Staying off-site

[cheech44]

Hi, First-timer here. We're staying off-site in a hotel. What do I need to know about parking, traffic flow, getting from car to venue, etc. Is it all relatively straight-forward??? Many thanks...

[hollis51]

Very easy. The parking lot is relatively close to the gates... you'll have to get a parking pass that's it.

[fiveiron83321]

hey..i am a first timer also..I was wondering if someone had suggestions of places to stay near The Gorge that are reasonably priced?

thanks

[shamil]

Nov 30, 2009 16:00:16 GMT -8 hollis51 said:

Very easy. The parking lot is relatively close to the gates... you'll have to get a parking pass that's it.

I have never had a parking pass???

[cthorpe]

Jan 21, 2010 16:04:30 GMT -8 fiveiron83321 said:

hey..i am a first timer also..I was wondering if someone had suggestions of places to stay near The Gorge that are reasonably priced?

thanks

There's a hotel in Quincy, WA, about a 20 minute drive from the Gorge. If you're set on staying off-site, the drive isn't too bad, but it's a bit inconvenient. I stayed there last year, but I'm definitely going to camp this time.

[snave]

I stay at THE DESERT AIRE MOTEL

My bad back requires a bed... so I avoid the campground and head for a motel. Flush toilets, running water and a private shower are also a nice consideration.

This is the fourth year in a row I will be staying at the motel at Desert Aire, which is about 18.5 miles (20-25 minutes) south of Interstate 90 where the freeway crosses the Columbia.

The motel is a quiet place, simple, not fancy, but very functional. It is out of the way enough that it's fairly peaceful. The town of Desert Aire has about 1,100 residents. Nearby Mattawa has about 3,000 people, but little in the way of lodging.

This year it will cost me $85 a night for a single room, including room tax. If you stay there it will take you about 40 minutes to get to the amphitheater... but this allows for time to listen to the CDs you purchase at the festival at Easy Street Records.

The Desert Aire Motel doesn't fill up as quickly as the places in Quincy and Moses Lake, so if you are looking at this comment "late", you still might have a shot at getting a room at the Desert Aire.

Their phone number is 509-932-4300.

DIRECTIONS: From Seattle, take exit 137 and go south on WA highway 243.
- From Spokane, it's still exit 137, just go down the hill from George. Once you're on Washington 243 heading south, it's a couple of miles past the turn-off to Mattawa, and it is on the right. It's part of a small complex that includes a gas station (Shell, I think).
- From Tri-Cities, take WA route 240 west across Hanford, and after a while you continue north on WA route 24. When you cross the Columbia at Vernita Bridge, turn left onto WA route 243. Go north until you get to Desert Aire!

TIP: I come from the Tri-Cities area, and I always arrange to pick up my room key on Saturday morning on my way to The Gorge. You need to get your room key for that night, before you go to the festival... because otherwise there would be nobody in the motel office to give you the key after the concert, like at midnight or so.

[know ID yuh]

I'm not really answering anyone's question here, since I always camp, but what are the cops like after the show. Most people camp on site, and a lot of us drink (and some do other things not as legal). The cops are always terrible entering the Gorge, and I see people getting pulled over every year on the way in. It's like the cops and towtrucks know this is one of the few times a year they can make money off out of towners, and I would guess they are worse on the way out, since people drink.

Then again, the traffic after the show might keep people from speeding, so maybe you are safe.

[fiveiron83321]

thanks for the help...i'll keep those places in mind

[shamil]

Jan 26, 2010 18:25:40 GMT -8 know ID yuh said:

I'm not really answering anyone's question here, since I always camp, but what are the cops like after the show. Most people camp on site, and a lot of us drink (and some do other things not as legal). The cops are always terrible entering the Gorge, and I see people getting pulled over every year on the way in. It's like the cops and towtrucks know this is one of the few times a year they can make money off out of towners, and I would guess they are worse on the way out, since people drink.

Then again, the traffic after the show might keep people from speeding, so maybe you are safe.

this is all too true! Every year after the fest (I have never camped on site) when I am leaving there is always a ton of cops and people pulled over....its scary!

[g0ldfinga]

Jan 22, 2010 21:21:44 GMT -8 shamil said:

Nov 30, 2009 16:00:16 GMT -8 hollis51 said:

Very easy. The parking lot is relatively close to the gates... you'll have to get a parking pass that's it.

I have never had a parking pass???

Same here, when I have not been camping I never had a parking pass and was fine.

[shamil]

Feb 8, 2010 10:20:43 GMT -8 g0ldfinga said:

Jan 22, 2010 21:21:44 GMT -8 shamil said:

I have never had a parking pass???

Same here, when I have not been camping I never had a parking pass and was fine.

is there even parking passes?