Alright, I should arive to my campgrounds (I am a festivirgin) around 12:00 noon on Wednesday. Can anyone give me some direction on what to expect at Mary E. Ilium campgrounds? I’m hoping we’ll still have some choice as to where we want to park the vehicle and pitch the tent…
Is there any other helpful advice y’all can think of before I get to my campgrounds?
Also, will I be able to leave w/ my car to go get groceries, etc?
Thanks all & can’t wait to see ya there!
Usually people start pulling in around that time period, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a spot. Last year we got there on Tuesday night and had pretty much our pick of places to set up, which was really nice. The year before we got in around 11 PM on Wednesday and we were able to find a good spot to camp, it was a fair distance from the vehicle.
FYI… the best camping is near the back as you come in. Just keep going until you hit the boundary and try to find a spot!
Cars are not allowed to leave the campground once the festival starts.
…It’s just too dangerous.
Forgot those two questions, :lol
Prepare for COOOOLD, it gets quite cold down at Mary E at night, so make sure you have layers and a good sleep system.
As far as the groceries go, there’s a nice grocery store in Telluride, and if you go right after you get set up on Wednesday you should be able to make it into town and back on the shuttle easily, and it should still be clear enough on the shuttle that you should have room for a few bags of groceries.
How big are the camp sites?
In our group we will have 3 ppl, 2 tents, and if we there is enough room a shade tent (maybe 8ft by 8ft) , plus one car. Will it all fit?
Yes :thumbsup
Auntie Hope :pickin
all are welcome to hang out with us under the shade tent and share a meal! :wave
As long as you get there early, you should have no problems. There aren’t “campsites” exactly, it’s mostly find your own place to set down and try not to encroach on anyone else if you can avoid it :).
Old thread, but now I’m curious. Don’t necessarily have plans to leave, but hadn’t considered whether or not I’d be able to.
Is this still the case, and if so, any idea of when enforcement begins? Thursday? Or earlier? Soon as you get there?
Thanks, y’all 
I believe the last day you can drive into town is Tuesday, after that it’s by shuttle only. The shuttle will take you right to the grocery store where you can get everything you need. I stayed at Ilium last year and we pulled in on Tuesday night and were informed that if we needed anything to go get it then.
Plus, on Wednesday the shuttle isn’t too crowded yet so you should have no problem getting what you need and getting back easily 
I seeee. Cool, thanks!!
Can we have open fires at Illium or do we need fire rings?
Do people vend food up at Illium at all?
Im wondering…
Ok so I found it and Illium is the only place in Telluride (general area) which allows open fires. Which means the food will taste even better!
Yee HAw!
Fires are only allowed in the pre-established fire rings…
FYI.
:cheers
D.
what if we have a parking pass in town?
i believe you will have to park in town and shuttle to your car when you want to use it. If your car is in the campground after Wednesday night / very early Thursday morning it is there until Sunday night. If you are parked near your tent and next to the road within the campground it will probably be trapped by tents and you won’t have a chance to move it anyway.
it’s too dangerous to have cars coming in and out of the campground. Once you find your spot, you will have to stay there.
I’m not sure how/ why you have a parking pass for town, but it won’t do you any good to and from the campground. Shuttles are the means of transportation.
But if all i have is a minivan i will be able to park next to my tent provided i arrive tuesday night even if i dont have a illium parking pass?
If you don’t have a parking pass for Ilium, then you will have to park out on the road that leads up to the campground, whether it is Tuesday or later in the week. If you do have an Ilium parking pass, then your car gets parked next to your tent and cannot be moved once the festival begins. The only way to get to and from town is the shuttle. I am not sure I understand your plan with the town parking pass, but once the festival starts your car is pretty much stuck if it is parked at a campground (it won’t be fun to get it un- and reparked from the road outside of the campground either, so it may as well be stuck there too).
This will be my second year staying in Mary E. We had a vehicle pass last year, and while nice if you have things that you want to lock up, it’s not completely necessary. We do not have a pass this year and aren’t worried about it at all