Your Ultimate Survival Packing list for Burning Man

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Headed to Burning Man? Here’s the ultimate packing list for Burning Man, including what we wished we packed.

We had an incredible first burn! Our friends prepped us for survival, but since many of our other friends had questions, we decided to put the info together in one place. Unlike Coachella, Burning Man is not a festival you can casually attend. They reiterate many times that it is not a festival. It is a temporary city. Today, we share everything we packed, including items we wished we packed or left and home and why.

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Last Updated: September 23, 2024

Your Packing List for Burning Man if you are Free Camping

A common trap for people who come year after year is wanting to bring more comforts until you eventually need to rent storage for your Burning Man gear and a trailer to tow. We wanted to fit everything in our Subaru Ascent for our first Burn, which is still large compared to most vehicles.

It’s wild to think that when we moved to a new city every year, we fit all our belongings in our car. But on our drive up, we realized our car was completely filled with only Burning Man gear.

First, you need to decide which camping route you will take. You have two main camping options at Burning Man.

1. staying with an existing registered camp

They offer some infrastructure and benefits (like showers, power, and new friends) in exchange for a fee and/or volunteering to work at the camp.

2. Free Camping or Open camping

The other option is to free camp. In this case, you must bring everything to survive for the week. If you’re going with friends, you can share resources, but you should always be prepared to be self-reliant.

If we were going solo, we might have considered a camp, but since we went with friends, we enjoyed the free camping experience. It allowed us to be further away from the parties, meaning we could get better sleep at night.

Although an RV is an option, we wanted to simplify our first experience at Burning Man, so we tent-camped.

See More: 21 Car Camping Essentials – Everything You Need to Pack

Most Important Items

Let’s start with the most important items, so you won’t get turned back at the gate after waiting hours to get there.

Tickets – Don’t forget your tickets. For those of you who opted for will call, they will direct you there once you arrive.
Car Pass – Similarly, have your car pass ready and stuck on the bottom left of your windshield.
ID – Nearly everything is gifted on the Playa, but they will still ID you at certain camps when alcohol is served. Some people have copies of their IDs taped on their cups, which we’ll do next time.
Extra Keys – Things can get lost on the Playa. It’s always smart to have a spare set with you, whether for your car, bike lock, home, or anything else. If you traveled with a group, stash it in a friend’s car. Otherwise, you can buy a magnetic box to hide extra keys.

Shelter for Free Camping

Should I tent camp or RV at Burning Man?

We noticed the sentiment that Burners are not as fond of RVs because of the mess they sometimes cause, the noise from generators, and the people in them being less approachable. I agree that it felt more communal being in tents, and we were less likely to bother people in RVs, but we always say, you do you. There are plenty of RVers.

Tent Camping

We’ve had most of our camping gear for many years. If you’ve camped before, you can most likely use what you have, but you need additional items specific to Black Rock Desert.

Tent – We had a spacious Takenoko Bell Tent that was easy to set up. We planned to use it as our shade structure and the inner tent as our bedroom. We also wanted a hangout area if a huge dust storm came in. It also becomes a great base to set up the aluminet.
- Takenoko Inner Tent – Gave us an inner tent that we used as our bedroom.
- Takenoko Ground Sheet – Helps protect the tent from direct contact with the playa.
Stakes / Lag Screws – Because wind can get serious, rather than using regular stakes, you need to get lag screws that drill into the ground. I bought two of these for the base and straps.
Ratchet Straps – Just like the regular stakes, you also want to use ratchet straps to connect the tent to the lag screws. The thin ropes on the tents aren’t made for serious dust storms.
Impact Wrench – Don’t forget an impact wrench with the proper adapter to drill your lag screws. We had to buy an additional size for this particular set.
Aluminet – Because the playa provides no shade, most people create a shade structure, even for tents. We used three 10×16 aluminet sheets between our two cars and tent. Using the car roof racks and tent frame as anchor points, we created a large covered hang-out area. Even if we were camping solo, we would do the same thing. In the future, we need to figure out how to cover more of our tent.
Bungees – Since aluminet is flexible and allows wind to pass through, bungees are the perfect way to attach them to your stakes or anchor points. It has more give, so they won’t rip or snap. We used all of my bungees and additional ball bungees our friends had.

