Arriving midnight Sunday ... advice?

[sandfly]

I've agreed to arrive ~midnight Sunday to get the camp for my group. I'm asking for advice on what to expect and how to handle it.

I assume Sunday midnight is a time when lots of people arrive, so it will be zooish. I know we're not supposed to wait on the road, but how does this really work. Do they keep up a gate on County Road 34 which they open at midnight? I'd assume this would create a major traffic tie-up there. Or, do we get to cruise onto the dirt road leading to the BRC gates, then wait there?

Looks like, if there were no traffic, it would be about a 2.5 hour drive from Reno to the turnoff from CR 34, so should I just throw in an extra hour, i.e. leave Reno about 8:30 p.m., and figure the rest will sort itself out from there?

Thanks for any assistance.

[Eric]

time your arrival for after midnight- not at midnight. There is nowhere to park your vehicle before the Gate (which is off 34), and if you arrive early you get shunted to D Lot for what could be hours (first in, last out)

The first 18 hours or so are non-stop madness at the Gate- plan your arrival for 12:30-1am(ish), leaving Reno around 9:30/ 10pm. You might make the Gate then, you might not make the Gate until 3am. You are absolutely guaranteed you will not be at the Gate right at midnight, so I wouldn't bother trying.

As for promising to arrive around midnight for your camp? Not gonna happen. Honestly. I'm not being snarky. It's like saying you'll meet a friend in their seat at a huge coliseum during, oh, Lalapalooza or something, 5 minutes after the start letting people into the venue. Logistical impossibility, unless you had an early access pass, which you don't or you wouldn't be asking the question.

[sputnik]

Yeah, don't even leave Reno until at least 10pm.

[FIGJAM]

Will the rain slow down gate very much?

[Eric]

Will the rain slow down gate very much?

If it sprinkles, it will slow it down. If it Rains, it can close the Gate.

Wet playa is a disaster waiting to happen- sticky clay that vehicles can get stuck in, especially vehicles overloaded with everything they need for the week.

If it's raining heavy when you hit Reno, you might want to see if you can get playa weather conditions before heading up. You'd be better off spending the night in Reno then sitting on the road hoping it clears.

If a lot of rain hits the playa (probably very unlikely) traffic won't move until the ground is dry enough to handle it.

[Ugly Dougly]

If you arrive after dawn you will be able to see where you are camping. It's so competitive that minutes or even hours will really matter.

[sandfly]

... if you arrive early you get shunted to D Lot for what could be hours....

Thanks (all) for the information (so far; more welcome). I know there's only an infinitesimal chance of arriving exactly at midnight, so really wasn't trying for that.