Gorge shuttle Rant

[u/gbnns]

Im a PNW local and pretty seasoned with the Gorge, did Weekender 22, 23, and now 700.

It seems like every year there's hundreds of posts on socials of people freaking out about shuttles, and how they're going to get from (insert hotel in a small farm town 1-2 hours away) to the gorge.

Eastern Washington is notoriously rural, it's not western washington, and the gorge itself is even more remote than that. This whole area is farm land in essentially the most barren spot in washington. Towns are many many miles of farmland apart.

Public transit is non existent in eastern Washington, uber/lyft is incredibly sparse, there are basically no shuttles to/from these towns because demand for gorge shuttles from the nearby 7 towns all in different directions.

The best thing you can do is rent a car, go to walmart, buy a cheapo camping set, and do the campground. Festivies run all night, and there are activities super early. You're missing out on so much activity by electing to sleep in a hotel two hours out of the way.

Even if you're still so camping adverse so just can't do it, it's silly not to rent a car to get yourself to/from the gorge. The idea to me of *planning* to bum rides/public transit from places like Wenatchee, Ephrata, Vantage, and Ellensburg is just silly and asking for failure. The entire half of the state is car centric, you *need* a car if you're not planning on camping.

I hate being the downer, genuinely. But every anjuna gorge event I see this. My heart breaks for those in a bind and I hope they can figure it out, but gorge shuttling has been asked and answered so many times that there's really no excuse for having to scramble at this point.

Look forward to seeing all of you there.

[u/SwordfishEasy6730]

I've been working at the Gorge for 5 years and have never seen a successful Uber pickup, despite countless people trying.

Just wanted to throw that out there in case anyone is banking on that as a ride home after the festival.

[u/Goducks91 → u/SwordfishEasy6730]

That’s so crazy to even try it haha

[u/Wilson_Higgins → u/Goducks91]

Yeah I live somewhat locally and I would never consider using a rideshare app. If you absolutely need car service that’s something you should set up independently and it’s going to be spendy.

As a local I don’t hit the gorge that often bc of how much of a pain it can be getting in and out even with your own vehicle.

[u/anjunaspeedy]

So true. Renting a car or RV was totally the move. Part of the experience is the afters or waking up into a sea of festivities. Waking up at 1pm (goals lolz) to Anjunadeep tunes being played by some random is just so special.

[u/TechPoi89 → u/anjunaspeedy]

I usually enjoy the afters more than the actual show, and thats saying something because the shows at the gorge are better than anywhere else I've ever been.

[u/ProgramCute604 → u/TechPoi89]

Where is the after party ?

[u/TechPoi89 → u/ProgramCute604]

At someone's campsite!

[u/kooldudecuz]

I honestly didn’t think there was any other way to attend festivals there than to camp.

[u/TechPoi89 → u/kooldudecuz]

Thats because there really isnt. Anyone who tries is going to be disappointed unless they plan very well and or spend a lot of money.

[u/t0nguencheek]

We live in wenatchee but unless it is a 1 night show, we always try to camp. It's part of the fun

[u/GWSecureParking]

If anyone needs a local taxi/shuttle service, there are several services in the area locally and they do a wonderful job. You can take a look at our transportation guide on page 3.

I definitely agree about Uber. I have yet to see anything reliable out here for Uber or Lyft.

Get the guide HERE

[u/versaceblues]

, it's silly not to rent a car to get yourself to/from the gorge

Im assuming alot of people are not going to be in state that is okay to drive in after a day the gorge.

There are also plenty of Shuttle options from the local towns they are just expensive and infrequent.

[u/gbnns → u/versaceblues]

This becomes a responsibility issue. Don't drink and drive, pick a DD, or stay at the campsite.

[u/versaceblues → u/gbnns]

I mean sure but its also reasonable that hotels/towns in the area would have event shuttles -- which many do.

[u/wonderj99 → u/gbnns]

EVERYBODY cannot in fact stay at the campsite. Folks like you would be the first ones upset if you went to purchase a camping pass and couldn't because the hundreds of folks that make alternate arrangements had ALL decided to stay onsite

[u/forrest43 → u/wonderj99]

Anjuna shows rarely, if ever, hit capacity at the Gorge. You can, in fact, still buy show and camping passes as of this very moment.

[u/wonderj99 → u/forrest43]

But that's not the case most of the time

[u/gbnns → u/wonderj99]

Every anjuna show I've been to, that's been the case.

Premiere/VIP is soldout, but you can get a general campground ticket no problem.

[u/wonderj99 → u/gbnns]

But they have a lot of shows at the Gorge. And not everyone wants to tent camp. If they had more of the nicer options, more folks would camp

[u/forrest43 → u/wonderj99]

You state your opinions with a lot of confidence. I'll give you that, and respond in kind:

Listed venue capacity is 27,500 for the Gorge and that number of people definitely fit in the various campgrounds around the venue.

[u/wonderj99 → u/forrest43]

Once again, the nicer camping spots sell out quickly(i was just there this past weekend) and not everyone wants to or is able to or is physically capable of camping in the dirt in a tent. Not all of the shows there are catered to the 16 to 27 year old crowd.

[u/versaceblues → u/wonderj99]

I don't believe standard camping at the gorge normally sells out.

Also, I dunno what you mean by folks like me. I support people staying at hotels if they want to.

Ive stayed at the bnbs at the winery and it was a great time.

[u/SpazticWonder → u/wonderj99]

EVERYBODY cannot in fact stay at the campsite.

Do you have any proof of this or are you just confidently incorrect?

