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Hey folks, I was wondering about a few things regarding getting to the farm.
Last year was the first for my friends and I. We got into the area around 8AM, just as planned, but weren't at our camp site until around 5PM. Drove from NE Ohio, had to turn off AC to keep car from overheating in bumper-to-bumper highway fiasco, blah blah blah.
How can we avoid going through that again? Should we get in line earlier? Is it better to chill and only get there on Thursday night? Sacrifice Thursday and shoot for early Friday? Coming from the south rather than Nashville any better? Was 2010 unusual or to be expected?
Thanks for any advice you might have. We really want to go again but the only vehicle we have big enough for all of us and our junk might not tolerate that again, and I might not either. Camping closer might be nice too, since we were waaay out there.
2010 was my first Roo as well and also suffered through a ridiculous wait in line, but from what they said on the radio it was due to the grounds being thrashed by the storm and all. My only advice is don't be one of those dicks that cuts in line. We got in line mid morning after spending the night at Wal-Mart and got a good close spot and still didn't miss any music.
Emoney serves more of a purpose than any of you, especially Nate, whose incessant, garbled ramblings are so mindless and pointless that I get depressed just seeing them.
what i learned last year is that a handful of strategically placed broken down cars can mess up your trip big time. we sat for about an hour and did not move an inch. we found out from a motorcycle cop that someone about a half mile in front of us was broke down and nobody was going around them. this was the case with four or five cars on both sides of the interstate on thursday. i do not know if they were overheated or out of fuel but it sucked. I'm surprised they did not have a tow company or tdot truck making regular rounds to help these guys out and keep thing moving.
1st year (06), we got in line around 5 or 6, and got placed in BFE across the little bridge behind Centeroo around 7 or so.
07, got in line late in the afternoon, didn't get parked until 9 or so at night... WAAAAAAY out of the way.
08, got in line at like 9, got placed near the back, with a walk of 15 minutes.
09, got in line at 5 am, got placed 3 minutes from Centeroo after about 2 hours of a wait.
10, got stuck in line around 3 (we were trying to get to Wal Mart, that didn't happen), got placed a minute (no lie, I clocked it) walk from Centeroo at around 7 or 8.
Post by icantenough on Feb 1, 2011 17:21:18 GMT -5
i get in line at noon on thursday every single year. the first 3 years i went 02-04 got parked next to camp only. the year after that, i had to work thursday and got in at 2am friday, got parked way, way out and brought my stuff to camp only. the next 3 years i got put in the middle, one time near family zone, but others still pretty close.
2 years ago, i got put at balloon 6 near one of the entrances to the campgrounds and last year (drumroll) i got put so far away i didnt even know the area existed. it was one of those walks where you thought you were almost there after 15 minutes of walking, only to see a marker and realize you were halfway there. if that happens again i am getting out of line and dropping my GF and stuff off at camp only and park the car in day parking.
anyway, i think location depends on a combination of luck+entrance+time.
There is no real good time to get into the farm to avoid being parked in BFE.
There are so many X factors to consider while we park you. Traffic jams, accidents, people holding up the line, staff shortages, etc. All of it changes as the day/night goes on. I'd say your more likely to be parked in BFE if you arrive Wednesday night, but that isn't exactly a guarantee.
You know, the bad part about BFE isn't BFE, it's the forced march way around the What area and VIP until What's officially opened. That walk would be fifteen or twenty minutes shorter if people could just cut straight across.
My group got stuck out in BFE in 2009, and we were never once allowed by staff to cut across What...not for the entire weekend. I'm not grinding an axe here; it was a wonderful weekend, but I've always been curious why that was.
I'm sure the festival has a good reason...can you shed some light on it? Sound check? Setup? Weird pagan rituals that have to be conducted away from prying eyes? Enquiring minds want to know.
There is no real good time to get into the farm to avoid being parked in BFE.
There are so many X factors to consider while we park you. Traffic jams, accidents, people holding up the line, staff shortages, etc. All of it changes as the day/night goes on. I'd say your more likely to be parked in BFE if you arrive Wednesday night, but that isn't exactly a guarantee.
Last Edit: Feb 2, 2011 23:18:45 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
We left STL early Wednesday morning around 10, we got stuck in traffic in nashville which set us back atleast an hour and a half, it was rush hour. Got to Manchester around 7 and made a stop at the Wally World for a few last minute things. We got in line right before eight, the line off of the highway. Waited in line for about two hours moving at a very slow pace most of the time. I'm sure it would have went faster had it not started raining. We were parked and out of the car setting up camp by 10:30 I'm still not sure what camp we were in, as I never really paid attention and was in quite the haze the entire weekend haha. It was about a 10-15 min walk away from Centeroo. We had to walk past the artist camping area and around the RV camping/vipcamping area. I didn't think it was to bad and I'll def. get there Wednesday night again this year. Totally worth it in my opinion
Post by Vw'ndeadchick on Feb 3, 2011 1:20:48 GMT -5
last year was by far the worst for lines... mud at the new enterance closing it and then a turned over tracker trailer ruined the day. we had many cars in our caravan and were forced to wait out the 9 hours in line only to get directed in a back gate anyway. the only year coming close to that was 04 when we were in a sold out crowd i think. i cant imagine this year is going to get better
we leave from harrisburg pa every year wed afternoon and drive overnight, arriving at the festival ground sometime early thursday morning and hop in line. normally were in the festival grounds and have camp set up by noonish. last year we werent set up till 6-7 that night.
