Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by phishsticks41 on Feb 19, 2011 22:27:28 GMT -5
So from what I have heard the traffic heading into the farm can be... well, unbearable. I'm just looking for a few first hand accounts of what this situation is like. I have even heard of people sitting in traffic for almost 12 hours. Any insight to this aspect of Bonnaroo would be appreciated. Thanks ya'll.
Yea it can be pretty effing terrible to be honest. First roo I attended in '09, sat in traffic for 8 hours.
Roo '10 was not as bad at all, maybe an hour tops.
It all can be made better with good music and good company. But the last thing you want to do is wait in a hot car forever and then when you finally get in, start setting up camp.
I think it's a bit of a crap shoot on whether or not you'll be waiting or not. You can plan ahead as much as you want but you never know what the thousands of other roo goers are planning.
I will admit that it can be hard to keep the good vibes up during the wait and during set up but as soon as you're done and actually begin the festivities, the mood changes completely.
My first year in 04 I was stuck in line for 12 hours. Noon till we set up camp at midnight. Every year since then I lived by EARLY EARLY EARLY mindset. The longest I ever waited after that was 5 but usually more like 2 or 3.
There were horror stories last year but somehow we only sat for like an hour and a half. Got lucky I suppose.
Last Edit: Feb 20, 2011 6:23:09 GMT -5 by aftermath - Back to Top
Post by phishsticks41 on Feb 20, 2011 0:11:54 GMT -5
What is a good time to plan on arriving in the Festival Grounds general area by. As far as both traffic and getting a good spot camping go. If you get there early do they pack you in the back of the camp grounds?
I've been 4 years (07-10) and I think the longest I've ever waited was about 3 hours. I've shown up at different times between 10am - 4pm on Thursday. I think it's a bit of a crapshoot as to how long it's going to be, but I think waiting over 4 hours is uncommon and won't happen under normal circumstances anymore. Sometimes the weather can cause hold ups (mud holes form at the checking stations, slowing everything down), but normally, they're pretty quick about getting people in.
Edit: And as far as where they put you, that is also a crapshoot. I think it's generally accepted that the really early people will be far back, but other than that, there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to where they put people.
Post by julieagulia on Feb 20, 2011 1:44:36 GMT -5
We got into Manchester around 7 pm Wednesday night. We would have gotten there sooner but had to sit in rush hour traffic coming through Nashville, if you have to drive through Nashville try and go through not during rush hour as it was extremely frustrating lol Anyways we made a quick stop at Wal Mart before getting in line to get into Roo Got in line close to 8 and waited for about two hours. started setting up camp about 10ish, it the dark and it had been raining for a little bit so that was fun. It eventually stopped raining and it turned out all right Got to meet our neighbors and get acquainted with he surroundings. I'm glad we went in early, yea we were in the dreaded "BFE" but it really was not that bad everyone always bitches about BFE but I had no problems with it Will definitely go in Wednesday night again
Post by fearthestupid on Feb 20, 2011 9:20:05 GMT -5
definitely a crapshoot whether you will be waiting or not. 2009 we got in line on the side of i24 at 530 am were in by 730...last year 2010 in line same time (thought that was pretty good for coming from fl), waited til just after noon...lots of people had trouble driving on the wet grass in the camping areas so it was much slower
I've changed my approach since reading this board, so I have to thank you guys. I was originally going to get into Nashville around 2PM, but then I'd probably miss all of the acts on Thursday. We're now going to get there in time to leave early on Thursday morning.
Last year we got in line thurs at 1:30-2pm? and got in around 9 or after? (It was pretty much dark) they stuck us towards the back (pod 9 I believe) ya my memory sucks..anyways I hope this year it is different cause waiting that long really, really sucked and I missed Manchester Orchestra which was disappointing..
Post by kellyclarkson on Feb 21, 2011 19:59:49 GMT -5
I am so diggin the title of this topic. Malibu's Most Wanted is the shizzzite.
Anyways, this is my first Roo and I was planning on arriving, or at least getting in the traffic line at around 6-7 am. Is this a good time? What's the likelihood of me waiting for 5 hours or more?
Post by Vw'ndeadchick on Feb 22, 2011 3:00:21 GMT -5
last year was the worst for me by far with a wait of just over 9 hours. second to that was 04 with a wait of over 7. i think i remember all other years being next to nothing with a max wait of maybe 3 hours.
04 was by far the most entertaining with dead families lurking everywhere waiting for a miracle. last year was the most frustrating, it was the hottest wait i remember and the number of cars trying to cut us off close to the gate with no regard for causing accidents was amazing.
improve your karma, be kind, be safe and be patient and we will all get in!
