camp/park and arrival

[skirob]

So camping/parking.....how far away from main area are we talking? Read differing things on the main Bonnaroo board. Also, will arriving early Thursday morning provide a much closer location as opposed to arriving late Thursday?

[Randall]

So camping/parking.....how far away from main area are we talking? Read differing things on the main Bonnaroo board. Also, will arriving early Thursday morning provide a much closer location as opposed to arriving late Thursday?

I think arriving early Thursday morning would make a world of difference in how close your camp spot is. Some were quite close-by, others were a hearty hike away.

[Silent K]

It doesn't matter what time you get there, or were you camp. You will die of dehydration regardless:)

[Ian]

I'm not sure getting there early will get you closer camping. The sections are filled up according to a logistics plan to get people onto the site as efficiently as possible, which doesn't necessarily translate into first-there/closest. I don't think there's a foolproof strategy; it's pretty much luck of the draw.

If you're in the general camping areas, I seriously recommend bringing a GPS receiver. It'll save you a world of wandering around looking for your tent. I mean, really. Buy one.

[chickenman]

I'm not sure getting there early will get you closer camping. The sections are filled up according to a logistics plan to get people onto the site as efficiently as possible, which doesn't necessarily translate into first-there/closest. I don't think there's a foolproof strategy; it's pretty much luck of the draw...

Do you know where VIP Camping is this year? Since it's moved around the past three years, we don't know where we'll be. What would be most helpful, is to know where the VIP entrance will be. We usually stay in KOA wednesday night, but that didn't help last year. We're trying to figure out when to arrive to enter VIP. If anyone knows...thanks.

[kczmrski]

I could end up at the opposite end of the lot and not give a shit as long as I didn't wait in traffic for eight hours to get that spot at the end of the lot.

[skirob]

I'll head that way at 4:00 or 5:00am Thursday if I think it will make a huge difference in traffic time. Is traffic really going to be that miserable when the campground opens up early Thursday?

[jeffx]

If you're in the general camping areas, I seriously recommend bringing a GPS receiver. It'll save you a world of wandering around looking for your tent. I mean, really. Buy one.

can you elaborate on this idea? i've done the whole looking-for-your-tent-in-a-sea-of-tents-at-4am-in-the-rain thing and anything to make it easier would be great. but this gps thing sounds expensive. where could we purchase them and how much of an investment are we looking at?

[kag]

For any of you going with press credentials, I assume we will have the same thing we had last year, which is info e-mailed to media shortly before event that tells how to take a back way - far less traffic - to get into the site.

As for when to get there, I would say the earlier the better. No negatives in getting there early and much better shot at getting a primo camping spot. This is true whether you are camping in the press area or the regular area. Both have better and worser set-up spots.

-katie

[jeffx]

okay, i just priced those gps things, and the cheapest i can find start at around $200. that's a no-go. i'll just get a flare gun or something.

[kag]

you could leave a trail of breadcrumbs ;-)

[jeffx]

fuck that. i'll just follow my animal spirit guide.

[Ian]

but this gps thing sounds expensive.

Mine (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1648505) was about a hundred bucks. If I was buying one now, though, I might be more inclined towards this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CDP0N2/103-4204436-8440640) one; the interface looks a little more intuitive than the Etrex's. Either way, they're pretty fun toys in general.

[jeffx]

now that's more my style. thanks!

[JohnnyB]

but this gps thing sounds expensive.

Mine (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1648505) was about a hundred bucks. If I was buying one now, though, I might be more inclined towards this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CDP0N2/103-4204436-8440640) one; the interface looks a little more intuitive than the Etrex's. Either way, they're pretty fun toys in general.

My eTrex got me and my bike safely all over Umbria, Italy. Never got lost for a second. Thanks for the recommendation on the GPS. Good idea.

jb

ps- I'm sure they'll let you in with a flair gun jeffx

[mar]

okay, i just priced those gps things, and the cheapest i can find start at around $200. that's a no-go. i'll just get a flare gun or something.

A lot of people put some kind of flag/balloon thingy or something distinctive at their campsite, and that helps a bit. Our gazebo is bright blue with soccer balls on it (hey it was on sale at Big Lots). A few years ago when we were about as far from Centeroo as you can get (we were actually really close to a subdivision), we had people come up to us Sunday morning and tell us our gazebo saved them at, like, 5 a.m. They said they had pretty much been wandering all over the place, then they saw the soccer balls, and new they were close to home.

[kczmrski]

Last year I left Knox Vegas around two. Hit Manchester around five and sat in no traffic. Pulled right into our muddy campsite. And perhaps the media people could help a fella out and pass along the Bat Cave directions.

[skirob]

A lot of people put some kind of flag/balloon thingy or something distinctive at their campsite, and that helps a bit.
I don't imagine one of those big spotlight, bat signal things would go over too well. It couldlead me home from miles away.

[Mac Comer]

I always get there early Thurday and get shitting ass spots...this time I'm going late!!!

[Mac Comer]

http://www.maccomer.com/bongo.jpg

[mar]

Woohoo! A week from now we'll be waking up at B'roo! Damn, I'm psyched.