its a total roll of the dice. we have camped in most of the star wars camps and rodger murdock in the past and one horrid year landed outselves in jaffee joffer. last year we were in jeff spicoli which wasnt bad either, 5-10 min walk to the gate
my advice, improve your karma... be patient and be kind. bonnaneighbors are the best neighbors
...I didn't think it was to bad and I'll def. get there Wednesday night again this year. Totally worth it in my opinion
I love the Wednesday night partying in the campgrounds! I've gone in Wednesday night the past two years and while the walk from the 007 camps can get taxin' by the end of the weekend, I still love the experience. If everythin' goes right this year I'll be doin' it again!
...my advice, improve your karma... be patient and be kind. bonnaneighbors are the best neighbors
This! Well, fer the most part. I'll say I've always had one great group on one side of my camp, but the other side seems rather "I'm too cool for you." It's strange. But the great neighbors on the good side make up fer them.
...I didn't think it was to bad and I'll def. get there Wednesday night again this year. Totally worth it in my opinion
I love the Wednesday night partying in the campgrounds! I've gone in Wednesday night the past two years and while the walk from the 007 camps can get taxin' by the end of the weekend, I still love the experience. If everythin' goes right this year I'll be doin' it again!
Everyone is just in the best mood Wednesday night. Completely stoked for the great time they are about to have for the next couple of days. Even though it was raining and muddy everyone was still in great spirits. Wednesday night FTW!
Post by Vw'ndeadchick on Feb 3, 2011 3:50:41 GMT -5
sorry dan i havent met any of the "im too cool for you folks", ive only had bad neighbors one year... and if your reading this you know what you stole from me!
anyways if your parked next to me were probly going to party all weekend, dont be shocked when i demand you drink crown royal its a bonnatradition started by jane from colorado in 03 and other treats
from I-24, take the Beech Grove exit. I can't think of the exit number but I think it's around 98. then take highway 41 into Manchester (it becomes highway 2 in town, I believe). You won't encounter the Roo traffic until you get into town proper, because you're coming from the North and the line is from the south.
You will hit the Roo traffic when you get to the intersection with Highway 55. You will need to turn LEFT onto highway 55 and get into the line. Some people consider this "cutting", but honestly, there's no other way in. The cop that made me get into line last year would probably disagree about the cutting part; if you don't turn into the line, you are holding up traffic. (He wouldn't let me wait for someone to be nice and let us in front of them... he forced us into the line, so we really had no choice)
So anyway, I have done this for the past three years and have never waited more than 1 1/2 hours in line.
from I-24, take the Beech Grove exit. I can't think of the exit number but I think it's around 98. then take highway 41 into Manchester (it becomes highway 2 in town, I believe). You won't encounter the Roo traffic until you get into town proper, because you're coming from the North and the line is from the south.
You will hit the Roo traffic when you get to the intersection with Highway 55. You will need to turn LEFT onto highway 55 and get into the line. Some people consider this "cutting", but honestly, there's no other way in. The cop that made me get into line last year would probably disagree about the cutting part; if you don't turn into the line, you are holding up traffic. (He wouldn't let me wait for someone to be nice and let us in front of them... he forced us into the line, so we really had no choice)
So anyway, I have done this for the past three years and have never waited more than 1 1/2 hours in line.
Nice, I will have to remember this. That 8 hour wait last year was brutal.
I should add that we usually leave Nashville around 6:00am (and stop for ice and breakfast somewhere along the way). Last year, we had our camp set up in Tent-Only by noon.
sorry dan i havent met any of the "im too cool for you folks", ive only had bad neighbors one year... and if your reading this you know what you stole from me!
anyways if your parked next to me were probly going to party all weekend, dont be shocked when i demand you drink crown royal its a bonnatradition started by jane from colorado in 03 and other treats
They weren't necessarily bad neighbors. For instance we had a couple on one side this past summer. We tried to say hello, be friendly, invited them to stop by and say hey under our EZ-Up. But we got no friendly vibes back.
And as fer some Crown Royal...we'll see. I haven't been able to stomach it since my friend gave me a shot out of a bottle stored in his room, in the hottest part of the summer, and with no A/C in the house. Was just awful. I'm more a whiskey man.
Post by Del Griffith on Feb 4, 2011 14:23:17 GMT -5
i've been every year since '06.
'06 and '07 i went in weds night thru the bushy branch rd entrance (exit 111). i was put in BFE (007 camps, POD 1 area) both times. walk was a good 20-25 mins.