Lessons Learned: Overall, we were happy with our shelter setup, but the tent got too hot during the day. For our next burn, we will integrate more aluminet to shade our tent. We mostly kept a regular sleeping schedule, but the shade structure is especially important for those who plan on sleeping during the day.

Camp Packing List for Burning Man

Your camp can be as primitive or boogie as you want. Since it was our first time, we focused on the necessities and tried to pack as minimal as possible.

Chairs – We have Sugoi Chairs, and we love them for napping. We didn’t bring our lighter REI camping chairs, which pack smaller but are less comfortable.
Misting Fan – this portable misting fan was great for hot days. It’s powerful and great for groups (we plan on replacing the mister nozzle with a finer one). It’s battery-powered, has a large water tank, and you can use the fan without the mist (use code: LOCALADVENTURER for 10% off your order at Turbro).
String Lights – we used rechargeable string lights to light up our tent and shared spaces.
Area Lights – We arrived past midnight and had to set up in the dark, and our Devos Lightranger 1200 came in clutch. During the week, we used it inside the tent, and only had to charge it once using it on single light mode.
Headlamp – A headlamp is necessary when leaving camp or looking for something in camp. We prefer ones that have a red light. Bring extra batteries (if not rechargeable).
Storage Boxes – We’ve stored our camping gear in this Dometic storage box at home for years, and it became our food storage for the trip. We bought two additional 12-gallon storage bins. One of the bins held all our tools and miscellaneous items, and the other was for our toiletries.
Garbage Bags – You must carry out all the trash and gray water you create. For our garbage, we bought heavy-duty contractor bags so we wouldn’t have unexpected leaks. Luckily, we didn’t generate much trash. Between the four of us, we didn’t even fill one bag, but we used our extras to wrap dusty items.
Extra Batteries – We brought 24 AA batteries for our lights and wished we had more by the end of the week. The lights noticeably dimmed mid-week. I’ll buy a 40-pack for next time. Don’t forget AAA batteries for your headlamp as well – two extra sets per hand lamp is plenty! We brought alkaline batteries vs rechargeable ones since they last longer.
Paper Towels – We brought three rolls of paper towels and used 1.5 of them. Rather than washing dishes, we wiped down our bowls and utensils with a vinegar spray. We didn’t have as many dust storms as in previous years, so I would still pack three, just in case.
Vinegar Spray – We made a vinegar spray (1 part vinegar: 3 parts water) at home and put it in a spray bottle. After wiping down the solids on our dishes with a paper towel, we sprayed them and did a final wipe. Vinegar also neutralizes the alkaline playa dust, useful for spraying metals to prevent rust.
Table – We got so much use out of our Good Luck table. It packs up small, has different height options, and has zip-up shelves. It became the centerpiece of our hang-out area, where we cooked our meals and stored our kitchen items.
Extension Cord – I brought one in case I needed it but didn’t end up using it. I’ll still pack it for future burns.
Hand Warmers – Some nights, we wished we had our hand warmers.
Powerbanks – Powerbanks are a great way to charge your phones at camp or out and about. We had a couple with us that we never had to recharge.
Charging Cables – Don’t forget all the cables for charging your devices (if you plan to use them).
Battery Generators – To ensure we had enough power, we brought our Jacker Explorer 300, which we used 60% of charging our phones, headlamps, and lights, and our Jackery Explorer 1500, which we didn’t end up using at all. I thought we would use more power, but we kept it minimal.
Solar Panels – We also had two sets of solar panels to charge the Jackery Explorers but didn’t use them.
Pee Bags – We always have a few TravelJohns stashed in our car and they are perfect for Burning Man. There are plenty of porta potties, but they’re great for emergencies like during a dust storm or if you’re stuck in traffic on the way in or out. It solidifies your pee and neutralizes the smell.
Folding Table – Our friends brought a folding table that was helpful at camp. We kept our waters on them so that it was easy to use the spouts since they were higher off the ground. It’s also a good place to unpack some of your items from the car when you arrive without putting them on the ground where everything gets dusty.
AC Unit – We have an Ecoflow Wave that we considered bringing to cool down our tent, but after testing how much power it would consume, I opted not to. If you have a generator, you won’t have issues running one, but we only wanted to use our solar battery generators.
Carabiners – A handful of carabiners are always useful at camp. We used them to attach our trashbags, hang our clothes, carry our cups, and more.
Rug – This felt like a luxury. Our friends had an old carpet rug, which was comfortable to sit on. If you have any old rugs, it’s the perfect place to find a second life, and we’re on the hunt for one to use for our next burn. We also had a few thin rugs/mats, like this Rumpl one. It took up less space in our car, but we could still get another layer on the ground.

