When to show up? What route from Texas?

Paolo · Post by **Paolo** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:13 am

2006 will be my first Burning man and I am excited to say the least. As I plan my trip, I have a few questions:

1. When should I show up? When do they open the gates?
I will have a modest camp to sustain myself and my partner so I will only need a day to make camp. Even though I will not have an art installation or theme camp, I would still like to get there early to observe and help others set-up.

2. What is the best route to travel from north Dallas, Texas?

Thanks!

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:23 am

Gate opens 12:01 AM (midniteish) the Monday before Labor day. I'd time it to show up about 6ish in the morning - you ned to be able to see where you're seting up and not run other people over...

How I would go - North on IH35, west on IH40 (OK city), North on US95 over the border, West on US50 (Reno Hwy, NOT Emigrant Trail to Carson City) catch 447 north at Fernley, and there to home. Never come that way but starting to plan ahead so when I retire in San Antonio I have the route planned out. >giggles<

bb

Paolo · Post by **Paolo** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 2:53 pm

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:How I would go - North on IH35, west on IH40 (OK city), North on US95 over the border, West on US50 (Reno Hwy, NOT Emigrant Trail to Carson City) catch 447 north at Fernley, and there to home. Never come that way but starting to plan ahead so when I retire in San Antonio I have the route planned out.

Hey Sue, thanks for the info.
Do you think I can make that route in a Yellow VW Beetle? I hope the roads are paved! hehe

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:10 pm

There's pavement all the way to the event, and the playa is so hard-pack it may as well be asphalt!

Get your vehicle tuned and in good shape well before you start packing for your trip.

safetythird · Post by **safetythird** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:07 am

Make sure your cooling is up to snuff, especially in an air cooled bug if you plan to drive during the day. Some areas are hot enough to overwork a watercooled system. Remember that you'll probably have your car loaded up pretty good which makes your car work harder and hotter. We're going to replace our monster radiator in the RV with an even monster-ier one for this years trip. It's not fun driving with the heater on in 100F.

S3

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:31 am

If you think you may need one, get a roadside assistance plan. I pay a buttload every year for one that covers the trailer too; expensive, but cheaper than out of pocket on a tow. mine is tied to the card holder, not the vehicle, so anything I'm traveling in is eligible for jumps and tire changes and towing and such.

Paolo · Post by **Paolo** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:30 am

safetythird wrote:Make sure your cooling is up to snuff, especially in an air cooled bug if you plan to drive during the day. S3

Luckily, our little yellow beetle, (named SUNSHINE) is water cooled. Sunshine is a 2000 turbo touting a wopping 150 hp and 156 torque. I hope she can pull a small utility trailer. We will see!

Roadside assistance is a good idea,...I will look into that.

safetythird · Post by **safetythird** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:01 pm

My bad. When I hear bug I think old bug and when I hear beatle I think new beatle. In that case it might be a good idea to have the cooling system serviced (inspected, flushed, etc) especially if you plan to tow. Towing is a whole 'nother can of worms and is discussed at length elsewhere in the forums.

For us the roadside assistance is a must. While we would still be covered by our AAA service we still buy the Good Sam service specifically for RVs. We used the Good Sam in 2004 to find a place to change a tire on the RV and once again in 2005 to have someone come change a tire for us. This year: NEW TIRES! but still keeping the Good Sam club just in case something else goes wrong. It's $100 a year and paid for the 2 years we had it with the one tire change service.

S3

MoisturePup · Post by **MoisturePup** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:19 pm

Paolo wrote:2006 will be my first Burning man and I am excited to say the least. As I plan my trip, I have a few questions:

1. When should I show up? When do they open the gates?
I will have a modest camp to sustain myself and my partner so I will only need a day to make camp. Even though I will not have an art installation or theme camp, I would still like to get there early to observe and help others set-up.

2. What is the best route to travel from north Dallas, Texas?

Thanks!

Paolo show up on July 4th.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:46 pm

This is the way we've gone before:

Dallas to Wichita Falls via 287 (116.9)
Wichita Falls to Amarillo via 287 (225.1)
Amarillo to Albuquerque via I-40 (288.4)
Albuquerque to Las Vegas via I-40 (572.8)
Las Vegas to Fallon, NV (386.2)
Fallon, NV to Reno, NV (63.3)

One year we took the "scenic route" (I-35 to I-80). Longer but so beautiful. Not reommended for a loaded-up Volkswagen though (lots and lots of mountains).

Never thought about doing I-40. Maybe this year...the killer is Las Vegas to Reno. BORING AS HELL and there is nothing out there. Maybe we'll figure out a way to avoid that leg...hm....

Paolo · Post by **Paolo** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:02 am

HughMungus wrote:This is the way we've gone before:
Dallas to Wichita Falls via 287 (116.9)
Wichita Falls to Amarillo via 287 (225.1)
Amarillo to Albuquerque via I-40 (288.4)
Albuquerque to Las Vegas via I-40 (572.8 )
Las Vegas to Fallon, NV (386.2)
Fallon, NV to Reno, NV (63.3)

Hugh,
Thanks for sharing the nice directions! I am glad that you included the mileage. I agree that the "flat" route would be better for my rig. By chance, do you know the mileage from Reno to Blackrock?

Thanks

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:06 pm

Paolo wrote:By chance, do you know the mileage from Reno to Blackrock?

Thanks

I think it's 80 miles. Can't remember. Somebody else will know exactly.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:09 pm

Do Reno to Gerlach on Mapquest and add 9, I think.

When to show up? What route from Texas?

When to show up? What route from Texas?

Route from Texas

The road to the Playa

Re: When to show up? What route from Texas?

Mileage

Re: Mileage