t judge you. It’s a very personal cost-benefit analysis. I’ve been six times, and the first five times, I experienced a burst of personal growth and connection that made me a better friend and a more capable human. My sixth time, it just felt indulgent, difficult, expensive, and wasteful. So this year, I’m using the money and vacation days to do a permaculture farming course instead.
The point is, I made a thoughtful and informed decision. And you can too.
I’ve interviewed several longtime burners so I can give you all the information you need to:
- Decide whether you can pull off a trip to Burning Man this year;
- Pack and prepare to survive the playa with body and mind intact;
- While getting as much as you can out of it …
- Without being a selfish asshole.
Commit to the Week
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
First, you need to decide on your schedule. Arriving on the Tuesday of Burning Man week and leaving on the Tuesday after Labor Day is ideal, if you can swing it. Traffic is the lightest, and you can still get the full experience.
I know. You have a life and a job and maybe a family. But there is simply no point in arriving on Thursday in the middle of the festival. By then, a lot of the more interesting and detailed immersive art exhibits have been roughed up and broken, there are many more sloppy drunk and high people running around, and the whole thing starts to feel as crowded and performative as Coachella. The cost-reward ratio is completely off and you’ll leave disappointed. And going for fewer days doesn’t really save you any money.
“I would strongly urge people not to be a weekend warrior,” says Ken Feldman, a 15-time burner from Los Angeles. He’s founded two camps, including the one that I’ve been a part of, which brought a Boeing 747 to the playa as an art car. “If you want to explore, I would arrive no later than Tuesday. The traffic isn’t bad, but the city is still growing, and you can catch the highlights and find some of the hidden gems.”
You can plan on leaving on Sunday night or early Monday morning. Just budget for 12 hours of traffic getting out.
Determine Your Budget and Camp
The amount of money you could spend for a week at the burn is almost limitless, with some camp dues surpassing $30,000. But if you live on the West Coast and you’re flexible, you could do the burn for as little as $1,500 all in. That includes a low-income ticket for $225 (versus $575 for the full-price ticket), getting yourself there, supplies, and dues for a simple camp.
If you’re an outdoorsy, self-reliant person on a budget, you might think free camping—in a tent, on your own, on the outskirts of the city—is the way to go. But Sofia Collins, who has both free-camped and co-led two camps, thinks noobs will do better with a support group. “You will have so much more emotional, mental, and logistical help with knowing how to prepare,” she says.
Finding a camp is more than just selecting one from a drop-down menu. You have to work your social network and use your people skills. Start by asking any burner friends for recommendations, joining Facebook and WhatsApp groups full of burners, and attending camp fundraisers (aka parties) in your city where you can ask around.
If you’re on a budget, look for a camp that only charges a couple hundred dollars in dues but has been around for a few years, provides a shade structure, and has a generator.
If you’re looking for a little more comfort (daily fresh-cooked dinner made by your campmates, a shower, an RV) and you’re flying in from elsewhere, plan on spending around $4,000 to $5,000 all in.
You’ll want to avoid what are called plug n’ play camps, which are a scam. They essentially function as all-inclusive resorts where everything is set up and provided by staff—and the fellow campers are just as vapid and vicious as at the fictional White Lotus resort.
“Stay away from camps that are providing ‘services’ like stylists, hair and makeup, staff, or anyone bundling housing and tickets,” Feldman says. “These are red flags. The people who will be camping there probably won’t be as much fun, and the whole camp could get shut down mid-burn and you’ll be stuck without shelter, food, water, etc.”
If you want a more sustainable camp, look for one that brings their food scraps to a composting camp, collects cans to bring to Recycle Camp, and has some sort of solar array.
One trick to determine how good a camp is, is to check how the camp did in terms of Leaving No Trace last year. When the Burning Man crew does a sweep of the playa after it’s all over, they note down how much MOOP (matter out of place, or litter) is left on each camp’s site. If the camp is in the red, that’s a bad sign.
Determine Your Shelter
Your options for shelter include a tent, an RV or a trailer. You could also try a Shiftpod, a reflective shelter designed by burners for desert camping.