Lessons Learned: We’re glad our friends brought a plush rug and folding table, and we’ll add those to our setup in the future.

Food / Kitchen packing list for burning man

When we camp, we try to keep it simple. We prefer easy meals like Mountain House, ramen, or protein bars to minimize packing and cleaning.

Mugs for Sharing – Many camps gift drinks and food, and you need a container to receive them. We liked our mugs with a handle, a carabiner attached to our backpack, and a lid to keep out the dust.
2x Water Jugs – It’s important to have enough water. They recommend 1.5 gallons per person daily for drinking, washing, and cleaning. We brought two 7-gal Aquatainers and 3 frozen 1L water bottles as our initial ice. We only used one of our 7-gallon containers since it wasn’t as hot this year, and we also wiped instead of washing. We also bought ice a few times and drank the melted water.
2x Grey Water Jugs – We brought two collapsible water jugs for grey water but only used a quarter of one. Again, we challenged ourselves to be as minimal as possible.
3x Ice Bags – This was a last-minute purchase, and we’re so happy with them. After buying the ice, we moved them to these bags so we could drink the melted ice.
Food – We primarily packed four types of ramen and bars for our meals. Most of our ramen was dry, so we would not have to deal with leftover soup. When we got sick of it, fortunately, our friends had more variety and shared.
- Fresh Foods – we brought some prewashed grapes, pre-peeled clementines (I wanted to reduce trash, but in retrospect, we should have left half of them unpeeled), and cherry tomatoes. They were delicious, and we wish we had more. By mid-week, we had finished them.
- Warm Food – Our friends brought some rice, eggs, and spam they made in their Jetboil Genesis. The bread was a nice addition to make spam and egg sandwiches.
Cutlery – We brought a reusable cutlery set but ended up using chopsticks the whole time. Our friends’ Snow Peak ones, though over-engineered, are amazing! If you bring wooden disposable chopsticks, you can ask registered camps to let you burn them in their fires.
Jetboil – Since we mostly brought ramen, we used our Jetboil MiniMo to boil our water, but our friends convinced us to get a Jetboil Genesis for next year. It gives you more food options.
Fuel – Get the right fuel for your stove. Our Jetboil MiniMo uses the butane fuel, while the Genesis uses propane.
Electrolytes – We brought Liquid IVs for each day.
2x Coolers – one for food (and some drinks) that we rarely opened and one for easier drink access. You can buy 16 lbs of crushed ice for $10 or 10 lb blocks for $5. We bought crushed ice every other day to keep our drinks cool. Our friends also had a powered cooler/mini fridge, which plan on buying to have more fresh food at the end of the week.
Funnel – Rather than using a makeshift sink, we used a metal 4-inch funnel on top of our collapsible grey water jug to brush our teeth. It worked fine, but we want an 8-10 inch for washing up next time. Ours already rusted from the playa dust.
Bowls – We picked up two plastic bowls to use for our food. After each meal, we would wipe it down with a paper towel, spray the vinegar solution, then wipe it down again.
Snacks – Bring any snacks that make you happy! We had tropical dry fruit snacks, candy, cheeze-its, crackers, and more. Our friends also brought vegetable and fruit puree pouches, aka baby food for adults, but made eating easy and helped cool you down in the hot afternoons.
Drinks – We brought some sparkling water and Diet Coke for the week.

