Everything you need to know about Burning Man

The first tickets have been snapped up and the buzz surrounding Nevada's biggest, most famous and most eclectic festival has already ignited. For most people this desert event is considered the zenith, the peak, the ultimate conception of love, life and all that is positive in the world. Burning Man sees the Black Rock Desert transformed into a thriving city - and for seven days you can park up your RV rental here and enjoy this life-changing experience. Whether it's your first time or 10th visit, brush up on your festival knowledge with our guide to all you'll need to know, including booking an RV for the event. So, strap yourself in… it’s gonna be one hell of a ride!

What is Burning Man?

Held annually, the Burning Man event is all about community, radical self-expression and radical self-reliance. What does that mean? Basically, the Burning Man experience is entirely up to the people attending the event. It all centers around Black Rock City, a temporary city built by participants via their creativity and art. There are no acts or entertainment booked for Burning Man, so anything that happens is spontaneous and directly inspired by everyone. If we were to sum it up, we'd say this is not like any other festival you've been to.

Where is Burning Man?

Burning Man takes place in the Black Rock Desert, which is about 120 miles north of Reno, Nevada. There are many different routes to get to Black Rock, depending on where you're coming from. There is plenty of information on the Burning Man website to help you with this. Given how many people attend the event (60,000+), you will encounter traffic. Always follow signs and drive responsibly!

When is Burning Man 2024?

In 2024, Burning Man takes place from Monday, August 25 - Sunday, September 2. Make sure you plan your arrival carefully, as there will be significant waiting times on opening night. 

Renting an RV to get to Burning Man

Burning Man typically runs over the course of a week in August/September, but you'll need to book your RV rental long before that point in order to beat the rush. This is one of the most highly anticipated festivals on Earth, which means that motorhome supply is at a premium over this period. Booking six months or more in advance is highly recommended. Even if there are vehicles left when you go to book later, it's unlikely that you'd be able to find a model you want from a location you're happy with - so get booking ASAP and enjoy travelling to the event at your own pace!  

The right RV for you

The type of RV you will need to rent depends entirely on how many people are travelling with you and what amenities you require. Here are some different options to consider.

Sleeper vans

The Burning Man Project has an ethos of stripping away the unnecessary, so the simplicity of a small sleepervan is perfect for many festival goers. These modified vans tend to sleep two people and are equipped with a few essential facilities like a cooking station and sometimes a fridge.

Standard or large motorhomes

If you want something with a little more living space, no one is going to look sideways at you. A standard or large motorhome an usually sleep up to 4 people and is self-contained, meaning they have their own shower and toilet (providing very welcome relief from the heat and dust) as well as cooking facilities.

Class A motorhomes

These are the largest of the RVs listed here, perfect if you're taking the family or a large group to Burning Man. Sleeping up to 6 people, Class A motorhomes are also self-contained and sometimes comes with slide outs, increasing the living space inside.

Think about roadside assistance when renting an RV for Burning Man. It is in a desert known for windstorms, so it's best to be prepared for the unknown.

RV rental locations near Black Rock Desert

Seeing as all the excitement happens in the middle of a desert, you obviously need to fly in or make your own way to a suitable pick-up point for an RV rental. The most popular spot to hire an RV for Burning Man is Reno, about 3.5-hours drive (120 miles) to Black Rock. However, demand for RV rentals here always exceeds supply in the lead up to this event. The same situation applies in San Francisco, which served as the festival's spiritual home at Baker Beach back in 1986. You can try, but you’ll be lucky to grab a San Francisco RV rental. Remember that RVs outside of San Francisco and Reno are generally cheaper and you can also enjoy a longer, scenic drive to the festival.

A more direct route, although taking upwards of 10 to 11 hours, is Los Angeles. Just head north, bypassing San Fran and Reno to the west. Las Vegas is a similar drive and there are obvious attractions in Sin City which can make for a great way to start any trip.

Salt Lake City is a little gem to the east, around the same travelling distance as LA and Vegas. Flying somewhat under the radar for RV rentals, if the other spots are sold out, this could work for you. And, of course, you can enjoy Great Salt Lake and beautiful mountainous landscapes on the way.

