Riding bikes at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys

First Time at Burning Man? Learn from my Mistakes!

If you’re not familiar with Burning Man, you’re likely either under the age of 12 or have been living under a rock for most of your life. Just in case, here’s a bit of history. Burning Man is an annual event that takes place in “Black Rock City.” It is a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada.

It was started by a group of guys in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco, where they had a giant bonfire to “burn the man.” “The man” was a 9-foot wooden man and he has since grown to be around 40 feet. Why they burned “the man” is widely disputed, and it doesn’t really matter anymore since it’s just become an excuse for people to pay a bunch of money to dress up in costumes, roll around in the dust, and spend a week being whoever or whatever they want to be.

I’ve been aware of Burning Man since I was in high school and my curiosity about the goings-on of the festival made it an early entry on my bucket list. I envisioned dusty, naked hippies taking large amounts of acid and driving around on giant art cars while bumping electronic dance music. In 2016, I was finally able to make the trip and as it turns out, my vision wasn’t too far off.

I found it to be full of a bunch of rich kids (with tickets at over $400 each at the time that include nothing but the pleasure of entering the fake city, you’ve got to have some cash to make the trek) wearing nipple pasties or “shirt-cocking” (yes, it’s exactly as it sounds), high on drugs, riding on bikes or art cars, and snapping selfies.

Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Playa at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys

Before I left for a week on the playa, a friend said to me “get lost, and then you’ll find yourself”. Well, I did get lost (but only because the layout is super confusing initially), and I found that Burning Man isn’t really my jam. But I made some pretty major mistakes on my first go-around, so someday I’d like to try again and hopefully find out what all the hype is about.

So if it’s your first time at Burning Man, check out my tips for first-timers before you go and avoid making the same mistakes I did!

Don’t forget to check out our web story: First Time at Burning Man? Learn from my Mistakes!

A Few Basics if it’s Your First Time at Burning Man

  • Burning Man takes place the week before Labor Day every year. They burn the man on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Then, the temple on Sunday, and most people head home on Monday.
  • The process for actually obtaining tickets is pretty strange/confusing/annoying. First, you create a “burner profile”. Then, on the “main sale” date (takes place sometime in March), you’ll get into an online queue at the designated time. Then they have a random selection process as to who can buy tickets and who can’t (you’ll sit at your computer and wait for a LONG time before you find out). Each person is only allowed to buy two tickets and one parking pass. When we went, somehow I got in but Nick and our five other friends were denied. So, if you have a group of people who all want to go, good luck.
  • The only things that are actually sold at Burning Man are ice and coffee.
  • Burning Man is all about the gifts. You can’t sell things or offer trade for things. But you should plan on bringing some extras to gift to others. Maybe that is handmade bracelets or extra mimosa fixings or grilled cheese sandwiches. As you wander across the playa and various camps around Burning Man, you’ll be amazed at the things people will offer you. There is no expectation of any form of reciprocation. It is one of many incredible things that makes Burning Man a truly unique experience.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Champagne Snow cones at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
Champagne snow cones?!? Yum!
  • Black Rock City is laid out like a clock, half of the circle is for camping. The other half is considered “deep playa,” which is a giant open space reserved for the epic art installations.
  • There are some “guiding principles” of Burning Man and people like to talk about them a lot. Read them before you go so you understand what everyone is talking about.
  • Costumes with a lot of small pieces that can easily fall off (i.e. feathers or sequins) are frowned upon. Burners call litter “MOOP” (Matter Out Of Place) and they get all judgy about it.
  • If you don’t live in the USA, there is also an Afrikaburn that is modeled after the original. Maybe it is a little easier for you to attend.