Hardcore burners will swear up and down that you don’t need air-conditioning to enjoy your burn—just a battery-powered fan for your tent—but that might not be true for much longer. Nearby Reno, Nevada, is heating up faster than any other city due to climate change.
“As much as I hate AC units because they’re bad for the environment, they can be seriously life-saving depending on the heat,” says Collins. She says you can find a used AC unit for between $200 and $500. If your camp doesn’t provide power, you’ll need to bring a small generator—solar panels can’t handle an AC unit.
If you do tent camp, make sure your camp has a quiet, well shaded, or even air-conditioned shared lounge area where you can nap during the day. Or know where your friends with air-conditioning are staying, in case of emergencies.
The hexayurt built from taped insulation panels used to be more popular, but it’s annoying to build and transport, so the Shiftpod, an insulated dome that sleeps two comfortably, has largely taken its place. In fact, both Collins and Rueben Pacheco, who attended his first burn in 2009 and brings a gnome-themed art car to the playa, own a Shiftpod. Feldman bought a trailer many years ago but might get a Shiftpod in the future.
The Shiftpod sells for $1,600, comes in a large duffel, and can be set up in 20 minutes. It keeps dust out pretty well, and folks who stayed in them during last year’s deluge reported that their floors stayed dry. “Seriously, a great investment,” Collins says.
Many burners who fly into a nearby city opt to pick up an RV to complete the journey. With its built-in AC, beds, kitchen, and fridge, it makes for more comfort and lighter packing. It’s also way more comfortable than a car in a 12-hour-long exodus line. The downside is the expense (budget at least $2,000 per person for rental, fees, and gas), and the stress of piloting that lumbering monster around Reno and into and out of Black Rock City, especially since Burning Man’s governing body, the Org, banned RV delivery starting last year. Oh, and RVs are hands-down the most polluting shelter at Burning Man, with a large carbon footprint and a large generator draw, which means more noise and particulate pollution on the playa.
Decide How You’ll Get There
You can get to the burn (in order of cost) by taking the Burner Bus, driving your own car in, driving an RV in, or flying in.
Expect long lines of traffic on the way in and out—unless you arrive by air or by bus.
JULIE JAMMOT/Getty Images
The Burner Express Bus, which boards in San Francisco and Reno, is the most eco-friendly way to get to the burn. It also gets to skip the traffic lines in and out. You’ll make friends on the way in, and you don’t take the risk of falling asleep at the wheel from sheer exhaustion on the way out. You just need to be conscious of packing smartly, because there are (totally reasonable) limits on how much baggage you can bring on the bus.
As for flying straight into Black Rock City … it’s controversial. Many high-net-worth weekend warriors fly in on Thursday because it’s easy. Plus, you can only bring one piece of luggage on the little private airplanes, meaning you’re having someone else bring in your supplies and shelter for you, which directly contradicts the dearly held Burning Man principle of radical self-reliance. With a high cost and high environmental impact, it represents for many the ways in which Burning Man has changed for the worse. But, flying in, especially if you do it on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, is reportedly very fun and will save you many hours of travel and traffic.
Create a Grocery List
Just in case you weren’t aware, there are no restaurants or convenience stores on the playa where you can buy food or beverages.
There is plenty of free food on the playa. You can reference the guidebook you get upon arrival or download an offline app that lists all of the camps giving out food. But usually, the lines are long, the portions are small, and the food isn’t so healthy.
“You shouldn’t count on food from other places. You shouldn’t even count on your camp having your food covered,” Feldman says. “Make sure you have enough food that does not require refrigeration or cooking so that you can survive.”
You’ll need only about two-thirds of your normal daily caloric intake while you’re in the dusty desert. Even if you enjoy cooking at home, cooking on the playa isn’t fun and honestly takes time away from experiences. So snacks it is.
Think energy bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, dried fruit and nut mixes, ramen, pickled vegetables, pureed fruit squeeze packs, and jerky. If you have a fridge in your RV, add in yogurt drinks, fruit, and smoothies. Bring an ice chest (ice is the only thing you can buy at the burn) for cold drinks, including electrolyte drinks. “I also suggest seltzers, coconut waters, and the hidden gem, the herbal matte. I drink like a case of those,” Pacheco says.
