Information on Car Passes for Constellation 2023 will be announced later this Spring.
The below information applies to Constellation 2022 and is included for reference only.
ALL vehicles entering the site need a Car Pass. A car pass gives your vehicle entry into the event, and all cars are parked in designated parking areas. A limited number of RV and Car Camping Permits are available, and you can find more information on those here: RV and Car Camping Permits
Why do we require Car Passes at Constellation? In short, because one of our biggest site constraints is how many cars we can park within the event. Thus, we either needed to limit the number of cars or severely limit the number of participants, and we really didn’t like the latter option! Knowing the maximum number of cars coming to Constellation helps us with arrival and exodus, as well as makes planning for Gate and Parking much easier on our team leads! It also helps us reduce our impact on the land and encourage carpooling, which is better for the environment.
When adding the Car Passes, we have been very sensitive to releasing an accurate number based on need. Having seen how the initial introduction of Car Passes was received for Burning Man, we have been very cautious about flooding the market – preferring scarcity (to encourage as much carpooling and creative solutions as possible) over overabundance which could lead to a high number of unused passes.
Each year, we monitor the site conditions leading up to the event and pay attention to how many Car Passes have popped up for exchange to determine how many to release in the September ticket sale. We typically anticipate that additional car passes come available the week or two before the event, as theme camps start packing and realize that they have excess passes.
What about parking off-site? While we appreciate the work that our participants have put into researching off-site parking options, we ultimately want to keep all event-related cars parked on-site, since we don’t want to just push our impact out to the surrounding community.
Constellation does not endorse any off-site parking options. If you do decide to park off-site and catch a ride, you will not be able to drop your infrastructure at the Gate before going off-site to park, as we do not have room at the Gate to turn vehicles around nor space to store your items while you do this.
Also, since we don’t have the ability to facilitate two-way traffic on the road leading into the event and no longer allow Ins & Outs, vehicles leaving for non-emergency reasons will not be allowed to re-enter the event.
If you do decide to park off-site, know that YOU are a representative of Constellation out in the community – your actions can affect the security of the event and potentially threaten our ability to continue to have our event at Pegasus Farm Campground. Please remember Civic Responsibility that is an important principle!
Car Pass FAQs
Q: I just want to drive on-site, unload my gear, and park in the parking lot. Do I need a car pass?
A: Yes, every vehicle entering the site requires a car pass. There are no exceptions. Unless you plan to take an Uber to the event or have someone drop you off, you need a car pass! The car pass will be collected at the gate, at the same time that you redeem your ticket.
Q: Why do I need a car pass?
A: One of our biggest site constraints is how many cars we can park within the event. Autumn rain and resulting mud makes parking cars that much tougher. We don’t want to take space away from theme camps and art and open camping, so we need to limit the number of cars we need to put in the parking lot. Knowing how many cars to plan for helps us with arrival and exodus, as well as makes planning for Gate and Parking much easier on our team leads!
Q: This is an unfair money grab, you guys suck!
A: Not so much of a question, but yeah, we get what you’re saying. We do understand that the car passes are viewed as a tax on our attendees, but as explained above, we think the car passes are necessary for the health of the event. We hope that the car passes cause our attendees to put some additional thought into their travel plans and consider carpooling to both help the environment and split the cost of the car pass and other travel costs!
Q: How do I get them?
A: You can purchase the car pass from the ticketing system while purchasing your tickets. Car passes are also transferrable, similar to tickets, and many pop up in aftermarket sales.
Q: How much are car passes? And will they increase in price closer to the event?
A: Car passes cost $20. The price will not increase.
Q: How many car passes are you selling?
A: The exact number depends on the number of tickets sold, as well as site conditions leading up to the event. Typically around 500-600 car passes are sold.
Q: Do RV’s need a car pass?
A: YES, RVs need both a car pass and an RV Permit to attend. A limited number of RV Permits are available, by application. Spots with and without hookups are available. More information on RV Permits can be found here: RV and Car Camping Permits.
Q: I am driving a van and plan to camp in it. Do I need a car pass to sleep in my van? What if I need my car on-site but want to sleep in a tent?
A: If you really need to have your car INSIDE the event, you can apply for a Car Camping Permit. Car Camping gives you an approximately 10×20 space for your vehicle, tent, and creativity. Car Camping permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are for designated Car Camping areas only. As a reminder, sleeping in your vehicle in the parking lot is NOT allowed! More information on Car Camping Permits can be found here: RV and Car Camping Permits.
Q: My vehicle is towing a trailer – do I need two passes?
A: Nope, you only need one pass for a vehicle towing a trailer.
Q: I am with a theme camp and driving a truck with all our infrastructure. Do I need a car pass? How can I keep my truck parked at my camp to store our gear?
A: Yes, every vehicle entering the site needs a car pass, including theme camp infrastructure. If you wish to apply to park a car, trailer, or truck within your Theme Camp, please note this during your Theme Camp application.
Q: This generic FAQ does not answer my questions. I am about to rage quit unless I get some help.
A: We’re here to help answer your questions! Email us at producer@constellationburn.org