Burning Man Packing List and Survival Guide from 20 Years on the Playa
· Festival Recovery
Festival Recovery started at Burning Man. Our founder and his campmates have been going to Black Rock City for two decades, and our kit began as a 7 to 10 day routine for the camp. This is the packing list and survival guide we wish someone had handed us before our first burn.
Start with the official guide. Burning Man publishes a Survival Guide every year. Read it before you buy anything. The quotes below are from the 2026 edition.
The mindset: radical self-reliance
Black Rock City is a temporary city in a dry lakebed. Daytime highs routinely exceed 100°F, overnight lows can drop into the 40s, and dust storms can turn the world white with no warning. There is no vending: in the guide's words, "The sale of products and services by participants is strictly prohibited." Whatever you need, you bring.
Water and food
- Water. The guide says: "You will need 1.5 gallons of water per person per day for drinking, washing, and cleaning." For a 7 day burn, that is over 10 gallons each.
- A refillable bottle or hydration pack you carry everywhere
- Electrolyte drink mix or tablets
- Easy, no-cook food for every day, plus extra
- Coolers and a plan for ice
- Cups and a mug with a carabiner. Camps serve drinks, but bring your own vessel.
Dust and sun
- Sealed goggles, not just sunglasses
- Dust mask or respirator
- Wide-brim hat and sunscreen
- Lip balm and a rich moisturizer for your hands and feet
- Saline spray or eye drops
- Bandana or buff
Shelter and sleep
- Tent with rebar stakes. Regular stakes will not hold in playa wind.
- Shade structure over your tent, tied down hard
- Sleeping bag rated for the 40s, plus a pad
- Earplugs and an eye mask. The city never gets quiet.
- Battery fan for afternoon heat
Light yourself up
The guide is direct: "Light yourself, your bike, your art, and your belongings." And: "Walking or riding with no lights is NOT SAFE."
- Bike with a lock, front and rear lights, and body lighting
- Headlamp plus spare batteries or rechargeables
- EL wire or LED strips for yourself at night
Your daily routine
A week on the playa goes faster than you think. Pack each day's routine before you leave home so you are not digging through bins in a dust storm.
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, biodegradable wipes and deodorant
- Prescription medication in its original labeled container, plus a few extra days
- Any vitamins or supplements you take. Our camp started the Revive Recovery Kit for exactly this: one AM packet and one PM packet a day, so a 10-Day Kit covers build days and the burn.
- Blister pads and a basic first aid kit
Leave No Trace
The guide calls Black Rock City "the largest Leave No Trace (LNT) event in the world." Matter Out of Place (MOOP) is anything that was not there before you arrived. "Never let it hit the ground!"
- MOOP bag on your bike or belt
- Heavy trash bags and a plan to haul everything home
- Gray water container
- Skip loose feathers, confetti, glitter and single-use plastic. The guide flags feathers and confetti as common MOOP.
Leave at home
- Fireworks, explosives and aerial flares (prohibited)
- Anything you plan to sell
- Loose feathers and boas that shed
- Anything you cannot stand to see covered in dust
Tickets and getting in
- Ticket, plus photo ID and your confirmation number for Will Call
- Vehicle pass. "All vehicles driven into Black Rock City must display a valid vehicle pass."
- A full tank, a spare tire and patience for Gate Road
Gift something, help your neighbors and leave the playa cleaner than you found it. See you out there.
Festival Recovery is not affiliated with or endorsed by Burning Man Project. Quotes are from the Burning Man Survival Guide. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.