Early Entry strategy to avoid long wait

[uncle sticky]

I'm coming up from Reno, so I have a lot of flexibility, plus my setup doesn't take that long anymore. I got stuck the last two years for multiple hours on Friday Early Entry. Is there a smarter plan to avoid getting stuck at entry? When did you arrive the last few years, and did you wait a long time?

[Chowski]

We come from Sacramento, and arrive either Friday or Saturday. Our goal is always to leave around midnight. If we make that, and can arrive right before dawn, the line is MUCH shorter than if we are held up waiting for that one guy and arrive at noon.

Shoot for the middle of the night.

[TT120]

^^^^ This

I come from Sacramento as well and I've found that arriving on Playa at dawn on Friday is about the best. Hardly any line at gayte and the cops aren't awake yet.

This year, I'm going to be in Reno on Thursday picking up trailers full of beer and will shoot for about 3:00am Friday morning departure from Reno.

[ygmir]

I go to "Early Man" and just stay...

[Token]

Outa curiosity, why not arrive at or just past midnight?

You know exactly where you are placed, right? Or at least the correct block tile.

Is there some new magic that happens with EA and placement team that necessitates daytime arrival?

[Chowski]

We avoid arriving at night since placers aren't working until the morning, and our vehicles are usually too packed to sleep in. We can't set up and we can't sleep. Might as well wait a few hours and arrive as the sun rises.

[maladroit]

We avoid arriving at night since placers aren't working until the morning, and our vehicles are usually too packed to sleep in. We can't set up and we can't sleep. Might as well wait a few hours and arrive as the sun rises.

After a horrendous night trying to sleep sitting upright in a packed, hot car, I bring one of those $50 instant dome tents. I can roll up to an empty spot, conjure sleeping quarters into existence, and be sleeping in 15 minutes. Somehow, I've needed to use it every year since.

[Token]

Thanks Chowski, all my early arrivals were big art builds and we were out weeks before gate. The placers angle is the difference.

[Savannah]

We avoid arriving at night since placers aren't working until the morning, and our vehicles are usually too packed to sleep in. We can't set up and we can't sleep. Might as well wait a few hours and arrive as the sun rises.

After a horrendous night trying to sleep sitting upright in a packed, hot car, I bring one of those $50 instant dome tents. I can roll up to an empty spot, conjure sleeping quarters into existence, and be sleeping in 15 minutes. Somehow, I've needed to use it every year since.

This is what I did in 2014 . . . it was a bit of a lifesaver. I think the tent may have been $25; an impulse purchase along the way.

I can't sleep sitting up in a vehicle to save my life.