At the motorhome
on Burning Man

In 1986, a group of friends on a San Francisco beach burned a wooden figure of a man on the day of the summer solstice. A year later, they came there again. When the company grew to 800 people by 1990, the participants had to look for a new location. It turned out to be the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. That’s how Burning Man got its own permanent location.

All the main roads lead to Playa, a huge empty area in the center of a makeshift city. It features 300 installations by freelance artists from all over the world. They are created for a whole year to be burned. The main installation, a huge figure of a wooden man, burns down on the last night.

There are a lot of improvised dance floors in the camp. There are even mobile ones, converted cars or even airplanes. Everyone is welcome to join.

During the event, you can become a member of an impromptu choir, open your own massage parlor or stay in bars. Berners also give lectures on a variety of topics and organize master classes.

The laws of the USA and the state of Nevada apply on the territory of Black Rock City. The order is monitored by the federal police. All cars are carefully inspected at the entrance to the city. It is impossible to enter the territory with a hare.

There is a thrash fence around the city. His main task is to detain garbage from the camp, which blows into the desert. The fence is only 1.5 m high, but the police make sure that no one enters the territory.

The main rule of the event and one of the principles is not to leave any traces behind. After the event, there should be no debris left on the site of the city. Therefore, the participants take all the waste with them, including dirty water..

According to the organizers, these principles help to form a conscious society. It is better to familiarize yourself with them in advance in order to avoid misunderstandings and not get a fine or even a lifetime ban on visiting. The principles are described in detail in the Burning Man Survival Guide. This guide is republished every year.

In Black Rock City, you can only buy ice and coffee with money. The rest is 100% off. If you need something, just ask. Shoe and bicycle repairs, food and drinks, lectures, discos — everything is free. Although in a bar, for example, they may ask you to sing a song or dance as a payment.

Also, any brands are prohibited on BM. All logos on items are pre-sealed.

The Burner Express, a special bus, runs from San Francisco and Reno. The official website says that ticket prices are $83 from Reno and $123 from San Francisco. But they may change by 2022. You need to buy tickets in advance. This can be done on the official website.

You can rent a car with a trailer or a camper van. But most rental offices refuse to rent on Burning Man. If you still choose this method, then contact, for example, Avon Rent a Car, Truck and Van. They are located in Hollywood, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

Renting a motorhome seems like the best solution for several reasons:

• Air conditioners maintain an optimal temperature. You don't have to live in a tent or pitch a tent. It is very hot in them during the day, as the temperature in the desert rises to +40 degrees, and at night you can freeze — the air often cools to 0 degrees.

• There is enough space to take everything you need with you. It is unlikely that all things will fit in a passenger car. You need to take food and water with you for a week. The products need a refrigerator. Don't forget about the costumes. There is no electricity in Black Rock City, so you may need generators or solar panels. And wet wipes, dishes, garbage bags, batteries... and most importantly, bicycles. Without them, movement through the desert is almost impossible due to the huge distances.

• Inside there is a bed, shower, toilet, stove, refrigerator, washbasin. It's much more pleasant to travel and live this way.

• The road is not so exhausting. I still have the strength and desire to expand the route.

Prices depend on the location and how much advance you make the reservation. On average, the total is $ 4,000-$ 7,000 for a motorhome.

It must be paid in case of damage or accidents. It will be returned to you if you hand over the motorhome in proper condition. This is usually $ 1,000-$ 2,000.

Generators quickly consume fuel. Therefore, it is better to turn on the air conditioners as little as possible. Instead, attach a wet towel to the ceiling fan and turn it on to the "inside" position. It will get cooler.

Solar energy is a great way to charge batteries. You can look for a rental motorhome with already installed solar panels, or find portable ones.

The Black Rock Desert is very dusty, and sandstorms often occur. The dust is fine and can get into the motorhome. And you need to return it clean inside and out. Seal the cracks, windows, and switches with masking tape; cover the air vents with air filters.

Think about how to park the motorhome. The official Burning Man website recommends putting a motorhome on the edge of the campsite so that it protects residents of tents and tents from the wind. They will be very grateful to you. Keep an eye on your canopies and awnings and remove them when you leave the site.

Take care of the water. Some, for example, use wet wipes to "take a shower" and wash the dishes. Also remember that it is forbidden to drain dirty water in the desert. Use the toilets in the Black Rock Desert area.

Consume a minimum of electricity. Unplug appliances from the wall outlet when not in use. Again, solar energy is a great additional energy source.

Remember that you are responsible for any leaks in the motorhome — be it engine oil, gasoline, or something else. You must ensure that they are not present, and that the land under the motorhome remains clean. The official BM guide for motorhomes recommends taking a bucket of about 20 liters with you to collect motorhome waste and garbage.

There are a lot of national parks in the USA. For example, the Lassen, Laho, El Dorado, and Shasta Trinity nature reserves in California. Or Umpqua and Willamette in Oregon.

You can also visit Yellowstone Park in Wyoming or the famous Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Beachgoers and surfers can visit numerous California beaches. For example, Pismo Beach between San Francisco and Los Angeles or the famous Malibu beach.