Burner Express Bus Travel Information

The Burner Express Bus Program for 2023 has ended. Check back in the Spring of 2024 for updates and tickets to ride to the 2024 event.

Burner Express is back again this year to serve your bus pooling needs to Black Rock City. We have services from San Francisco and Reno. Buses will run to the Playa Saturday, August 26th through Thursday, August 31st and return trips begin on Friday, September 1 through peak Exodus periods. The last Burner Express Bus departing Black Rock City is at 10AM on Tuesday, September 5.

The Burner Express Bus is a bus service offered by Burning Man to transport Burners from San Francisco and Reno to Black Rock City and back. Riding the Burner Express offers faster arrival, speedier entrance, reserved camping, and expedited departures. You can purchase one way (to or from BRC) or round trip tickets. 

You must have a Burning Man ticket in order to ride the Burner Express — tickets will be verified before passengers are allowed to board. All Burner Express ticket sales are non-transferrable and non-refundable, so solidify your travel plans before you purchase a Burner Express ticket. Changes to the day or time of your purchased ticket will incur a $30 change fee.

Each Burner Express bus ticket includes a standard luggage allowance of two luggage items, and one carry-on. Each luggage item may not exceed a total of 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) or weigh more than 50 pounds. For travel between Reno and BRC you can buy an additional luggage allowance, which allows for two more luggage items (again not to exceed 62 linear inches or 50 pounds per bag). The additional luggage allowance costs $40 and can be added during the purchase process by purchasing a “Bus & Extra Luggage” ticket. You may bring one bike for an additional fee of $40 from Reno and $84 from San Francisco. Your bike must travel on the same day and departure time as you.

Buses departing from Reno at 10:00am Sunday, 1:00pm Saturday, Sunday and Monday and 12:00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday include a one-hour shopping stop at the Reno Save Mart at 525 Keystone Ave. This is ideal for those flying into Reno.

Passengers should arrive at least 1 hour prior to their scheduled departure and 90 mins prior if you have a Burning Man ticket that is at will call. If you miss your scheduled bus, we’ll do our best to find a spot for you on a later bus, but no guarantees. If the next available bus is on another day you are responsible for your own accommodations.

No Work Access Passes (WAPs) needed for Saturday, Aug. 26 arrivals.

If you take the Burner Express Bus arriving Saturday, August 26, your Burner Express Bus ticket is what allows you Early Arrival. If you’re not part of a placed camp, you may only camp between I Street and K Street outside of the blue flags. Blue flags in the ground, mark off reserved camping; do not camp within blue flags. You are welcome to camp in HOVerlandia at 6:15 and I, a dedicated reserved space for those arriving via the Burner Express Bus.  To get connected with HOVerlandia, click here.

You are not allowed to reserve camping space for people who have not arrived yet. If you are found holding space, someone from the Placement Team will move your belongings and remove any markers or boundaries you have set up.

Burner Express Bus Plus tickets:

Burner Express Bus Plus tickets are going on sale Wednesday, June 28th at 12pm (noon) PDT. This sale provides the opportunity to buy a Burner Express Bus ticket PLUS a Burning Man event ticket. Only Burner Express tickets that allow event access Monday, August 28th through Thursday, August 31st will be available. To confirm, that means no pre-event weekend tickets will be available. Here’s how it works:

• On June 28th at 12pm (noon) PDT, log into your Burner Profile and click the button under “Sparkly Things” that says “Purchase Burner Express Bus Plus Ticket” which will direct you to the Burner Express Bus Ticket purchase page.
• Select the bus ticket you would like to purchase. (City, Date, Time)
• By July 5th you’ll receive an email from Burning Man Ticketing (ticketsupport####@burningman.org) with your $575 event ticket payment link. Please add any @burningman.org email to your safe list. If you don’t see it, be sure to check your spam folder. If you still can’t find it contact ticketsupport@nullburningman.org. You must pay for your Burning Man event ticket by July 12th, 2023 at 12pm (noon) PDT. After this deadline, your ticket will be released and will no longer be available to you.
• When it’s time to go to Burning Man, go to your Burner Express Bus point of embarkation (either in San Francisco, or Reno), show your photo ID and event ticket payment confirmation number to pick up your Burning Man ticket. Get on the bus and have a great time!
• You can purchase water, bike, or luggage add-ons in the checkout flow once you have safely carted your bus ticket.
• On June 29th or later, visit the Burner Express Bus website to purchase any return tickets.
• Please remember that a Burner Express Bus Plus event ticket can only be used by coming in on Burner Express from Monday, August 28th through Thursday, August 31st. Your event ticket will not be valid if you attempt to enter the event any other way.
• BxB Plus Sale tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

If you have additional questions about Burner Express Bus Plus tickets, please see the Ticket Support page.