Lessons Learned: We got sick of ramen and bars mid-week. We found gifted food at other camps, and thankfully, our friends shared some of theirs with us. For the next burn, we plan to vary our meals more after adding the Jetboil Genesis. Our priority will still be simple meals, so we’ll add more fresh foods, bread, spam, eggs, rice, and sassy pickle snacks!

Bedding

Bed – We use our Hest Mattress for all our car camping adventures. It’s comfortable, but you must lay on top of an insulation layer (we used a puffy Rumpl blanket) on cold nights since it doesn’t have an R rating like some of our other outdoor gear.
Pillows – I used this Rumpl The Camp Pillow, and Esther brought a regular pillow from home.
3x Bed Sheets – We brought three sheets but only used two since we didn’t have as many dust storms. One is for the bed, one to cover the entire bed set up during the day (in case of dust storms), and one extra in case you want to change it mid-week.
Blankets / Liners – It was cold at night! We had a Therm-a-Rest Insulated Blanket to keep us warm and these Cocoon Dual Liner TravelSheet s under. This allowed us to use it by itself during the day when it was warmer.
Booties – Esther brought her down booties, which she used every night.
Ear Plugs – Ear plugs are a must if you want to sleep. We had squishies and loops for music but mostly used loops for both.
Eyemask – If you have trouble sleeping with light, bring an eye mask. We didn’t use ours.

Lessons Learned: The only thing we would add to our sleeping setup is a light blanket option when it’s hot.

Transportation

Most people use bikes to get around the Playa. From our camp, it took us 30 minutes to the Man (center of the clock) and another 30 to the trash fence (outer edge).

Bicycle – We found 20-inch cheap folding bikes on FB marketplace to fit inside our car (we don’t have bike racks). Some guides mention having fat tire bikes or e-bikes (which is a pricey option, considering the playa dust will likely destroy the battery contact points).
Bicycle Lights – This two-pack of bike lights was perfect for our headlight and taillight.
Bell – A bell is nice to have to notify people in front of you.
Basket – Having a foldable basket on your bike is great to help carry items. I might try to add some saddlebags next time.
Light Up Lights – Besides your headlight and taillight, you want to light up your bike uniquely so it’s easy to spot at night among hundreds of other bikes! We used these LED strips for the main frame (bring an extra set – mine broke mid-week). We also had EL Wire Lights for our backpacks, baskets, and flag. One of our friends had wheel lights, which was nice too.
Flag / Identifier – Having a tall identifier was helpful because the lights were not enough. We added EL lights to our flags. The quality sucks, and they kept breaking, but it served its purpose.
Bike Lock – Whether on purpose or by accident, bikes get stolen. We locked up our bikes anytime we were leaving them for a while.
Repair Kit – You can find repair stations throughout the city, but it’s good to have a kit if they run out.
Pump – Bring a bike pump in case you need to fill up.
Spare Tire Tubes – A spare set of tubes is also smart to pack, especially if you have irregular tire sizes.
Zip Ties – These are handy to attach lights and other items to your bike. We always had a few with us.

Pro Tip: Start biking a few weeks before Burning Man. Otherwise, you’ll be sore all week. Esther was hurting all week.

Lessons Learned: The foldable bikes were convenient, but the small wheels hurt later in the week when the roads became more washboardy. We also want to add a sturdier flag, more lights, and decor to our bikes to differentiate them. We lost them a couple of times in the sea of lit-up bikes.

