Burning Man bound? Reno-Tahoe International Airport is ready to welcome you and say goodbye
Each year around this time, more than 80,000 people from all corners of the world make their way to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to temporarily populate Black Rock City. There, they enthusiastically participate in the eccentric art, music and offbeat desert camping event that is Burning Man.
This year’s Burning Man event officially runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4.
This means that right about now, about 20,000 event attendees, known as “burners,” are making their way to and through Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), the closest commercial airport to the event site. From RNO, the burners will make the 135-mile trek to the remote desert event site known as the Black Rock City playa by bus, car, rideshare or charter plane.
As it has in the past, the RNO airport team is ready to welcome the onslaught of burners with art, adorable dogs, information and directions on how to get from RNO to the playa. And when Burning Man is over, RNO will be ready to welcome burners back to the airport and send them on their way home.
If you’re heading that way, here are some tools and tidbits about what you’ll find at the airport.
Arriving in Reno
Both RNO and the Burning Man event websites have pages dedicated to airport logistics and ground transportation. Here is a link to the “Welcome Burners” page on the RNO website. And this is the link to the “Preparation Resources” page on the Burning Man Project event site.
Both pages have information about getting to and from the RNO airport and transportation options to the playa. Options include rental cars, ride-hailing services and the Burner Express Bus (the station is about a four-minute walk from the terminal). Also, Burner Express Air (an eight-minute drive or an hour walk from the main terminal) offers charter air transportation from RNO out to Black Rock City Municipal Airport.
Charter flights from RNO to Black Rock City take about 45 minutes. They arrive and depart from a large tent adjacent to the Atlantic Aviation building that serves as the terminal for Burner Express Air. According to the Burning Man Project website, “Atlantic Air no longer allows Burning Man passengers into its facility, in part due to the dust tracked in over the years.”
Inside RNO, arriving burners will be greeted by the cute pups from the airport’s therapy dog program, Paws 4 Passengers. They can also admire the Burning Man-themed art exhibition titled "A Dream Made Real." There will also be information about how to get to Black Rock City (and where to get supplies) at the Air Playa Info welcome table in the airport terminal lobby (pre-security) between the ticket hall and baggage claim.
Bye-bye burners
When Burning Man is over, the 20,000 or so dusty, tired and partied-out burners who arrived by plane will start making their way home.
And RNO airport is ready for that, too.
“Burning Man brings quite a bit of playa dust to the airport and our airline partners are prepped with clear plastic bags to wrap luggage and other checked items to ensure the dust isn’t being tracked through the terminal,” RNO’s Nicolle Staten said.
Many burners bring or buy bikes to get around on the playa. “And we’ll also have a bike corral to take bike donations to help eliminate unwanted bikes being left around the city,” she said.
The airport will also have a donation station — Burner Gear Giveback — to keep unwanted camping equipment out of the trash. There will be a large trash receptacle at the Burner Express Bus drop-off location to help minimize trash left behind.
It’s a lot of extra effort for the airport staff, but worth it, according to Staten. In addition to helping 20,000 Burning Man festivalgoers have a smooth trip, the event is beneficial to the airport’s bottom line, she said. In 2022, RNO operators (concessionaires, gaming and rental car operators) generated approximately 20% more revenue during August and September compared to annual monthly averages, according to Staten.
For its part, the Burning Man Project website makes a point of asking burners heading home to not bring their trash to the airport. It also reminds travelers that there are no showers or storage facilities at RNO and that items such as propane, fireworks, nitrous oxide canisters ("whippits") and knives are not allowed in carry-on bags.
Burners are also advised to “clean up and dress fully” before getting to the airport or boarding a plane because “many people are from other walks of life and it’s common courtesy.”
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.