What to Pack for Burning Man

  • Your ticket – they will not accept anything other than your official paper ticket. It would be horrifying to have to drive all the way back home to get it.
  • So. Many. Costumes – I started prepping my costumes 6 months before BM. I went all handmade and all original. It was a ridiculous amount of work, but worth it for the epic photos.
  • Booze – mimosas for breakfast, beer with lunch, and cocktails for dinner. Bring plenty extra to share with your new burner friends!
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Dancing at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
  • Food – the only things you can buy at Burning Man are ice and coffee. If you run out of food or water, you’ll likely find kind souls who will feed and water you. But, I wouldn’t recommend relying on that.
  • Water – again, you can’t buy water here (though as your ice melts you’ll have a fresh supply). So, you’ll need to plan for drinking water and showering water (if you choose that choice). We brought two gallons per person per day, which ended up being WAY too much (but we never showered soooo…). If you plan on showering, you’ll need a contraption to catch the grey water and let it evaporate in the sun. No dirty water on the playa – a kiddie pool works pretty well for this.
  • Tent and shade structure – it gets HOT starting around 8 am. And you’ll likely need a nap in the afternoon. Shade is an absolute priority on the playa.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Shade structure at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
The more shade, the better!
  • Loads of sunscreen – see above.
  • Actual shoes – the dust of the playa virtually destroys everything it touches. So, the less you expose your tootsies, the better. Flip flops are only really good for late-night trips to the loo.
  • Air mattress and bedding – Do I need to explain this? Well, maybe you don’t plan on sleeping but if you do, you’ll need some things.
  • Bicycle – Black Rock City is HUGE. Like, an actual city. So if you tried to walk from one end to the other and back again, it would take you the entire day. If you don’t have a bike, you’ll likely have a very strange and sad experience that is limited to your immediate neighborhood, or you’ll need to catch a ride on random art cars. There are several hundred communal “Yellow Bikes” that are provided for free – but it takes a lot of luck to happen upon one when you need it. If you’re planning on “shirt cocking”, add some extra fluff to your bike seat.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Bicycles & art cars at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
  • A bike lock – not that anyone is intentionally stealing. Some people just get too drunk and wander off with the wrong bike. Since no one is purposely trying to steal your bike, a lightweight lock will suffice. A simple combination lock is much better than one requiring a key.
  • Lights – lights to illuminate your bike are pretty important to avoid late-night crashes. Also, having a headlight for trips to the porto and lights to hang around your tent is necessary. Luci lights are amazing for Burning Man. They will recharge in the sun during the day and be ready at night. And they are super compact when it’s time to pack up!
  • Toilet paper – occasionally, you’ll be lucky enough to find a dry roll of toilet paper in one of the freaking disgusting, dilapidated porta-potties. But, I wouldn’t count on it. Plan on bringing your own. Single-ply is the only ply for the portos.
  • Lots and lots of baby wipes – you will never be so dirty in your entire life as you will be during a week at Burning Man. If you bring enough water, and you’re with a group, they may have a solar shower contraption. Or, you can stick to nightly baby wipe hippie showers like me.
  • Goggles and a bandanna to cover your nose/mouth – dust storms are inevitable at Burning Man. If you happen to get caught in one, you will need to immediately stop what you’re doing and attempt to find shelter to wait it out. You can’t see more than a foot in front of your face. So, attempting to go anywhere is impossible (and potentially dangerous because art cars can’t see you either). Read our Guide to the Best Goggles for Burning Man.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Dust storm at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
The beginning of a massive dust storm
  • Extra batteries or solar charger – the only way to get electricity at Burning Man is through solar power or a generator. Or some type of converter on your bike. Unless you have a very large solar panel, you’ll have a hard time charging things. Plus, anything you leave outside is at the mercy of a surprise dust storm. Best to bring spare batteries for any lights or headlamps. Plus, a battery that can recharge your cell phone and camera battery too. We took an Anker PowerCore 26800mAh Portable Charger and it lasted all week!
  • Tupperware – the best way to keep your valuables dust-free is to store them in Tupperware containers. You can seal them up tight when you leave for the day.

We have had so many people ask about what we packed for Burning Man, we wrote a post about it…

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2021 Burning Man Packing List

Burning Man Tips for First-Timers

Should you Drive to Black Rock City?

Pros

  • Flying isn’t really an option with the amount of stuff you’ll need to bring. We drove a large Ford Bronco, and it’s never been packed so full as when we went to Burning Man. There is no way we would have been able to carpool, bus, or fly with the amount of junk we brought. Granted, we definitely overpacked, but since BM is in the middle of nowhere, it’s better to be over-prepared than under.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Packing for Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
Stuffed to the brim!