See More: Recap of Our Endless Caravan

Clothes

Burning Man is all about radical self-expression. However, the people you see with elaborate outfits posted on social media are not the majority. You can wear whatever you want (or nothing), and there is no judgment. You’ll see a lot of rave wear or outdoor gear.

For our first burn, we focused on practical clothes survival and a few fun items for themed days. This means clothes to keep you cool during the day and warm at night. The temperature swing is extreme. Otherwise, have fun with it!

We didn’t want to buy new outfits, so we tried to pull from our current wardrobe. Also, in the spirit of no commodification, avoid clothes with logos. I covered up small logos with tape.

Clear Goggles – Clear goggles or ski masks are a must for sandstorms and something you’ll always have on you. If you get steampunk goggles, make sure they seal well on your face. We got these, and functionally they were great. Next time, we may want to try something more stylish.
Sunglasses – We brought our ombraz armless sunglasses, which we love for the outdoors. They were nice to hang on our necks when not in use. These cheap ones or fun-shaped glasses (with UV protection) are also great.
Buff – Another item you should always have on you is a buff. It’s a great way to cover your face when sandstorms come and protect you from the sun. We each brought two to switch to a fresh one midweek.
K95 Mask – We didn’t use our masks but also didn’t experience crazy dust storms like in previous years. Since they are light and small, pack them just in case.
Hats – Hats protect you from the sun during the day. We picked up a straw hat at a gas station on the way up for Esther. I also carried this DOD hat on my backpack since it folds up. Just make sure it has chin straps in case of gusts of wind.
Boots – If you’ve started to do research, you probably have come across accounts and warnings of playa foot, which is a chemical burn caused by alkaline dust. To avoid that, we always wore boots or shoes when we went out, but I also wore slides around camp. If you’re good about wiping down at night, you likely won’t get playa foot. It’s more for people who like to be barefoot all week.
Daypack – Some people had water bladder backpacks, and others wore fanny packs. For us, a day pack (+ Esther used a fanny pack) made the most sense. You always want to have water, so we brought small daypacks for our bladders, extra layers, snacks, a cup, and a MOOP bag (matter out of place, aka trash). We also put lights on it to light us from behind. I used this Exped Summit Hike backpack with EL wire light through the loops. I also liked having the two pockets on the straps to stash things for easy access. Esther carried her trusty Flashpack.
Jacket – Bring a warm jacket; fuzzy ones are popular. Esther wants one of these light up ones for next year, but many people have them, so it won’t be unique.
Kimonos – Kimonos are popular on the playa since it’s comfortable during the hot day. Esther had a white kimono and yellow kimono. I had this white one and brought another oversized white shirt I wore during the day.
10x Shirts – We each brought a fresh shirt for each day and two extras if it was extra dusty. It can be nice to have a clean shirt at night. Esther wore bikini tops or sports bras during the day and covered with layers at night.
Underwear – We only brought one per day with a couple of extras. Some people bring two pairs of underwear daily.
Socks – Many packing lists also suggest two socks per day. If you sweat a lot or like changing out your socks, bring more, but we were fine wearing one per day.
Warm Clothes – It can get really cold at night (down to the 40s and 50s). We each brought 2-3 pairs of long johns/leggings. We slept in one at night. Then we had two pairs for going out that we switched mid-week. These were our bottoms for most nights, and we didn’t sweat much since it was cold. For next year, we’ll try to get fun ones that have pockets! We also brought two thermal tops each, but only needed them if we stayed up all night or went out to deep playa.
PJs – Often, we wore the same clothes day after day, but it was nice to have fresh clothes to change into for sleep.
Themed Clothes – There are some themed days throughout the week, but not everyone participates. The three we prepped for were Tutu Tuesday (our friend had one with lights built in), White Wednesday (wear white), and Fishnet Friday. Some camps also have themed outfits or days.
Clean Clothes for the Drive Home – Bring a clean set of clothes that stays sealed in a ziplock bag (we used dry bags) that you can change into on the last day.
Rain Jacket – It doesn’t typically rain, but it did in 2023. We brought our rain jackets just in case.

