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Burning Man Packing List
The supplies for a week in Black Rock City, with the quantities and the weather in mind.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
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Last-minute packing is a gamble. One travel blog warns that a rushed pack means forgotten items and no time to source them, with Amazon orders, Walmart and Costco runs all on the list. Start early. The official survival guide asks for 1.5 gallons of water per person per day, and daytime temperatures routinely top 100°F. The same guide says nights can drop 50 degrees. This list covers a tent or RV camper's survival kit, including food, shelter, light and first aid. It leaves out costumes, camp-shared gear and art.
Why these items are on the list
- Ticket, car pass, photo ID. Will Call pickup needs your ticket or photo ID and confirmation number.
- Water, at least 1.5 gallons daily. The Burning Man org recommends at least that much for drinking, showering and shaving.
- Backup food, no-cook. Ice is about the only thing sold on playa; bring everything else.
- Cash or Apple Pay for ice. Where's Bel says Arctica takes Apple Pay now; RV owners still need cash for pump-outs and water.
- Tent with rainfly. Business Insider's camp was stuck three days in the 2023 mudstorm; Where's Bel advises a high-quality rainfly.
- Heavy-duty ground tarp. A barrier under the tent against moisture seeping through the floor.
- Seam sealer. Older tents may have worn factory sealing. Find out before the playa.
- 12-inch tent stakes. Rebar makes good stakes, but cap or bend the ends to prevent leg injuries.
- Warm sleeping bag. The survival guide says temperatures can plummet 50 degrees after sunset, with overnight lows in the 40s.
- Sleeping pad or cot. Pick by tent size; a memory-foam pad also works under the bag.
- Dust mask and goggles. Dust storms bring instant whiteouts. Goggles with foam keep the dust out.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses. The survival guide says nearly 4,000 feet burns skin faster; apply every morning, repeat as needed.
- Shade structure or parasol. Something to break the midday sun, since natural shade can be nonexistent.
- Lip balm and lotion. The air is very dry; you may not feel warm but you're steadily drying up.
- Rain gear and footwear. One first-timer skipped rain gear before the 2023 mudstorm and regretted it.
- Bike with lock. The survival guide calls mountain bikes or balloon-tire cruisers best. Tag it with your details.
- Bike and body lights. Business Insider's packer brought extra batteries, since someone's lights are always dying overnight.
- Headlamp and mini flashlight. Handy for biking at night; a mini flashlight helps in pitch-black toilets.
- First-aid kit. The official checklist calls for an extensive one.
- Prescriptions in original containers. Bring anything you need to stay healthy in a remote area with no services.
- Duct tape. The official checklist promises you'll find a use for it.
- Rope or tie-down straps. The survival guide says desert wind can exceed 75 mph and fling tents, chairs and ice chests.
- Bucket toilet with lid. The survival guide suggests a five-gallon utility bucket with lid and liners; it doubles as a MOOP receptacle.
- Battery-powered AM/FM radio. The survival guide says BMIR 94.5 FM broadcasts news and announcements at the top of the hour.
- Baby wipes or body wipes. Business Insider says most people don't shower, and used water can't be spilled on the playa.
- Ear plugs and eye mask. Not everyone sleeps when you do.
- Power bank and charger. Save the map offline first; there may be no signal for part of the drive.
Tick items off on your phone as each one goes into the car, and share the list with a campmate so you don't double up on shared gear.
When to use it
Start well before the last few days, once you have your ticket and car pass.