'08 i entered thurs morn thru the i-24 nb entrance (exit 112). i got placed in camp chewbacca. quick 5-10 min walk to centeroo.
'09 i waited in the i-24 nb entrance line for a short time before being moved by a motorcycle cop up to exit 111 (bushy branch rd). got stuck in BFE again (007 camps, POD 1). 20-25 min walk.
'10 i waited in line on i-24 nb and entered thru exit 112. called camp luke skywalker my home that weekend. a nice 5-10 min walk to centeroo.
unless you want the excerise, my advice would be to enter thru the i-24 nb entrance (exit 112).
I have been coming for 6 years and never done the Wal Mart Wednesday night. I would like to change that this year. My question is this: is the interstate entrance to I-24 Westbound (towards exit 112) always open on Thursday? Or do they send you another way.
2010 was my first Roo as well and also suffered through a ridiculous wait in line, but from what they said on the radio it was due to the grounds being thrashed by the storm and all. My only advice is don't be one of those dicks that cuts in line. We got in line mid morning after spending the night at Wal-Mart and got a good close spot and still didn't miss any music.
I LOL at the "mud causing a delay" excuse. Really, Bonnaroo?? So the grounds were a muddy mess in '07, '08 AND '10? Because I waited just as long in '07 and '08. The only reason we didn't wait this past year is we didn't show up until after midnight on Thursday. I highly recommend this. Funny, I remember people wearing bandanas over their mouth and nose because of all the dust in '07, so....probably not the mud.
Post by waitingfornextyear on Feb 11, 2011 17:29:29 GMT -5
Sorry, just realized that I was signed in under my gf's account.^^^ Dan'Roo, where were you camped last year? Also, I posted this in another similar thread, but haven't gotten a response:
Does anyone know when they close entrance ramps to I24 on Thursday? Specifically the one by the Walmart? Our plan in '08 was to hang at Wally World till the gates open then get right on (which puts you about a mile or so from the makeshift exit 112) but our RV broke down and by the time it was fixed, the entrance ramp was blocked by the fuzz.
11/2/19: Tool 5/17/19: Blues Traveler 5/9/19: Tool 11/10/18: Tenacious D 9/20/18: White Denim 7/23/18: Radiohead 6/4/18: Jack White 5/20/18: Tool 5/18/18: A Perfect Circle 5/18/18: Alice in Chains 5/6/18: Blind Melon
Post by thelatenight on Feb 17, 2011 14:36:16 GMT -5
'08- Highway line, waited 5 hours '09 - Some winding backroads line, waited 6 hours '10 - got off the highway somewhere, took 2 random turns where the staff was directing us, and only waited 15 minutes, before getting to our campsite..
Wish i could remember where the hell they directed us last year haha...
Post by sambamthankyoumaam on Feb 18, 2011 9:42:39 GMT -5
Hey everyone! I've been scouring these threads and still can't figure out the RV situation. We're driving down from NY to our first 'roo in an RV and having some scheduling issues. We may not be able to leave until Wednesday evening which means we probably wont get into Manchester until mid morning- without traffic. From what I've read getting there anytime after 6am equals 10 hours of traffic/lines.
My question is are there separate lines for cars/tents and RVs to get into the farm? Or does everyone just go in to the same place and after the searches they direct you where to park?
After a 17 hour drive I know we're going to be ready to rage and a 6 hour line to park could be a major buzz kill. Any tips would be great~thanks!
So basically I'm kind of screwed if I plan on rolling into Manchester around 3 or 4PM? I hadn't even thought about the wait when I was planning this all out.
After a 17 hour drive I know we're going to be ready to rage and a 6 hour line to park could be a major buzz kill. Any tips would be great~thanks!
I wish my wait last year had ONLY been 6 hours! It was more like 9. (Of course they blamed it on the weather, but other folks say that this was not too far off from the norm.) I have only gone that one time, and didn't take an RV, but I don't remember there being any different process for cars or RVs. They may separate them, but only once you actually get to the farm, not in the line on the highway, I think.
The best looking advice I've seen is to either get there way crazy early (Wednesday night) or get off the highway pretty far in advance and hope fore the best.
Going through Ohio and want to pick me up, by any chance?
If I remember correctly at one point the RVs area shown to one of three RV camps (goin' by my map from last year). I think it might depend on what entrance you take, but they may separate general traffic and RV's before enterin' the search line to enter the festival.
And uvajed that sucks! I've luckily never waited in line fer 9 hours to get in to Bonnaroo. Not in four years. I have waited some 5-7 at the longest my first year in '07. But wow, 9 hours would just be beyond unbearable.
It honestly is mostly a gamble where you will end up. I've done Wednesday night the past two years and done the 007/BFE campgrounds. In '07-'08 we arrived Thursday at Wally World around 8-10am. Had camp set up by 4-6pm and camped in the Star Wars area. It's a strange lottery of what time you arrive, what entrance you are takin' in, and strange parkin' guidance.