Lessons Learned: People spend a lot on their outfits while others wear comfortable clothes. We want to find a happy medium next time and have fun with themed group outfits. Our friends gifted us light-up cat ears, which we all wore one night.

Toiletries

Sunblock – Bring lots of sunblock to protect yourself during the day. We had a larger bottle for camp and small ones to carry to reapply.
Lotion – If you’re not used to the desert climate, your skin will feel extremely dry.
Body Wipes – We used body wipes all week to clean up each night. Having this huge jug of wipes was nice at camp. People also recommend having witch hazel for the playa dust, and these wipes have witch hazel.
Toothpaste – We like using these refillable tubes.
Toothbrush – We brought our electric toothbrush with two heads and used these to protect them.
Mouthwash – We always travel with this concentrated mouthwash (we use it at home, too, since it’s more affordable and sustainable. One tiny bottle equals ten standard mouthwash bottles).
Towel – We brought pack towels but didn’t end up using them. Oddly, the playa dust keeps you feeling clean. We also didn’t notice anyone smelling like BO. So strange. It’s good to have in case you want to shower.
Lip Balm (with SPF) – your lips need sun protection too.
Toilet Paper – bring porta-potty-friendly TP ( single-ply or eco-friendly toilet paper). They were mostly stocked in the porta-potties, but occasionally would run out near the end of the week.
Eyedrops – If you’re not used to dry climate or your eyes get irritated.
Allergy Meds – We brought some allergy meds in case the dust bothered us. Since we didn’t get many dust storms, we didn’t end up using them but we’ll pack them for our next burn too.
Saline Nasal Spray – A saline nasal spray is great if the dust bothers you. We didn’t use ours but will still bring one next time just in case.
Moleskin – If you’re not used to walking a ton or your shoes hurt, you might get blisters. We didn’t use them but ended up gifting some to our neighbors with blisters.
Medication – Don’t forget daily medications, painkillers, and tums.
Neosporin – Useful for any cuts or scrapes.
Liquid Bandaid – Regular bandaids are handy, but the dust can make it hard for them to stick, and they may fall off and become MOOP. Just remember, some liquid bandaid hurts like a MF.
Aloe – to soothe sunburns.
Hand Sanitizer – The bathrooms had hand sanitizer near them, but sometimes ran out. You’ll also want some when you’re out. We had a large bottle for camp and small travel ones in our backpacks.
Bug Spray – There usually aren’t many bugs on the Playa, but more showed up near the end of the week, most likely hitchhiking in with people. We brought bug spray in case they have unseasonably wetter seasons that bring more bugs.
Pee Funnel – Esther brought this pee funnel for extra gross porta-potties. Practice using it at home before you go. The first time she tried using it during a backpacking trip, it was challenging.
Moisturizing Wipes – We had our body wipes but also brought moisturizing wipes for our face,

See More: Recap of Our Endless Caravan

Here are some random items we packed that don’t fit into the other categories.