Or perhaps consider Portland for your RV pick up. It may seem like a distant starting point northwest of the Black Rock Desert, but can be travelled in around 10 to 11 hours. It’s also a picturesque journey through Willamette and Seschutes National Forests.

Disposing of waste

It's important to remember that the city which grows up around the festival each year lacks pretty much any facilities whatsoever, so don’t go into the experience expecting to have things like bathrooms, electrical hookups or dump stations. If your waste tanks reach capacity, you will need to pay for the RV servicing truck to take your waste away. One of the key principles of Burning Man is to leave no trace, so keep that in mind in regards to waste water and rubbish. They do fine attendees who don't adhere to the rules.

Helpful tips for RV renters

Make sure you’re well prepared before driving your RV rental out to the Black Rock Desert. Make sure you have plenty of water and have checked everything is working as expected and there are no leaks. Also:

• Be careful not to run your RV battery down. Use a generator for supplementary power if you need to, but be considerate of others in the camp.

• Get a good idea of the capacity of your black and grey water tanks before you set out.

• Book early. Many of your fellow burners will be renting RVs too, so get in early before supply runs dry.

• Strong winds can rise quickly in the desert - always secure any camping gear you have outside your RV.

• The parking arrangements can seem confusing at first but don’t worry, you’ll be given a map.

• Decorate your RV (as long as the decorations can be removed). This makes the nicer to look at and more fun for everyone.

RV suppliers… compare the top brands

It’s one of the biggest weeks in the motorhome rental calendar, where demand far exceeds supply. Don’t be surprised if RV rates are somewhat higher than at other times of the year . Another important point to keep in mind is that your RV rental will be filthy by the end of the fest - in the dusty desert environment, this is inevitable. Most RV rental companies will charge a hefty cleaning fee for vehicles returned dirty, so make sure you clean the RV or camper van inside and out before returning it.

Here’s what you need to know about how the major RV rental companies work with regards to this event:

• Cruise America RV Rentals has been in business for more than 40 years and is a major player in RV rental for Burning Man. They ‘flex’ their rates for this summer festival, which basically means that as the RVs get booked, prices rise.

• Escape Campervans have a good reputation for the quality of their vehicles, with their 2- to 4-berth options perfect for Burning Man. There is a grooming fee for those attending the festival. Make sure to let Escape know that you are going, because if you don't you will be charged higher grooming fees when returning the vehicle.

• Lost Campers have additional fees and booking costs for those attending the festival, but while their smaller vehicles are not self-contained, these are cheaper and can help keep your costs down.  

• With El Monte, international visitors heading to the fest will need to pay a surcharge when picking up from San Francisco. Please note that you must bring back the vehicle in the same condition that you received it in, or you may be charged cleaning fees. Their Reno branch moves to Grand Sierra (just outside of Black Rock City) specially for the festival. 

• Apollo vehicles are a maximum of three years old and they are an international brand with a good reputation. Generally sleeping up to five adults, you will have to pay an event surcharge but there are no other hidden costs – just make sure you tell Apollo where you are going.

• Star RV have motorhomes that are less than one-year-old and their comfort levels are a big plus-point. Two to six people can be catered for. Be aware, there are surcharges for festival attendees.

• Jucy green vehicles aren’t difficult to spot and their ‘Trailblazer’ sleeps up to four. Their fuel-efficiency is a major plus-point and the smaller vehicle can be easier to get around with than a larger vehicle. Although, like most suppliers, Jucy has a cleaning fee, you can get up to half of the fee back if you bring the vehicle back in the same state it was picked up in.

• Road Bear RV have brand new vehicles that they want to sell at the height of summer, but they strictly limit RVs at this particular event and your chances of getting hold of one are slim. However, they can be cheaper than their competitors. They also have additional compulsory fees depending on your pick up point.

Make a search now to discover RV rentals available for Burning Man. You can compare vehicles and prices and then book the perfect RV for your Burning Man vacation!