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Hi, everyone! My friend and I are preparing for our first trip to Bonnaroo and we are crazy excited!!! I've been reading this forum all day long and want to thank everyone for sharing their advice and experience. But if anyone could help me out on this matter, I'd really appreciate it.
We're planning to stay in a hotel in/around Manchester and visit the festival each day. But I read a few comments elsewhere on the internet about it taking four to six hours just to get ONTO the grounds - and we're already driving six hours to get to Manchester. I can grin and bear some pretty quirky conditions, but the idea of being trapped in traffic for that long has me a little freaked out.
So, I guess my first question is, are these reports accurate? Six hours to travel fifteen miles from the motel to the festival grounds every day?! We'd really rather not camp out, but it could be fun and worth saving the hassle. What ARE the conditions like traveling to and from town to the festival?
My next question is, if we DO stay in the motel, how much gear should we bring with us each day? If I understand correctly, the price of the ticket includes camping privileges, so should we set up a camp each day for resting/visiting? Or will we be fine to stay on the festival grounds?
Please forgive me if this has previously been covered. I've tried to wade through existing threads, but most people seem to be discussing camping out - not day visitors. Also, to the seasoned Bonnaroo'ers, please, please forgive my ignorance about these matters. Thank you so much in advance!
Thursday may take you anywhere from 1-6 hours to get in as everyone is arriving. Friday/Sat/Sun should not be that bad (1/2 hour or so) as most are already there. I did day parking last year due to the heat (only came at night) Didn't enjoy it near as much.
If you're coming for the day bring what you'll need for a long, hot day. A backpack with suncreen, camera, hat, sunglasses, water. You can refill bottles inside Centeroo but lines can be long.
This is by no means a complete list. Check out the thread "Centeroo Necessities" for a better one.
Hi, everyone! My friend and I are preparing for our first trip to Bonnaroo and we are crazy excited!!! I've been reading this forum all day long and want to thank everyone for sharing their advice and experience. But if anyone could help me out on this matter, I'd really appreciate it.
We're planning to stay in a hotel in/around Manchester and visit the festival each day. But I read a few comments elsewhere on the internet about it taking four to six hours just to get ONTO the grounds - and we're already driving six hours to get to Manchester. I can grin and bear some pretty quirky conditions, but the idea of being trapped in traffic for that long has me a little freaked out.
So, I guess my first question is, are these reports accurate? Six hours to travel fifteen miles from the motel to the festival grounds every day?! We'd really rather not camp out, but it could be fun and worth saving the hassle. What ARE the conditions like traveling to and from town to the festival?
My next question is, if we DO stay in the motel, how much gear should we bring with us each day? If I understand correctly, the price of the ticket includes camping privileges, so should we set up a camp each day for resting/visiting? Or will we be fine to stay on the festival grounds?
Please forgive me if this has previously been covered. I've tried to wade through existing threads, but most people seem to be discussing camping out - not day visitors. Also, to the seasoned Bonnaroo'ers, please, please forgive my ignorance about these matters. Thank you so much in advance!
if you're a day visitor, you don't need to worry about camping. that's really just for those who bring in a car and set up tets ad whatnot for the whole weekend.
lines can be long if you're trying to get in thursday night due to everyone arriving, but you should have no issues on the other days
i'd bring a backpack loaded with your necessities, blanket, sunscreen, etc.
and lastly, you should totally camp, becoming friends with your neighbors and meeting people in campgrounds is part of what makes bonnaroo such and awesome time, and you'll probably wind up catching a lot more music that way as well.
As far as the day thing goes. Here are a few things to consider. 1. Your price of the ticket includes camping. Now this amenity always struck me as weird because I never have been to a festival that I didn't camp at. But a few years ago I did some research and it does exist. There are festivals that don't even offer camping. There is no choice but to travel to and from a hotel/condo every day. I don't like this for a few reasons. Not only am I spending a few hundred dollars on a ticket for the music, but I'm also going to have to spend somewhat inflated prices on a hotel room. Yes, for Bonnaroo they do have hotel packages but I think they are a little pricey.