Ziplock Bags – Large storage bags are nice to keep things clean and one for if you come across MOOP. Some people put every outfit in separate ziplock bags, but we didn’t.
First Aid Kit – some emergency services are available on the Playa, but come prepared with a first aid kit just in case.
Zip Ties – helpful when securing lights on your bike or anything else. Carry extra ones in case they break.
Tool Kit – A basic tool kit is good if you need to fix anything in your camp.
Disinfecting Wipes – We brought two bottles of disinfecting wipes but only used one. It was helpful to clean random items.
Duct Tape – in case you need to repair or secure anything.
Work Gloves – if you have a lot of setup and breakdown.
Scissors – We almost didn’t pack these but used them often and even lent them to neighbors.
Multi-tool – We also used our leatherman a couple of times.
Gas Can with Fuel – We had an easy entrance and exit compared to previous years but waits can be 6-8 hours on both ends. Bring extra fuel if you think you’ll run out of gas waiting in traffic.
Bluetooth Speaker – If you want to play music while hanging out at your camp or have the option to play music while you’re riding around, bring a Bluetooth speaker. We loved this one! I also strapped it to my basket one day, riding around on the Playa.
Personal Mister – We had amazing weather in 2024, but I used this personal misting fan on the hotter days.
Walkie-talkies – If you are caravaning to Burning Man, having these walkie-talkies helps when you don’t have service. You can use them on the playa, too, but we didn’t.
Umbrella for Shade – great for sun protection, especially while walking around the city.
Art Supplies – If you love doing creative things, bring some supplies for your downtime.
Fire Extinguisher – Fires don’t happen often, but they do. Be prepared.
Brush – It’s easier to blow or brush dust off than wipe. When moisture gets on it, it turns to clay.
Blanket for the Playa – You’ll sit for a while during the man and temple burn. Some people sit on the playa, but it’s nice to have a blanket that packs down small.
Painters Tape – At your last fuel stop before the Black Rock Desert, you should tape up the outside of your intake vents for your AC system. Dust will get in the vent, and when you turn the car on, the AC will push it into your car. Some people also tape any cracks and seams on the car’s exterior if they don’t need to get in during the week.
Car Jump Starter and Air Compressor – Both our neighbor’s car and our car batteries died (we didn’t notice our trunk opening, and it drained the battery). Fortunately, our friend had a car jump starter. If camps are tight, it might be difficult to get cars next to each other, so having a battery-powered jump starter is ideal. Plus, having the built-in air compressor helps you deal with flat tires.

Lessons Learned: We’re adding a brush and a car jump starter to our BM collection next year.

Additional Tips

Focus on the essentials for your first burn. The outfits and themes are fun, but if you don’t have what you need to be self-reliant in the desert, you may become what Burners call a sparkle pony (a drain on everyone around you).
Keep important documents easily accessible in your car (tickets and car passes).
Don’t be a darkwad. Be well-lit at night from the front and back. Accidents happen when people can’t see you.
Pack out everything you pack in. That includes all your garbage, personal items, and gray water. Leave space in your car to haul everything out.
Trash services outside the Playa will take your garbage for a fee ($5 a bag). We had a rooftop box where we stashed our garbage and drove it home.
Prepare for extremely hot and cold weather. The weather swings in the desert.
Get to know your neighbors if you’re free camping. They are your support system and can help you out. Also, offer to lend a hand if you see them needing anything.
Don’t try to do it all. Rest! It’s exciting when you arrive with hundreds of daily activities to pack your schedule, but treat it like a marathon rather than a sprint, especially if you’re there all week.
Sleep when you can. Some people flip their schedules and sleep during the day, while others sleep at night. Do what works for you.
Porta-potties tend to be cleaner on the city’s edges than closer to the center.
Camps gift food but do not rely on them for all your meals. It’s important to have enough food and water for yourself.
Load up your car in the reverse order. I made the mistake of loading up randomly and had to unload so much to get to our tent. Also, if you arrive the first night, bring lights to set up.
Remove packaging beforehand to minimize the trash you have to deal with.
Always carry supplies with you in case of dust storms. Some last for hours, and you will be staying put. We always had a bladder full of water, snacks, goggles, face covering, headlamps, TP, lip balm, hand sanitizer, cups, layers, and gift items.
Customize your bike so it’s easy to find at night. Also, park your bike next to stationary objects on the Playa, not art cars, which will eventually leave.
Staying in a hotel after? Pack a separate sealed bag with what you need so you don’t have to dig through all your BM stuff.
Stay hydrated!

Anything else we need to add to our packing list for Burning Man? Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions.

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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

Follow on Instagram (E + J), YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.

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