Arriving @ Roo - A GA Comprehensive Guide

Oh the earlier arrival times have been all over Ask Gary at Bonnaroo.com too. There was a lively discussion on how GA opens at 7pm Wednesday while VIP opens 8am Thursday. It was a fun read.

This inspires a different question. Since many VIPs are going to show up before 8am. Is it probable that they will open VIP as soon as 007 gets filled?

I do not know about waiting, but while I was waiting in line with our RV almost to the entry point, I was watching all the workers at the gate, I saw every walk-up festival goer searched. Maybe about 8 different people as I sat watching in the passenger side of my vehicle. This was in the span of about 20 min. at about 1pm on Thursday.

They've got the information clearly posted on the official website. They also conveyed it in the Gary C. video. It's also been all over the "Ask Gary C." site too. I wouldn't say only the people on inforoo really know about it at this point. I think the only thing you can reasonably assume is that BFE will get filled first, and probably a lot quicker than in years past. After that it is an absolute crapshoot whether or not you land in the NE BFE or get a decent spot.



This is only a guess but I would assume thats because of the large volume of traffic coming through Nashville. They've got to try to break it up somehow

So this is my first Roo. I know this is probably camp site suicide, but as of now I will not be able to leave Chicago until Thurs evening. By arriving super early Friday am I pretty much guaranteed to be in the back right farthest lot?

I'm sorry if this has been covered. If so, please point me to the thread... My search didn't find it.

So I'm a GA camper driving and bringing a camper who has a VIP ticket and parking pass (from out of state). I assume everyone in the car has to be VIP, right to go to that entrance?

What will happen when we show up together? Which entrance would we go to and what's the procedure.

Thanks for the help. I'm on a time crunch trying to decide if I'll buy her extra VIP ticket off her and sell my GA ticket. Is it worth the extra $375 if buying at face value?

no GA can go in VIP. You could walk to Tent Only maybe....and then the VIP car go in separately or both people camp in GA. VIP can go in GA if you want, but GA can't go in VIP.

Ive never done it myself but that's what I've learned from the forums on here and Ask Gary and whatnot.

you know i was just wondering about the cop searches. do they check id's and run them through computers? that would suck yet be awfully messed up if you had something on your record and they detained you lol.


edit: p.s. i'm clean in case anyones wondering lol. just realized how sketch that post looked

quick question, do you guys think i will get a better campsite entering off of I-24 or coming down HWY 55 and taking bushy branch into the farm? i want to get the best campsite, and i don't have to get on 24 to get to the farm, but if i might get a better campsite from the 24 entrance, i'll do that...i have volunteered the past 2 years so haven't had to worry about this...anyone have any experience or advice? BTW, i will be getting in line about 9:00 wed night...

i am coming from the north (Nebraska), as i did last year. we arrived around 12:30 am on Thursday and we had to wait a little over 2.5 hours from line to campsite. if memory serves (it's a little hazy) we missed the main line and had to come back into the traffic and got right in line. there were people directing us so i don't know how we missed the line or allowed us to do this. this was an honest mistake but from the stories i heard it was a godsend. we were put in camp spicoli i believe which was a really good spot.

My question is: does coming from the north make a difference? i think we came in the NE entrance (not too sure tho). did this contribute to being put in the middle of the camping on the eat side? we were really lucky last year and i hope i don't get too much bad karma this year for my dumb luck last year

I might be wrong but I seem to recall gettin on I24 and going down like 15-20 miles past Roo and then loop around. Is this what everyone does? I've never waited very long at all in line

Has anyone tried getting off 24 and taking 41 the rest of the way? Just looking at potential back routes!

Assorted comments after reading the last two pages of this thread:

> First off, to the dude above me, I highly doubt they will let you come in to camp for Wednesday night. No offense, but they are letting us in early as it is - I don't understand why you would bring and pitch a tent, survive the hassle of getting through the line and in to Bonnaroo, then pack-up and leave for a hotel before the festival has actually started. If you are going to bring a tent, show-up early, pitch camp and sleep a night, you should see if you can bail on your hotel reservations. The money you save could provide plenty of showers and amenities and your stress is gone.
The general rule of thumb has always been - once your car comes in, it won't be leaving any time soon. Day parking is the exception; I haven't checked the official site, but I'm pretty sure they won't be opening that until later on Thursday (as has been the case in the past). There won't be anything happening on Wednesday - except a bunch of drunkards pitching tents.
Also, it is a huge traffic problem when someone tries to leave when everyone is arriving - which is largely why they don't want you doing it in the first place.
I suggest one of two things: a) Go to Wal-Mart instead and sleep in your car b) drive to Bonnaroo and camp like the rest of us, then use some combination of the shuttle, a taxi, and your feet to get to the hotel when need be. I'd pitch camp, walk to Wal-Mart Thursday morning, call a taxi service (probably going to want to arrange this is advance, you can always ask your hotel for help). Stay at the hotel to recharge Thursday, cancel the remainder of your reservations, take a cab back and party with all your newfound money.




