Conditions · Burning Man

Burning Man
Weather & terrain

The playa can bring extreme sun, dust, wind, cold nights, and long distances. Prepare for self-reliance and follow current official guidance.

The typical range

Expect days 85-100°F at the hottest point and nights 40-55°F — that swing, not the average, is what your layers need to cover. It can hit 90 at noon and 40 at 4am. Real insulation — a warm coat, fleece layers, a beanie — is not optional, and fur coats became the cliché because they work. Pack for a cold camping trip that happens to contain a city.

Build around conditions, not averages

Historical conditions help you choose categories, but a current forecast and official alerts should decide your final layer, rain, dust, and heat plan.

A simple final check

Seven days out, recheck the forecast, event communications, travel route, and your official rules source. Repack only what those current conditions change.

Official source

Burning Man official preparation and rules ↗

Ready to pack?

The Burning Man packing list

The saved checklist plus 10 gear picks chosen for these exact conditions.

Open the packing list →