Nevada Issues Burning Man Travel Warning

Nevada has issued a warning ahead of Burning Man, telling people not to provide unlicensed transportation to individuals attending the festival.

Newsweek has reached out to the Nevada Transportation Authority outside of regular working hours via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Burning Man is a weeklong event held in the desert, where participants create art, activities and events. It began in 1986 and was originally an underground gathering associated with bohemian types.

The festival takes place in the Black Rock Desert in northwestern Nevada. It is held specifically at Black Rock City, a temporary city which is built for the event. Burning Man has a big emphasis on inclusivity and community, and the event’s name comes from a ceremony on the penultimate night, when an effigy is burned.

Over the years, attendance has grown, with 72,000 attending in 2025, according to the Black Rock City Census, conducted by the Burning Man Organization. And the people who go to Burning Man have changed, too, with influencers, celebrities, and elites increasingly attending the event. This year’s installation is set to begin on August 24

What To Know

The Nevada Transportation Authority has reminded people ahead of Burning Man that providing or accepting paid transportation without a license is illegal.

In a press release, the authority said that a license is required for anyone providing transportation services to the public and receiving compensation for it.

This also applies to rideshare drivers who are offering cash rides off the apps they normally operate on, and the authority noted that this too, is breaking the law. “Individuals that drive off app and get into an accident are considered uninsured drivers and risk personal liability for any accidents or injuries that may occur while a passenger is present,” the authority said in a press release.

And violating the rules comes with a serious penalty—if individuals are found to be operating a for-hire transportation service without a permit, they could be punished with a fine of up to $10,000 and have their vehicle impounded.

Festival goers should be mindful that any money changing hands following transportation could be deemed an offense. Todd Park, interim NTA Deputy Commissioner, said in a press release, “If you’re offering a ride to help someone out, that’s one thing. But if you’re charging money even if it’s ‘just to cover gas’ you could be breaking the law.”

“We know civic responsibility is a core principle of the burner culture and we don’t want anyone’s experience to end with a ticket or a towed car,” Park said.

Festival goers are encouraged to use ride-hailing apps, licensed taxis, bus carriers, or other approved kinds of transportation.

What People Are Saying

Todd Park, interim NTA Deputy Commissioner, said in a press release: “We know there’s a strong spirit of community and sharing at Burning Man, but when money changes hands for a ride, it becomes a regulated activity … Unlicensed transportation puts passengers at serious risk.”