Cons

  • It’s a LONG drive. No matter where you’re coming from, the Black Rock Desert is in the middle of nowhere – the closest airport is in Reno, Nevada (affectionately known as the ‘Gateway to Burning Man‘). This is why it’s the ideal location for such a large festival.
  • The traffic getting into “Black Rock City” is horrendous. Every person who passes into Black Rock City must have their paper ticket scanned and their car searched for spare people. Then, they must be greeted by the welcome committee, which involves getting out of their car, banging on a gong, and doing “dust angels” to be all zen with the playa. And more than 70,000 people have to do all of those things. We arrived on Saturday, the day before opening day, and waited for 4 HOURS. In our car. In line.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Traffic at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
The line of traffic

My Advice

Drive, but don’t plan on going on opening day. Wait until Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to avoid the line to get in. Also, stock up on road sodas and adult diapers.


Should you Camp in a Tent at Burning Man?

Pros

  • It’s easy to pack. If you plan on driving for your first time at Burning Man, understand that your car will be crammed with all of your necessities for the week and a tent won’t take up too much room.
  • It’s easy to assemble. Even really large tents are reasonably fast and easy to put together.
  • It’s cheap. If you don’t have a motorhome or a converted campervan, renting one is crazy expensive. Especially if they have an inkling that you’ll be taking it to BM (the dust is REALLY rough on both the interior and the exterior of any vehicle). Most nearby rental agencies charge an extra damage/cleaning fee if they figure out that you’re taking it to Burning Man.

Cons

  • You will sleep on top of a layer of dust every night. Tents are breathable, which is good for not dying in your sleep, but bad for keeping out millions of tiny dust particles.
  • Nothing in the tent will ever be the same again (and don’t even try to keep the tent). The playa dust will be in every crevice of your body and everything you brought with you. It’s not even worth trying to salvage. Do as Frozen Elsa did and “let it gooooo.”
  • You’ll hear EVERYTHING. Las Vegas may be the “city that never sleeps”, but Black Rock City is like the obnoxious younger sibling that not only won’t sleep but wants to kick you every 30 seconds to ensure that you don’t get any shut-eye either. If you’re in a tent, you’ll be lulled to slumber by EDM (electronic dance music) pumping in your eardrums and laser lights dancing across your rooftop.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Midnight Train at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
Catch a ride on an art car
  • You’ll still need shade. Tents provide a semblance of protection against the elements but have serious difficulty avoiding becoming sweat infernos beginning at sunrise and then boiling until dusk. Bring a tarp and some rebar to hide beneath. But, make sure to cut some holes in the tarp at least it gets picked up by a dust storm and carried violently across the playa.
  • You’ll need to use the camp porta-potties. While waiting in the 4-HOUR-LONG car line just to get into Black Rock City, I decided to have a beer or 10 while I waited patiently in the scorching heat, which meant that I eventually had to use the ladies’ room. There were a few portas along the route, and I’ve never seen a toilet so full of funk in my entire life. And let’s get one thing straight – Burning Man takes place on a playa, which is a stretch of dry lake bed as far as the eye can see. No plants. No trees. And, no shelter to squat. And no pee-privacy, like, ever. The porta-potty company that Burning Man uses saves their most despicable and unsanitary porta-potties just for this annual event, and squatting just isn’t really an option so…
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Porta-potties at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
They DO NOT look this clean mid-week

My Advice

Rent a campervan. Reserve it well in advance as every type of large vehicle within several hundred miles of Black Rock City will be booked the week of Burning Man.

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Should you Join an Established Themed Camp?