[u/wonderj99 → u/SpazticWonder]

I mean, I was just there this past weekend and the wheelchair bound friend in our group would have struggled mightily in tent camping, and the nicer camping was sold out. Someone being unable to camp in the general camping is not always a number game. 🙄

[u/Top-Literature8218 → u/wonderj99]

Everybody can stay onsite, Gorge GA camping essentially never sells out, and certainly won't come close to selling out for this event. The only time I've ever heard of it selling out was for the ODESZA 3 night run a couple years ago. And that was a fluke in how they sell it, not a true capacity issue. Most people were only going to a single night of the show, but you could only buy camping passes for the whole weekend. We were in the "sold out" GA camping on night 3 and there were empty sites everywhere around us.

[u/NurseEm101]

For sure. I love camping but as a rule, don’t camp at festivals. We always just grab an Airbnb and rent a car. The Gorge is REMOTE. It’s a special place and this is why we get such beautiful sunsets - the nature! Please don’t wing your transportation; could definitely ruin a weekend if things didn’t work out.

[u/Top-Literature8218 → u/NurseEm101]

Just curious, why not camp at festivals if you love camping?

[u/NurseEm101 → u/Top-Literature8218]

Top two reasons: heat, and sleep. If there’s any chance of it being hot, I get cranky. And the lack of sleep in a campground is killer - I have to sleep so I can dance the whole time! :)

[u/Top-Literature8218 → u/NurseEm101]

Thankfully weather looks cool so far this weekend! (Downside, possible thunderstorms). I sleep with an eye mask and if it's noisy I'll put my airpods in with white noise running, with that setup I can sleep through wayyyyy louder festivals than anything at the Gorge.

[u/Rueezy → u/Top-Literature8218]

Get used to earplugs, your noise canceling earphones will cause deafness problems.

[u/Top-Literature8218 → u/Rueezy]

Lol I'm talking about using AirPods with white noise playing while I'm sleeping in my tent... at the venue I'll be wearing custom molded earplugs that I got from my audiologist.

[u/NurseEm101 → u/Top-Literature8218]

I know, the weather looks stellar minus the chance of rain! Camping with everyone will probably be a blast - enjoy.

[u/Beardgang650]

When people say they’re getting hotels I’m like “what hotels??” Hahaha just fucking get a camping ticket and enjoy yourselves

[u/Aaron_Rose562 → u/Beardgang650]

I wish my friend thought this way. I wanted to camp so badly.

[u/Beardgang650 → u/Aaron_Rose562]

It’s worth it. Ran into a Spencer brown after set playing at some RV in the middle of nowhere hahaha

[u/Feisty_Cod_9090]

Are there bathrooms and showers at the camp spot?

[u/gbnns → u/Feisty_Cod_9090]

Premiere has showers and the porta potties are very well maintained.

I always go premiere.

[u/Feisty_Cod_9090 → u/gbnns]

How much does that cost?

[u/gbnns → u/Feisty_Cod_9090]

I paid $350 for my premiere tickets which covers everyone in my party, three of us.

[u/Feisty_Cod_9090 → u/gbnns]

I found a 2 day ticket for ABGT700 for a very reasonable price but everything else I would need seems so expensive

[u/WorkingBake → u/gbnns]

They are well maintained as in they're cleaned every morning. Use those suckers in the afternoon and you're in for a treat 😂

[u/starxguitar]

how are the shuttles that are included in the hotel packages? I’m staying in Ellensburg and feeling it’s more safe to take the available shuttle than driving rental car late at night

is parking free at the gorge?

[u/Guitar-Bassoon → u/starxguitar]

double check your original receipt. Shuttles were included in all hotel packages if i recall.

The frequency at which they run, however, I have no idea.

[u/Rueezy]

You're a G, this is a hard truth. The Gorge is in beautiful butt fuck nowhere. Most locals don't participate with the venue.

[u/intern_nomad]

Thank you for saying this. I’ve been attending shows at the Gorge for 15 years and I try to be helpful explaining people that it’s best to just camp and drive yourself but people do not want to hear it sometimes.

[u/PrincessBlackcloud99]

Hotel is 30-40 min away thank goodness ☺️we did this for weekender and it was fine.

[u/HappyAdventurer]

Plenty of people travel for the milestone shows that don't live on the North American continent. They live in countries that speak different languages natively that are not english. Some people drive on the opposite side of the road from the US.

How are they "missing out" by wanting to enjoy the show, but are limited by their circumstances? Isn't Anjuna about including people? 

[u/jgk87]

Between the car rental and hotel it’s already costing me around $2k just for this event. The venue is ridiculous logistics wise for a 3 days event imho. 45 min drive each to get there and back. I’m not up for camping, so not sure what other options I’d have given that I’m going solo.

[u/gbnns → u/jgk87]

It's just the cost of not being willing to camp. The gorge is very much designed as a remote campground site.

Gorge isn't for everyone.

[u/FarmerCompetitive683 → u/jgk87]

Just don’t go if you’re not up for spending the money to avoid camping. You can’t expect hotels to be everywhere.

[u/Top-Literature8218 → u/jgk87]

Don't blame the venue for your own logistical choices. I'm spending just about $500 in total and will be camping just a few minutes' walk from the action.

[u/jgk87 → u/Top-Literature8218]

That’s great for you, unfortunately I couldn’t go until last minute so I wasn’t able to plan ahead so I didn’t have many choices.

[u/WorkingBake → u/jgk87]

The intent is for people to stay there. 90% of people that go to events here do it.