2. Travel time. Think about this. When you are in a tent on the grounds you wake up when the weather and noise tell you to wake up. Even if the heat doesn't make you claw at your tent trying to get air eventually all of the people around you will wake you up. Now this may seem like a negative but it's not. The waking up at the festival is part of what gets you motivated for the day to come. If you were to be sleeping in a hotel room with the air on and those shades drawn that make the room like night time, even with an alarm clock you are not going to be in the mood to trek out into the elements again. I have never stayed at a hotel for a festival but there are others that can tell you that it's not easy to leave the cool dark room.
3. Bonnaroo is the biggest and the best. It's almost like staying at a hotel. I have been to some rough festivals. I know I've said it before but I've been to 4-5 day long festivals where the porto potty is a make shift one. And I know anyone that has trekked up the ALL GOOD giant hill of death can back me up on the lovely flat bonnaroo ground. Bonnaroo has made everything easy. Anything that can be controlled is. Unfortunately they are still a few years away from controlling the weather.
4. I would love to stay in a hotel that has a pool. Because that is the one thing Bonnaroo is missing is an actual beach with real swimming. Every year I wish there were a place I could go swimming. But there's not. So if you have a hotel that has a pool I would say that's a real plus.
5. Hot long clean showers are nice. But You would be surprised how much fun a water bottle, soap, a water truck at a POD, and 25 of your new best friends could be.
6. This goes back to money. You pay for four days so might as well stay there for four days. I think this would all be different if in fact the ticket did'n include camping. But it does so use it.
I wish I could give you more plus sides for the hotel but I can't. Maybe someone else can.
Campsites can be made very comfortable for far less than the price of the 4 days in the hotel. If you look around here, and roll in you can make yourself pretty comfortable. The thing about Bonnaroo is that it never stops. The ability to walk back to camp and pause for few minutes and down dome cold beers is great. If you are in a hotel the first time one person gets tired you are going to be done for the night.
The on site amenities are pretty nice as well, it is not really hard to get a shower, a nice meal or a cold drink. The main problem is the heat but if you spend 200-300 dollars on ezups tarps and fans you will really be fine. It will be cheaper, and you guys will have a much better overall first Bonnaroo experience in my opinion.
Post by OldLadyRoo on Feb 16, 2011 20:17:04 GMT -5
At the risk of repeating many of my former posts, skip the hotel and put the money toward VIP. Few reasons for this -- and I'm speaking from experience since our first trip to B-Roo in 2005 we stayed in a hotel and day-tripped in (never did it again):
- The entrance for day parking is separate from GA but it's a pretty long walk to Centeroo. Prolly 20-30 min.
- Really, truly - you lose out on the experience by leaving at the end of the day. It sucks when everyone is enjoying the party and you have to head "home".
- Honestly, we are not traditional "campers" but the showers and AC bathrooms make the effort much easier. And having a nearby rest-stop back at VIP camp can't be underestimated.
- If you haven't reserved a hotel yet, you'll probably end up in Murfreesboro which isn't the greatest town in the world (sorry natives). It's at least a 30 min drive without traffic. That's tough after a long day. Plus the hotels are way overpriced this weekend.
If you have the extra $$, though, buy both VIP tix and get a hotel room. We camped next to guys (older) a few years ago that did this and they would leave mid day and late at night to sleep in an AC room and take a shower. In VIP, you can drive in and out whenever you want.
Last, if you DO day trip - bring a couple backpacks with water (although you can buy H2O in Centeroo). I'd also suggest an umbrella for late day showers, a beach chair for comfort and a little tiny pillow for when you want to nap. Yes, I'm middle aged!
Have fun and tell us what you decide - We were all in your shoes once!
I have family friends that live right up the road. Like a 10-15 minute drive. Last year we stayed at their house on Wednesday. I like knowing how close they are. It might be nice to take a break and go visit before driving home.