Checking In (Reno & SF):

At check-in you’ll need to provide your Burning Man ticket or order number, along with a photo ID. Your will call ticket will be located in our system and distributed to you prior to departure. Your “will call” ticket must be in your name. If you have a ticket from the Ticket Aid program, fire conclave ticket or other event ticket you need to pay for, you will be able to do so with a Visa or Mastercard. No cash will be accepted. If you don’t have a Burning Man ticket, you will not be allowed to board the Burner Express Bus.

Please print out your Burner Express email ticket confirmation and bring it with you.

When you check in, you’ll receive color-coded baggage tags to attach to your belongings. No untagged items will be loaded onto the luggage vehicles or the bus. Your one carry-on item does not need a tag. You should also attach luggage tags with your name and camp name/location prior to embarkation. If you purchased a bike pass, you will be given a color-coded tag for your bike. Bikes and luggage will be loaded onto a truck that follows the bus to the playa. Please lock your bike prior to loading it onto the truck and note that it may arrive in BRC before or after you.

Reno (Airport)

Please note that due to airport construction Burner Express check-in has moved to 1500 Terminal Way just north of Door D as you exit baggage claim. Look for Burner Express staff in orange vests with a Burner Express Logo on the back. There are no facilities at the loading location so please fill water and use the restroom before leaving the terminal.

If you have a ticket in hand, check in for the bus.  Otherwise, you will need to pick up your ticket from the Will Call window and then check in for the Bus.

Check in, tag your luggage, and you’ll be escorted to the pickup curb by Burner Express staff where the luggage vehicle will be waiting to be loaded. You must personally hand your luggage to the loader and watch it get loaded on the truck. After all luggage is loaded, your bus will arrive, and you will be allowed to board.

If you purchased a Save Mart stop, you will go from the airport to the store and have one hour to buy what you need (plan ahead).

San Francisco

Burner Express Bus pick up and drop off in San Francisco will be near Civic Center. If you have a will call ticket, you must pick it up first at 99 Grove Street at the historic box office windows of Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Bus checkin will be directly across the street at 50 Grove Street.

The San Francisco route has no additional luggage option (only the option of adding a bike). Each passenger is limited to two luggage items and one carry-on.

The trip to Gerlach is 325 miles and takes 6-8 hours. The driver will stop at least once to allow passengers to stretch their legs (additional stops are at the discretion of the driver). Be considerate at stops and return to the bus on time so the bus isn’t delayed.

Arriving at Black Rock City

Burner Express enters Black Rock City through the front Gate and has a dedicated lane that bypasses most traffic.

Once processed at the Gate, buses continue to the BxB depot located at 6:15 and J street. At the BxB depot you can either make your own way to your camp or get a ride on a Burner Express BRC shuttle. The shuttles run from the BxB Depot and stop on E street at 3:00, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00; and J street at 2:30, 3:45, 5:15, 7:15, 8:15, and 9:30.  You are responsible for making it the rest of the way to your campsite from these stops.

Purchase water in advance.

Burner Express Bus passengers can purchase water in advance and fill up on the playa. You must bring your own container (we recommend collapsible five-gallon containers, so it fits in your luggage). Water must be filled upon arrival in BRC and is only available to Burner Express riders that ride the bus TO Black Rock City. The cost is $9 per 5 gallons plus fees. You must purchase water in advance. There will be no on-site sales. If you are only riding the Burner Express out of BRC, in the spirit of radical self reliance, please plan to transport your own water.

Exodus

For departures after the Man burns, allow yourself some extra time to get to the BxB Depot (6:15 and J street): there will be fewer landmarks to guide you at that point. Arrive at the depot at least one (1) hour before your scheduled departure to allow time to check in, load your luggage and find a seat. Buses leave on time, with or without you.

The satellite shuttles will begin running 2 hours prior to departure times from the BxB Depot and again stop on E street at 3:00, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00; and J street at 2:30, 3:45, 5:15, 7:15, 8:15, and 9:30.

The depot will be staffed beginning at 5am on Sunday and Monday to check in for Exodus. The same check-in protocol applies. Bring ID, check in, tag your luggage, load the luggage trucks, hop on the bus. After you purchase your Burner Express ticket, you will be notified of the process for recycling and trash. Note: on-site ticket sales for trips back to Reno or San Francisco will be on a standby basis only.

During Exodus, Burner Express uses a different exit to avoid all traffic until the highway. This is usually a big time saver for riders. Don’t forget to bring warm layers and water for the trip home — spending hours on an air-conditioned bus can be a shock after acclimatizing to the desert heat.