Yes. You can park for free in mountain village and then take the gondola into Telluride, also for free! The box office is right next to the festival entrance and that’s where you’ll trade your ticket for a wristband. As for how early people start lining up for a spot, that depends on where you want your spot to be. If you want to be up close, you’re going to be out of luck, as everyone who has a tarp in front of the sound board had someone spend the night in line for their spot. If you want to be farther back with a more comfortable, high back chair, you can usually stroll in and find something once they’ve opened the gate.
My recommendation, if it’s just you or a small party, is to not worry about staking out a spot. I spent my first three years at the festival as part of a 3 person group, and we never laid out a tarp. We would just walk up to an empty (or mostly empty) tarp and sit there until the owners returned. Then we’d strike up a conversation with the owners and there would usually be enough room for us to stay, or we’d find a different tarp. Offering to make a beer run usually helps! :cheers I never once had a bad experience tarp hopping in those three years and I was always close enough for my taste.
My friend is flying in from CA. She has taken a few day trips to higher elevation spots, CO once, and said she didn’t have a problem with the elevation at all. Had one beer in CO and said she was more buzzed but the beer is also higher % than where we’re originally from. Do people find that festivating can bring on the side effects of elevation that were not previously present? AKA, if she was fine sober will she be not? She is a solid person so I think she will be fine but I don’t want her time to get ruined by something like that either…
My only answer is to drink lots and lots of H20. It seems to cure most ills for me but you need to be consistent and drink H20 all day.
I drink 10 times more water at TBF than I would ever drink at home on a summer drinking day. Granted, my home is not in high elevation.
yep H20 for any raucous colorado activity that you choose to engage in. be it TBF, hikes, camping, anything. staying hydrated keeps you rockin hard. :cheers
I am from California and it takes some getting used too. Drink lots of water say two glasses for every beer and that will compensate for some of the elevation. But it will take a couple of days to acclimate to the elevation. Take it slow and eventually your body will allow you to adjust. BTW there are no restrictions on Alcohol levels in California for beer, so lay off the Bud Lite :pirate
Water really is your best friend when adjusting to altitude. And keep in mind that alcohol and other substances have a much higher effect on those who partake. I come every year from MT, so not exactly low elevation, and I always find my tolerance in Telluride isn’t what it is at home.
I’m trying to get my butt in shape (literally) for RAGBRAI and will have my road bike with me in Town Park. Looking to get out for a couple of rides out to the airport and back or something. I need to keep the riding going, but my first priority is the Town Park experience, so I won’t be up for any century rides or climbing Lizard Head Pass or anything, but I do need saddle time during the week at some point.
Oh wow. That’s new. Where are you camped? I usually have to work for the first few days I’m there, so if there’s a place to get wifi without trekking over to Baked in Telluride or the library, I’m stoked!
You’re going to get sent out to Carhenge to park probably (don’t ask), so I’d go ahead and to the TP unload, then drop your HS buddy off on the way back to park.
You’ll get the wristband at the box office, which you’ll try to hit on the way back to camp. Someone can tell you where it is. There will be plenty of volunteers around…no worries
We are arriving on Thursday early afternoon, and have town park passes. (No car pass) Are we going to be able to drive in and unload our stuff? I understand the campground will be packed, will we be able to squeeze a spot somewhere?
Yes, you’ll get a two hour pass to drive into Town Park to unload. Keep asking around for a spot the size you need. Sometimes a saved spot is a no-show…Then your car will probably be sent up to the parking structure in Mountain Village. This will give you the wonderful opportunity to ride the Gondola back to town. (Town parking will be full by Thursday)
Hello Telluride Family… This is the first year me and my fiancé will be bringing our stomping shoes to TBGF as we just moved to Denver from 'ol Kentucky. A few questions for you lovely folks. First, when do tickets normally go on sale to the general public? from what I’ve seen it looks like early december normally. I’m just curious so I know when I need to have my money saved up by because I know last year they sold out in 8 minutes so I need to be ready to purchase the second they go on sale. And secondly, we’re thinking about probably camping in Mary E. Ilium so we can pay the extra 50$ sand camp beside our car. What are you’r thoughts on Mary E. Ilium vs Lawson Hill? I read that Mary E. Ilium is in the woods which sounds much better than in sunlight all day. Also, about how long is the shuttle ride from Mary E. Ilium to the festival since it’s 7 miles? Thanks so much for the input. We’re so excited.
Tickets do generally go on sale in early December. It’s been about five years since I last stayed in Mary E, but it was a great place to camp. I seem to recall the shuttle ride taking about 15 minutes from departure to arrival, but it’s the lines that take the most time. Before a big set, the lines can be half an hour or longer to get on a shuttle. I recommend getting to the fest at the beginning of the day and staying there until you head back for the night. Bring everything you’ll need with you in a backpack (food, rain gear, warm clothing, chairs . . .)