Remember: There are no trash cans on the playa, and you’ll have to pack out your own waste. So steer away from excessive packaging and food that will rot and get smelly, and get your beverages in cans so you can bring your empties to Recycle Camp.
Make sure you come up with a grocery list and stick to it. Take it from me: If you unleash all your RV mates into Walmart or Whole Foods, you’ll end up spending hundreds of dollars on food that you will have to trash on the way out. If you do have leftover unopened food, you can stop at the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe food bank on your way out.
Purchase Essentials, but Be Mindful
One of the biggest complaints environmentalists and Reno residents have about Burners is all the plastic trash they produce from bringing garbage they’ve bought on Amazon and Temu. “If you’re really trying to reduce your carbon footprint, don’t buy so much new stuff,” Feldman says.
Instead, borrow, borrow, borrow, then thrift, thrift, thrift. “If you find that you love Burning Man, then the next year you invest in solid essentials that will last you years to come,” Pacheco says.
There are a few extras that will up-level your burn, of course.
“Make sure to go with a bigger CamelBak so you aren’t forced to go back to your camp and refill,” Pacheco says. “I carry a 3-liter one.” He also recommends a sealable Tupperware container instead of a plate if you’re food-camp hopping. “Most likely you’re going to eat something that has syrup or sauce, and you want to contain that shit in your bag.”
“A good pillow and just good bedding in general,” Collins says. “The playa is often a very overstimulating place, so having your shelter feel like a very cozy, calm, and safe nest just does wonders.” She likes to bring an extra pillowcase to swap for your dusty one mid-burn. Pacheco recommends forgoing an air mattress for an insulated pad or futon mattress.
Things that you won’t find on survival guides but that have up-leveled my burns include Weleda skin food lotion (to keep your hands from cracking) and rechargeable and solar-powered lights. The Luci lights I bought in 2014 are still going strong, while the blinky lights from Amazon all break by the end of the burn and end up in the trash.
Get a Fixie
Think about how you’ll get around on the playa.
Jim Rankin/Getty Images
You’ll definitely want a bike to get around. Get a cheap secondhand fixed-gear bicycle with fat and wide beach-cruiser tires. Why not gears? Well, it’s flat out there. And the more complex your bike, the more likely the playa dust will get in there and gunk it up. Add a basket with a net. And make sure you know where the bike repair camps are located.
More and more burners have started bringing ebikes, but most agree that they’re not necessary, and may even detract from the experience. The speed limit on the playa is 5 miles per hour, but it’s easy to exceed that and then get into an accident and injure yourself or someone else. If you forget to charge up your ride, or the dust gets into the electronics, you might be stuck in the deep playa with a heavy bike. “I only got an ebike last year because I had really injured my back,” Collins says.
“You miss a lot if you’re just speeding along. There is something beautiful about the late-night slow, simple ride with your friends,” Feldman says.
Pacheco disagrees, however, saying he can experience more of Burning man with an ebike. “If Burning Man continues to become more like a hellscape with the heat, then traveling in daytime needs to be more efficient.”
Chill on the Outfits
Burning Man is famous for its wild fashions. But every person I talked to said for your first burn, you should spend as little money and energy as possible crafting your outfits.
“Don’t overdo it on the costumes. Don’t spend a lot of money. It’s such a waste,” Feldman says. “You need to experience the environment first.”
I know that when you see images from Burning Man, it’s all Victoria Secret models wearing 6-inch platform boots and spiky epaulets over lingerie. But those same models (and aspiring influencers) look pretty miserable in person, trust me. Also, long, flowing skirts and other costume items will get caught in your bike chain.
“I really really think a lot of virgin burners get too caught up in feeling like they have to have the perfect burner outfits,” Collins says. “My ultimate outfit advice: Dress in ways that will be functional and comfortable, something you can bike, dance, cuddle up with friends in. There’s no point dumping all your cash into an outfit you can barely walk in!”
“Always wear comfortable shoes,” Feldman says. “This is very important. You are going to be on your feet a lot. You don’t want to ruin your burn by having a bunch of blisters.”
