Frequently Asked Questions
Open Roads welcomes van life enthusiasts of all levels and ride styles, including those still in the research phase. In 2019, we had nearly 80 tent campers who came to learn about the lifestyle before taking the plunge. Whether you are interested in van life or another type of adventure-mobile, we’re can’t wait to see the variety of creative mobile living spaces at Open Roads 2022.
Every attendee must have a ticket in hand. If you are driving a vehicle, you will need to purchase a driver’s ticket that corresponds with the type of vehicle you will be driving. If you are a passenger, please purchase a passenger ticket. Here are some example for our different ticket types:
DRIVER – Weekend Pass with VAN Camping – Purchase if you are a driver in a van, truck camper, or similar and you plan to sleep inside your vehicle, purchase a .
PASSENGER – Weekend Pass with VAN Camping – Purchase if you are a passenger in a van, trucker camper, or similar and you plan to sleep inside the vehicle.
DRIVER – Weekend Pass with TENT Camping – Purchase if you are driving a normal sized vehicle (ie subaru, prius, jeep, etc) and you plan to set up and sleep inside of a tent.
PASSENGER – Weekend Pass with TENT Camping – Purchase if you are a passenger in a normal sized vehicle (ie subaru, prius, jeep, etc) and you plan to set up and sleep inside of a tent.
Youth tickets are needed for kids ages 11-17. Kids 10 and under are free.
- Three nights of camping
- All-inclusive pass with access to all of the weekend’s activities
- A variety of educational workshops under a shaded tent
- Live music all three nights + 2 daytime lakeside sets
- Free Friday evening happy hour hosted by Open Roads Fest sponsors
- Access to water activities on Jug Mountain’s private reservoir, including free paddle board demos
- Over 20 miles of mountain biking trails accessible from the campground
- One free mountain biking shuttle ride per attendee
- Endless van tours
- Vendor booths featuring some of the top van life and adventure travel brands
- Access to local food trucks
- Daily wellness classes featuring yoga, stretching, and breathwork instruction
- Community fire pit
- $2500 in raffle prizes with 100% of the proceed’s donated to this year’s non-profit partner
- Porta-potties that will be cleaned and serviced throughout the weekend
- And lots more!
We want to include everyone, but unfortunately, due to space limitations and dirt road access to the festival grounds where there are a few steep sections, we cannot accommodate bigger RVs, full-sized skoolies, or trailers. Your entire footprint must be shorter than 27 feet. We are truly sorry about this and cannot make exceptions. With that said, you’re more than welcome to come and pitch a tent, and in that case, we’d love have you!
What would a van festival be without our canine copilots? Friendly dogs (and cats) are welcome at the event. We just have a few rules that are all based on common sense.
- Bring your own bags and pick up after your pets, no exceptions!
- Dogs must be kept on a leash. This includes at all events, workshops, in the campground, and in the vendor areas, and ALWAYS be respectful of your neighbors.
- We will have an off-leash dog area where dogs will have their own chance to party.
- Be mindful that Idaho summers can be hot.
- If your pet causes any issues with other animals or people, you will be asked to remove them from the event. If you don’t think your pet can get along with others, please leave them at home. There are also pet boarding options and dog sitters available in McCall.
Absolutely. With that said, we will have a number of local food and coffee trucks on site to fuel you after that bike ride or in between workshops. Due to fire hazards, only gas stoves are permitted. No charcoal or campfires at campsites are allowed.
In short, bring everything you need to camp for the weekend, including ample water. Here is a suggested packing list to help you come prepared.
There are several places in the McCall area to refill water before you enter the festival.
Coming from Boise, you can fill up at:
- Stinker Station (3412 W State Street) right before you turn up Highway 55 in Boise
- Valley View Chevron (459 Highway 55) in Horseshoe Bend
- Harpos Gas Station (823 South Main Street) in Cascade
Coming from the north, you can fill up at:
- Chevron (103 Main Street) in Riggins
We will have some drinking water on-site to refill your water bottles during the workshops and other events but, like anywhere else you travel in your van, please come prepared to be self-sufficient.
This is also a PACK-IN, PACK-OUT Leave No Trace event. Please bring garbage bags and take all trash and recyclables with you after the festival.
Attendees will receive additional arrival instructions and logistical info via email.
Generators are highly discouraged in an effort to keep the campground and festival grounds as peaceful as possible. If you already purchased a ticket and need a generator for your camping setup, you may run it between the hours of 8am-10pm but we ask that you keep this to a minimum and be considerate of your neighbors.
