Directions to Burning Man from Tucson & Phoenix
Take I-10 through PHX and follow the signs that say I-10 West-Los Angeles. Take this way out past Dysart and Litchfield roads to Cotton Lane-Loop 303. Take the Loop 303 exit and turn right onto Loop 303.

Go down about 15 miles until 303 ends at Highway 60 to Wickenburg. There is a dog leg curve just before the overpass at US-60 you must take when you get to US -60 and Loop 303. Take the curve then turn left at the traffic light at US-60 and turn left to Wickenburg. This is a good road with only a couple stops and light traffic. There is a new Albertsons grocery store and gas station on Loop 303 about 3 miles or so before you get to US-60. It is on your left in a shopping Plaza at the intersection of Bell Rd and loop 303/Cotton lane. I recommend buying gas there. It is at least 20 cents a gallon cheaper than Wickenburg which is about 20 miles away.

When you get to Wickenburg, turn right at the Circle K on highway 93 and head to Wikiup and Kingman. There is two 24 hour gas stations in Wikiup Arizona if you need them.

Once you get to Kingman you will go the usual route out of town to Vegas. If you have an RV or heavily packed vehicle, they are now allowing those across the dam if you consent to a cursory search. However if your vehicle is so tightly packed that they can’t inspect it you will be sent back the other way. Also they will not let you cross the dam if you have over 25 gallons of gas stored in gas cans in your trailer. Official guidelines are located at this link, Official guidelines

Instead of taking the exit to Hoover Dam and Vegas you want to go to Laughlin-Bullhead City. There is a bridge there across the river pay attention to the signs that will direct you over the bridge. Once you leave Laughlin you'll go up to Boulder City and Vegas by way of Searchlight Nevada. Once in Boulder city you are back on the standard route into Vegas. Las Vegas does have heavy daytime rush hour traffic. If possible, it is best to try to avoid it. The last gas in Vegas is way out at Ann Rd. This is the last relatively cheap gas you will find in Nevada. Gas prices in Vegas as of August 1st 2004 are between, $1.89-$2.05 per gallon.

For info on Nevada gas prices, particularly larger metro areas try this link, Nevada Gas Prices Generally, Beatty, Tonopah and Hawthorn are about 15 to 20 cents per gallon higher than Las Vegas.

Beatty is just about half way to Burning Man for those coming from Tucson. Baileys Hot Springs-RV Park is on the far north end of Beatty about 3 miles out of town on your right on the way to Tonopah. They have RV parking, rest rooms and showers plus enclosed Hot springs for $16.00 per vehicle. This is an old haunt for Azburners on the way to Burning Man. If you stop over you will probably find someone there you know. Be sure and tell the owner you heading to Burning Man. He can tell you who has already come and gone and when they left. He will even give other burners that stop a note or message if needed. If you arrive at Baileys Hot Springs after the office is closed it is totally OK to find a spot and crash and pay when they open in the morning.

Sometimes they have an after hours person who may stop by your vehicle to collect the fee. Be advised that the Hot springs are locked after 8pm. There are no facilities to dump RV holding tanks at Baileys Hot Springs. Tonopah has free truck and RV parking at the Casino. You can sleep there and have breakfast in the casino the next morning. There is a free RV dump at the Casino in Downtown Hawthorn.

The last stop is Fallon. This will be the last place for supplies and cheap gas. When you come into Fallon you'll take a left in town to Fernley and Reno. The intersection where you make the turn is well marked. Just down the road on the right after you make the turn will be a Wal-Mart and Safeway store in the same plaza. If you need a tire replaced for your rig or trailer the Wal-Mart has them. Past that there is a Radio-Shack, Napa, Ace hardware and Checker Auto supply. On the way out of town a few miles down the road on the right is The Hub RV Park. Here is where you can get water and Propane. However depending on what you need the water for you may want to buy pre bottled drinking water instead of using Fallon’s tap water. There have been issues with water quality for drinking purposes. The last stop before BRC for cheap gas is past the RV park and will be on the left hand side. It is a small mom and pop store with the cheapest gas in Fallon. Try to stock up with everything in Fallon. The store in Empire gets cleaned out pretty quick.

After you leave Fallon you will head out Hwy 50 to Fernley, then to Hwy 447 North to Wadsworth, Nixon, Empire and Gerlach. It is roughly 90 miles from Fallon to Burning Man.

Be careful on this last stretch of road. Obey the speed limit at all times. The local and state police are out in force during Burning Man. Do not give them a reason to pull you over.

These guidelines are not designed or intended to replace good sound trip planning, or recently printed maps. As always please use a road map to plan your trip.