Pros

  • You’ll know other people there. The people are what makes your first time at Burning Man (all of the really) so special, so why not get to know more of them!
  • You’ll cook meals together. Or if you’re in a fancy enough camp, you’ll have a kitchen crew cooking. And generally, not just cooking spaghetti either. Our camp chef made elaborate meals with sustainably grown ingredients and non-GMO and all that hippie jazz.
  • They will think of things that you won’t. Like a water station for hand washing, tooth brushing, and dishwashing. By the end of the week, it will be full of gross, old food scraps and out of soap, but it’s better than nothing.
  • They will provide lots of shady tent space for lounging. You won’t always want to be zooming around the playa on your huffy, sometimes you’ll just want to chill out on an inflatable unicorn. If you’re on your own, you’ll probably have to find some random other camps to hang with (that’s pretty fun too), but if you’ve joined a camp they’ve likely got loads of shady space and furniture at your disposal.
  • They help to make your first “burn” less intimidating. They’ve already been there and done that.
  • You’ll make friends for life. And they’ll probably give you a silly “burner name”. Mine was RipCord because I knew when it was time to pull it and head to a hotel.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Distrikt party at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
New friends!

Cons

  • You’ll have to actually WORK. And not just while you’re at Burning Man. Large theme camps have loads of structures and equipment, and they needed to test all of their gear beginning months in advance to make sure they had all of the parts and that everything worked right. And for good reason – if you get out to the playa and realize you’ve left a very important screw at home, you’re pretty much screwed. So almost every Saturday leading up to the big day, we had a “work party” where we would assemble and then disassemble various tents and structures. It was not exactly my ideal way to spend a weekend. Plus, we signed up for the “set-up” crew so we had to arrive at camp early to set everything up, which meant that we were on the playa (and unshowered) for an extra two days. If you join a camp, you can expect to work several shifts throughout the week doing jobs, such as set-up, tear-down, bartender, cook, clean-up, etc.
  • There is a meal schedule that you must either plan for or starve. Some camps (including ours) have set meal times, and if you don’t show up for them, then you are on your own to scrounge for food. Plus, it was considered a big no-no to raid the kitchen at our camp. We found it incredibly difficult to ever make it in time. At 9 am (breakfast), we were generally zooming around deep in the playa because we’d gotten up for sunrise since there weren’t a million people everywhere, so it was the best time to explore. During lunchtime, we were too hot to eat. And I’ve never seen more beautiful sunrises than on the playa, so our camp’s strict 7 pm dinnertime made it impossible to get to an epic sunrise location in time. So, we paid for really elaborate, expensive meals and generally ended up eating the $3 pretzels that we brought from home. Each camp handles mealtime a little differently, but you can expect it to add a bit more structure to your week at Burning Man (which can be good or bad).
  • It adds even more expense to your trip. Tickets just to get into Burning Man are outrageously expensive (we paid $450/person plus $80 to park), and then we paid an extra $600/person to join our camp. Plus, you have loads of other expenses to get ready for, so be prepared to break the bank.
  • You may not be stoked about their “gift” to the playa. Different camps plan different events to essentially “give back” to the playa. Some host giant parties, others set up a full-on cafe and serve fancy espresso drinks (all completely free of course), and some offer slushy champagne cocktails that are heavenly in the middle of a hot and dusty day. One outrageously amazing camp held “belligerent butt-fighting competitions.” Our camp had “party pole parties.” So they had a bunch of stuffed animals and some big poles, passersby would cut holes in the stuffed animal’s butts and shove them on the end of a pole. Apparently, you take them to parties so your friends can find you. Lots of people loved it, but I had a hard time getting excited about it.

My Advice

Consider joining a camp. However, do your research first to make sure you are clear on the rules/guidelines/costs/expectations of the group. And know that you don’t NEED to join a camp to have a great time.

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Should you see Black Rock City From the Air?

Pros

  • Airplane rides are offered daily and are free! There are several private pilots who offer free rides around the playa every morning. Theoretically, you can head over to the airstrip, put your name on a list, and be up in a tiny plane in a matter of a few hours.
  • The view of the city from above is unreal. You can’t really appreciate just how immaculately the city is organized when you are in the thick of it.

Cons

  • Unless you are a cute, solo girl, your chances of actually getting on a plane are slim. Nick and I had heard that we should go really early in the morning to get our names on the list. So for two mornings in a row, we arrived bright and early before 7 am, got our names on a list, and waited. For hours. The pilots can be lazy and hungover and arrive at varying times (can you blame them?). And then, they like to stop flying around 11 am. And, for good reason, they offer preference to their friends or too cute, half-naked girls. We waited from 7 am-11 am both days and never got on a plane.

