Enthusiastic virgin from KC

[RainbowOcarina]

I've been researching Burning Man for a few months now and have decided that I'm going to save up to hopefully go in 2018. I've been looking up all of the tips and tricks as well as other people's experiences on the playa, but I know nothing can really prepare me for the event. Looking to see what others have to say and to get any more info I can. The biggest issue I've come across is how to get there with all of my stuff. I have a few friends who want to go with me, but they don't want to have to drive all the way from Kansas City to BRC. I don't see any other way to get all of our stuff there. Does anyone else have suggestions? I look forward to talking to other Burners and learning as much as I can about this amazing culture!
- Ricky

[playavet since90]

Hey If you want to come from KC with pals you might try driving yourself and your friends flying in. Or you could buy an old cheap rv, trailer, etc. in Reno...lots of sales and give always on craigslist then try storing your burner stuff at a storage place. Or U bring your stuff get your rv, trailer, etc.....and they can fly in....the flight isn't that expensive on southwest airlines. Be careful that u drive under the speed limit...washoe county makes most of their funding on burning man speeding and reckless driving tickets. I got one for passing an rv once..800 bucks but that was in 00. So I'm sure its more now. Wadsworth on be careful with driving. One rule for us burners is to support the local area so it wont be bad to get stuff in Reno and store here. Plus a flight is faster and u can spend more time on the playa....

[Sham]

I'm showing a 23 hour drive from KC to Reno. With 2 drivers, you could practically drive right through with a few gas and pee stops.
You could find a reliable van and a trailer and plan a cool road trip.
Also, you could fly in and find a place to ship your stuff. It all comes down to how YOU want to make this happen. Keep in mind, that there is every store along the way to purchase tents, shade, water and supplies depending how you want to work the trip.
I fly and rent a car. I ship a large box to a hotel and bring two 50 lb. suitcases.
It all comes down to what works for you.
Best of luck in your planning.

Sham....

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to ePlaya!

[Dsm253]

First timer going out this year from KC. Pretty much our only option is to drive, but I'm thinking it won't be too terrible. We can rotate drivers and stop for the night at any point if need be.

[swampdog]

We're everywhere.

Seriously, I bet there are 200 burners in KC. Just a guess off the top of my head. Go here http://regionals.burningman.org/ and find the nearest group to you.

You might find rideshare partners, camp partners, hell you might even find life partners.

[Dsm253]

We're everywhere.

Seriously, I bet there are 200 burners in KC. Just a guess off the top of my head. Go here http://regionals.burningman.org/ and find the nearest group to you.

You might find rideshare partners, camp partners, hell you might even find life partners.

I sure have a hard time finding them. The Midwest Burners community forum has a post I made for this year, and the previous one was someone asking a question (unanswered) about the burn in 2015.

[TT120]

In my opinion, the long drive is part of the Burning Man experience. Road trips can be a lot of fun especially with the energy of Burning Man in your system. My Burning Man experience begins as soon as I leave my driveway.

[Molotov]

Don't put all your eggs in the GPS basket......On 8/21/16, I witnessed a massive head-on two tractor trailer crash and burn 1/4 mile in front of me on I-80 WB near Hershey, Nebraska (no Hershey Highway cracks, please) that shut everything down both ways for hours.

I dug out my paper road atlas and found a parallel highway around the incident. With my little travel trailer I was able to U-turn across the median after the emergency vehicles stopped racing down it, back track 10 miles to North Platte, NE, go 2.5 miles north to US 30 and get moving westbound again, getting back on I-80 in Sutherland, NE.

Saved me hours in frustration in a traffic jam on a hot day.

[BBadger]

Sometimes those GPS units will go against all common sense and send you to this crazy route because they think you can't make a left turn or you there was some road blockage from 2012 that forces you to take some strange mountainous route (it was like this around Gerlach from the Northwest for a time). Keep your wits about you.

[AntiM]

Death by GPS is a thing out West (possibly elsewhere). Have a paper map or trucker atlas. Besides, maps are interesting and fun.

[ereva]

i'm from kc. you can also fly out on southwest with 2 free checked luggage of bins with your essentials and rent a box truck and live in it. get a mattress and hell we even got a couch off craigslist - donate after burn. get bikes from kiwanis are return after the burn. there's a friendly ups store that you can ship to (i ship an amazon pantry box so only fresh food shopping in reno) holds packages for burners at $5 a piece. get your water containers and water in one shot in gerlach at the GID. also you can fly out and do burner express. check out how international burners do it. read the jackrabbit speaks. channel your enthusiasm into some research, i've already given you several gems. eplaya and the burning man reddit have the answers and there are a plethora of options for sourcing your needs economically from burner friendly sources. and 23 hours, ha. that is without stopping for anything, only ten minutes for gas, and then... the line. which can be a whole additional day. keep in mind you're also going up to elevations of over eight and a half thousand feet and elevations sickness is real and you should take precautions. there's a very active midwest burners facebook group and the regional is called interfuse so you find those groups you'll find the people. cheers!