No matter your gender, you can get away with a few pairs of comfortable boots and high-top shoes, merino wool socks, underwear, one pair of goggles and a bandana or scarf for dust storms, sunglasses, a hat or parasol, leggings and booty shorts, bathing suits, and a cozy vintage fur or faux fur coat for cold nights.
If you want to add in more flair, fishnet stockings, a kimono, an animal onesie, nipple pasties, and lingerie all work well. Saturday Burn Night is the evening when people go all out, so if you have a headpiece or fun accessories, save it for then. Crocs or sandals for the shower and a quick trip to the bathroom are also helpful.
The best place to get these essentials is by borrowing them from other burners who aren’t going this year. The next best place is to head to the local thrift store. If you want a showstopper piece, Etsy has plenty. If you’re in New York, you can get styled and rent an outfit from Costume Closet (which also provides digital styling sessions and ships all over the US).
MIKE NELSON/Getty Images
Pace Yourself
Burning Man never stops, and it can be tempting to give in to your FOMO and forgo sleep so you can attend the kink olympics with your friends, then ditch your friends and rush off because you heard a famous DJ is playing a sunset set out by the trash fence.
“Be gentle with yourself, have realistic expectations, and know that you’re going to get the kind of burn you need, even if it’s not the one you asked for,” Collins says. “It’s an annoying saying, but damn, it’s true.”
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Feldman says. “Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Don’t get sloppy. You don’t want to end up face down on some couch in the sun. You’re going to embarrass yourself and overheat yourself, and the next thing you know, you’ve ruined your burn.”
Running on no sleep will not only ruin your mood, it can become dangerous in the heat of the desert, especially when you add in recreational drugs. “Not sleeping and staying up for 36 hours will also screw you,” Pacheco says. “I subscribe to the midnight nap. The best parts of Burning man are the sunsets and sunrises. I will have dinner and go to bed at 11 pm and wake up around 4 am.”
Don’t Be the Asshole
A camp will assign you work shifts. You may be asked to cook, run the bar, interact at events, or clean up. You’ll also be expected to help break down the camp on Sunday. The opportunity to get your hands dirty alongside an executive, a famous cello player, and a broke-ass punk from Toronto is why Burning Man is so special and life-changing.
”Show up on time, sober-ish, and ready,” Feldman says. “Pound a Redbull, get ‘er done. You’ll make a lot of friends and appreciate everything a lot more.”
There is a stereotype called a Sparkle Pony, who shows up to the burn with three suitcases of outfits and no food or water, expecting everyone around them to take care of them. They wear fashion that drops feathers and sequins all over the playa for other people to pick up. They get entitled if they have to wait more than a few minutes for a (free) drink at the bar. They suck, and honestly get the burn they deserve.
“Since building and breaking down a camp is a communal effort, each person is relying on the others to pull their weight,” Pacheco explains. Examples of bad behavior include showing up too high to work your shift, disappearing during a work shift, littering around your RV, or sitting in your AC while the rest of the camp builds or breaks down.
As a noob, you might get fussed at when you are caught decorating your bike instead of helping pick up MOOP (litter). Mistakes happen. Just apologize and jump in.
“In the end, for a newbie, it’s just about being present and trying your best. Also, you’re probably gonna cry at least once because shit gets crazy out there,” Pacheco says.
Some Final Advice
I’m not promising you an easy or predictable burn. (If the volatile weather conditions of the past few years keep going the way they’re going, there might be hail or a plague of locusts this year.) But I can tell you that you’ll get something out of it, no matter what.
“Being so seasoned, I have found myself in that sweet spot where at times I’m completely over it, but at the same time still completely in love with it,” Pacheco says.
Sure, there will probably be a lot fewer people out there this year than in years past. The heat in 2022 and the rain in 2023 drove away the people who were just there for the party. But some say this year might be more magical for that very reason.
“Do not be afraid to go out alone and explore. There’s literally a city full of people from around the world. They’re hungry to make connections and experiences with you,” Pacheco says. “You would be amazed at the shenanigans and adventures you’ll get into if you just open yourself up to new experiences.”
“Also,” he adds, “don’t eat too many hotdogs.”