My Advice

We didn’t get on one of the daily airplane rides, but we DID manage to get on a plane that was taking skydivers up. The skydiving camp was right across from ours, so we wandered over with some bloody mary fixings and hung out with them. They were super friendly, actually ran on a schedule, and took us on an epic ride. Find their camp and follow in our footsteps! (Plus their skydiving outfits will provide you with endless entertainment).

Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Skydiving at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
I didn’t mind this view
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Should you Wake up for Sunrise and Then Party Until the wee hours of the Morning?

Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Burning Man sunset over Black Rock Desert, Nevada by Wandering Wheatleys

Pros

  • The wee hours of the morning and the wee hours of the evening are VERY different experiences. One of my favorite things about Burning Man was the sunrise. Most people party late and sleep until noon, so there is a peaceful calm in the early morning hours. We’d have most of the art structures in deep playa all to ourselves and occasionally, stumble upon a random burner serving up hot chocolate or coffee out in the middle of nowhere. But the sunsets are also spectacular. And when it gets dark, the lights come out and the playa transforms into a circus freakshow of laser lights and thumping music. Many of the art structures look completely different at night than they do during the day. You definitely need to witness both.
  • Sunrise and sunset on the playa may be the most beautiful that you’ll ever see in your entire life. Seriously, the colors are epic. You’ll hate to go even one day without seeing both.
Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Art car at sunset at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys

Cons

  • It’s exhausting. If you try to wake up for sunrise every day and stay up to party every night, you’ll wind up half-assing both and not really enjoying yourself. A mid-afternoon nap would be a good choice, but it’s so hot that it’s not exactly realistic unless you are sleeping in a camper and pumping the aircon.

My Advice

Don’t try to do it all every day. Choose one day for an early morning followed by a busy day, then relax in the evening. And another day to save up your energy for a big night out.

Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: Sunrise over the La Victrola art installation at Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys

Should you go Early and Stay for an Entire Week?

Pros

  • The playa just gets busier as the week goes on. So if you arrive really early, it’s a bit of a different vibe and it can be cool to see when it’s still slightly calm. If you are a part of the “set-up crew” for an established camp, you can get early arrival passes. It’s REALLY crazy to see the giant art installations come together.
  • You’ll really get your money’s worth. Like I said, your ticket price only covers your entrance to the playa (which is free and wide open the other 51 weeks of the year). So, the longer you go, the less you end up paying on a per-day basis.

Cons

  • That’s a LONG time to be that dirty. We arrived on Saturday, one day before BM officially opened, to set up. We planned on leaving on Labor Day. That means we would have been living on the playa for 10 days. By Wednesday, I decided that if I didn’t have a shower and a good night’s sleep, that I would shrivel up and die. So, we drove an hour and a half to the nearest hotel and stayed one glorious night there.
  • It all kind of runs together. As with all things, unfortunately, the novelty of Burning Man wears off eventually.

My Advice

Five days is really the maximum that one regular, sane, non-burner person can last on the playa, IMHO. I think my mind, body, and spirit would have been much happier if we had arrived on Thursday and left late Sunday night, or early Monday morning.

Burning Man is a crazy, weird, amazing, horrifying experience and most definitely worth seeing at least once in your life. Definitely GO, but if it’s your first time at Burning Man do it right!

Burning Man First Time: Burning Man Tips for First-Timers: The magic of Burning Man by Wandering Wheatleys
It’s magical!

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About the Author:

  • Valerie Wheatley

    Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag.

    Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her!

    These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

38 thoughts on “First Time at Burning Man? Learn from my Mistakes!”

  1. LOVED this article, and your others – I followed links to a couple of others you wrote. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m (a young) 64 and BM is definitely on my bucket list, but are there many people my age? Would I feel like an old coot?!?!?!
    As for you, your costumes were awesome and it sounds like you milked it for all it’s worth! So glad you got to go.

    1. Oh my gosh there are SO MANY people your age and much older! You would not feel old at all, I promise. Definitely go!

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