What is a good time to plan on arriving in the Festival Grounds general area by. As far as both traffic and getting a good spot camping go. If you get there early do they pack you in the back of the camp grounds?
If you decide to come in Wednesday night, there will be little or no waiting, but you will be pretty far from Centeroo. Its not that bad and, for some, its worth it to be in a day early without much waiting.
After that, its impossible to say where you will be sent to camp. You may end up further than BFE or may end up right outside the Centeroo gates. But either way, you will likely have to wait a bit for it. I would recommend trying to be in line around 3-5am Thursday morning, just to make sure you are in and set up in time to get acquainted and make it into Centeroo by the time the music starts.
Post by kevindurant on Feb 22, 2011 17:22:47 GMT -5
So, everyone that has waited multiple hours, what way are ya'll coming from? I'm coming from Texas and will take i30 to i40 to i24 and the only time it's taken more than an hour was when we got in line at like 5pm Thursday (had to wait on caravan dealing with cops). Other than that time we've gotten there twice at early afternoon Thursday and got right in and had super dope campsites.
We always went down i24 a few miles pass the farm and would u-turn around and get in on that side entrance. Do most people go in a different entrance or what?
Post by dreamingtree on Feb 22, 2011 19:01:41 GMT -5
I think last year was an exception maybe? I had never sat in traffic before that in 4 years going to Roo. Last year it took me about 8 hours to get from Nashville into Roo..... that is normally an hour drive.
I got in line last year around midnight Thursday morning. It was our first Roo and we were really excited to get into town (coming from Florida) so we knew we'd have to wait and were fine with it. We got to our campsite at 7 am. There were alot of holdups because of the mud though. I don't think we were in BFE (about a 15-20 minute walk to centeroo). We actually really liked our camping area.
edit: now that I've looked at a map, we were in BFE. We really had no idea though. I hope thats where we are again actually.
Post by SteveoKnievo on Feb 23, 2011 11:00:31 GMT -5
We left my house (about 2, maybe 3 hours from Manchester) at 4 a.m. Waited in line a total of 8 hours I think. We got there with plenty of time to set up camp and see the Thursday acts, but waiting so long still sucked big time.
I got in line last year around midnight Thursday morning. It was our first Roo and we were really excited to get into town (coming from Florida) so we knew we'd have to wait and were fine with it. We got to our campsite at 7 am. There were alot of holdups because of the mud though. I don't think we were in BFE (about a 15-20 minute walk to centeroo). We actually really liked our camping area.
I saw a map on here somewhere where BFE was actually pointed out and that is in fact where we were. I don't know why people think its so bad there. We didn't mind it too much especially once we figured out we could get into centeroo through a gate by the what stage.
Post by arlenefavreau1 on Feb 24, 2011 22:19:55 GMT -5
Arlene and I got into line at 5:30 6:00 am an we were at our site set up and in line for the openning of center roo at noon. We walked fom the tree line at the farthest point in pod 9. A good hour walk. So in my opinion the earlier you get in line the faster you get in set up and ready for the openning of center roo.
Post by 10goldbees on Feb 25, 2011 20:10:25 GMT -5
i think there's plenty of good info to help you formulate a strategy so i'll just say this: you're going to sit in line for a while and you're going to want to get out of your car and walk around. when you do so make sure you have your vital materials with you.
last year i was taking a piss when the gate opened. i thought it was just the line moving again and that i would catch up but nope, i had to walk about 4 miles to get to the gate. luckily i had my shoes on or else i would have been screwed.
so when you get out of your car, be sure to have your ticket, your phone and a good attitude with you. and for the love of god, don't have any contraband in your pocket. that's any easy way to either lose you Leno or get to see the inside of a Coffee County jail cell.
oh and for the sake of story telling, one of my friends hopped out of the car with my ticket and walked up the highway to meet me.
i used to hate the traffic but i've sense relaxed and made the time spent on the side of the road part of roo' take it for what it is a long slow moving line and just go with the flow it will be hard but honestly just gooooo with it because it's the roooooooooooo!!!!! in terms of time's: i have spend 3-6 hours on the side of the road !!! its wonderful just dont get angry !!! with the idiots i assure will be driving infront of you
we always get the worst people in front of us i never thought that i could see someone screw up driving at .5mph in a straight line but oh how was i surprised
Post by Vw'ndeadchick on Apr 13, 2011 18:10:45 GMT -5
vital
its never a bad thing to have some lunch meat and or snacks available. frozen gallons of water and sandwiches saved us last year. we made one gas stop after 4am breakfast and it was after 6pm till we started assembling camp