Of course Gary Chardonnay is going to tell people EXACTLY WHAT ALL THE OTHER OFFICIAL PAPERWORK SAYS. He isn't actually someone really important, he isn't a decision maker, he is probably an intern who does not get paid to manage Bonnaroo's social media. The poor kid thought he was going to be in the music biz, but instead he's dealing with all the twerps who expect personal service through a mass communication method intended for short messages.
The folks who produce this festival want VIP people to arrive Thursday morning - there are lots of reasons, but clearly is is because they've made concessions for GA to accommodate long lines (a problem VIP doesn't encounter).
This concession somehow makes the VIP goers feel disenfranchised. (I'm guessing they also have a 6 hours wait in line, but it is catered and they clean the bathrooms more often) To some degree I see their point - why is GA getting more festival time than VIP? Somehow, I don't think they will be missing much, but how will they know unless they are watching from their campground reviewing stand?
Honestly, it isn't about the extra time that a few thousand GA people will get on Wednesday - it is about the extra time GA people were entitled to, who which is typically lost waiting to get in.
However, it still wasn't a smart ploy on the part of our beloved festival organizers - VIP should get access to the festival grounds at the same time as GA. Unfortunately, this isn't a logistic possibility with the current campground, VIP entrance, BFE configuration.
As it has been noted, BFE has to get filled-up before they can get the VIP entrance set-up. So it only makes sense to let some GA people in early, get BFE full and over with, which could also improve the VIP experience.
Of course, it you are VIP and show-up early, or call and complain to the right people, they are going to accommodate you. VIP people are supposed to show-up Thursday morning, but if you're willing to through a bit of a fuss, I'm sure you'll get in. However, this will come at the expense of everyone in GA who is waiting in line. They will likely have to disrupt the flow of traffic (assuming they are still filling BFE).
Honestly, if I were VIP, I'd show-up at like 4am. BFE will likely be full by then, you won't be a problem and likely won't have to argue with anyone.


My thoughts on BFE:

Never actually camped there, but I've visited on numerous occasions. If does have some benefits - it is quieter (if you're trying to sleep), close to the woods (for shade and whatnot), and is home to the primary medical compound (unless it has moved this year).
The walk isn't ideal, but there are definitely longer ones. It really depends on how far to the front or back of BFE you are. The spaces closer to Centeroo can be a 10-15 min walk (20 is you're leisurely, 8 if you hustle), but the back of BFE can easily be 25 minutes to the entrance. I think it is mostly just frustrating, as you have to walk around half of Centeroo before you can get into it.
Anyway, I don't plan on ending-up in BFE, but won't be upset if I do. I'd much rather be in BFE than anywhere across Bushy Branch road.
I'm not sure if there are any official numbers, and someone may be better qualified than me to estimate this, but I'd guess BFE holds 8,000 to 10,000 people. In other words - BFE looks to be comprised of around 10% of the attendees. If you really want to avoid it, get to Bonnaroo around sunrise Thursday - it will be full by then.



One last thought -
I would recommend to first-timers than they arrive between 6 and 8 am Thursday. Setting-up camp is not easy in the dark, and you aren't missing anything. I doubt many vendors will be open Wednesday night (if any at all). In case you aren't aware - Centeroo won't open until Thursday afternoon, so you can't even get yourself acclimated with the layout. Most of the people who are at Bonnaroo Wednesday night will be partying without a cause - hich is all well and good, but I'm not wasting my precious energy and resources getting wasted and dancing at a weekday campout, I prefer to preserve everything I've got for Thursday night through Monday morning.

If you are in line before noon on Thursday, you'll have at least a halfway decent spot - there is always luck involved. The people who pull-in Thursday night are the ones who get screwed.
Based on recent years, most campground vendors aren't even set-up until around noon; and of course, they will say Centeroo opens at noon on Thursday - a huge crowd will form at the arch around 11:00-11:30 am . . . and most of them will be disappointed when a man climbs on top of a pile of trash cans to announce that Centeroo will be opening a few hours later than expected.

I don't expect anyone to have read all that - but hopefully it helps someone.

For those who haven't heard, the young man who started this thread passed away at Bonnaroo this year. My first thought when I heard was how helpful this thread was and what a great guy he seemed to be.

It's a bit eerie to me that he reached exactly 999 posts.

Two people died at Bonnaroo last year.