How early is too early?

[bootink1]

This is going to be my first time going to burning man. me and my friends are driving from a few states away. I have read that they dont want you showing up early. if you do they make you wait in another area ect. my question is how early is too early? Say they open the gate at 5pm.. if i get to gerlach at say 2 pm. am i committing a big no no? i am driving from a few states away so my exact timing of trip may not be exact. any advice or info?

[GreyCoyote]

Hanging out in Gerlatch isnt a good idea. Plan on arriving as the gate opens or shortly thereafter. Honestly, you will have a long wait any time during the first 24 hours, so there is little sense in risking a turnaround or impound in D Lot. The city is in setup mode at this time, so you wont miss a lot by arriving a bit later.

[theCryptofishist]

You can buy a permit from the Paiute, and sit by Pyramid lake and wait there. Or wait in Reno--get some shopping done, perhaps. You don't want to get there before the gate opens. So manage your exact time by staging near to the burn.

[Eric]

if i get to gerlach at say 2 pm. am i committing a big no no?

Yes. You would be committing a huge no no. Period.

From the online Survival Guide, under "Arriving at Burning Man"

NO EARLY ARRIVALS
Do not come to the event site before our Gate opens at 6 p.m. Sunday, August 25. We are not ready to receive participants until we have finished building the city and have our full public safety and sanitation infrastructure in place. Our permit stipulates an opening time of 6 p.m. so plan your driving time to the playa accordingly. DO NOT wait on the side of the road anywhere along Hwy 447 or Hwy 34 or in the town of Gerlach. This poses a serious safety hazard, adds needless stress on neighboring communities, and places our event at risk. Note: if you arrive before the Gate opens you are likely to have a much longer wait to get in than if you arrive after the Gate opens.

emphasis mine

Fishy's suggestions above are good. You will not be the first person in the Gate, attempting it is just going to cause bigger problems. Figure 4-5 hours from Reno (if things are going smooth & theirs no major accidents), leave so that time-span wouldn't get you there before the Gate opens. And plan on meeting all your new neighbors in line.