We will have porta potties on site that will be cleaned throughout the weekend. There will be NO showers on site. It’s ok…we will all stink together 🙂 After the festival, Ponderosa State Park in McCall has a fully serviced campground with unlimited hot showers.
We absolutely encourage you to check out McCall and the surrounding area before and after the festival. However, there will be no ins and outs with your vehicle during the event. Once you drive into the festival grounds, please be prepared to settle in for the weekend. Don’t worry. There will be so much going on, you wont’ want to leave. If you choose to drive out of the festival grounds, you will not be able to return. This is for safety and to minimize conflicts with Jug Mountain Ranch’s golf course.
Yes, there is some cell reception at the festival depending on the provider, but internet will likely be very slow.
Tickets are non-refundable. However, in the case that you are unable to attend, you are welcome to sell or transfer your ticket to another person. To complete the transfer, you will need to update the name and email associated with your ticket in EventBrite’s system. Check out this tutorial for instructions on ticket transfers.
We will not be facilitating any ticket transfers. One option for selling your tickets is to post them on the event page on Facebook.
If event organizers decide for any reason, including COVID-19, that we need to cancel the event, a full and immediate refund will be provided.
Outdoor transmission of COVID has shown to be low, and the entire event takes place outdoors with tons of room to spread out. Attendees will be able to social distance however they need in order to feel comfortable at the event.
Porta potties will also be cleaned regularly throughout the event, and we will have hand sanitizer and hand washing stations available. If you attended in 2019, you know we got major props for how spotless the porta potties were.
While we will take whatever measures we can to reduce COVID-19 risk, we can’t guarantee that there is zero risk. By purchasing a ticket you acknowledge and accept this.
No refunds will be given if you decide you aren’t comfortable attending, but we will allow you to transfer your ticket as stated above.
In order to sell anything at Open Roads, you must register as a vendor and abide by Idaho state tax laws. We are also hosting a Maker’s Market for van lifers who make artisan products to support their van life travels. Please contact us for details.
The average high in July is in low-80s, with lows in the mid-40s. Weather varies, so please check the forecast before you arrive. The event will go on rain or shine, and while rainfall is rare in June, you should bring light rain gear just in case.
We highly recommend bringing a shade structure or awning, as the main camping area is in an open field with no shade.
When you arrive at Jug Mountain Ranch, please follow the signs and proceed to the Clubhouse. This is where you will check in and be given your wristband and vehicle pass. Do not proceed to the festival grounds until you have these things.
YES. Please bring a printed copy of your ticket for check in or have it saved on your mobile device.
Unfortunately we will not be offering day passes in 2022. If you want to join us, the only way is to purchase a full weekend pass. If you are a property or home owner at Jug Mountain Ranch and are interested in checking out the event, please send us an email for details.
Hydrus Board Tech is providing us with a demo fleet of the lightest, fastest, and most innovative SUPs on the market for you to test out for free on Jug Mountain Reservoir. We will also have live music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 12-3pm.
Pedal assist e-bikes are welcome at Open Roads Fest and will be allowed on designated trails, including a route that leads up to the reservoir. For safety reasons, electric bikes with throttles will not be permitted on the trails. In addition, due to their weight and size, e-bikes cannot be loaded onto the mountain bike shuttles.
In 2022, we will not have a demo fleet of mountain bikes available to borrow. If you want to explore the bike trails, plan on bringing your mountain bike from home. If that’s not an option, consider renting a bike in Boise or McCall or make friends with your neighbors and maybe they will let you take theirs for a spin.
Camping spots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to camp next to your friends, we suggest arriving and checking in at the same time.
Van camping takes place in the center of a big open field. Tent camping is spread among a forested area on the edge of the field.
Based on feedback from 2019, in 2022, we have decided to offer a separate “quiet camping zone” that will be located in another open field that is a short walk from the main campground and workshop tent. Space here is limited, so if you want to camp in the quiet zone, we suggest arriving close to when the festival grounds open (11am on Friday July 15th) and let the parking attendants know you’d like to camp in the quiet zone.
The access road to Open Roads Fest is a packed dirt road that leads downhill from the main Jug Mountain Ranch Clubhouse to the event campground area. It can be a little bumpy and there are some steep sections, but if you drive carefully you shouldn’t have any trouble going down it, and same goes for going up the road when you exit. High clearance and 4wd is not needed.
While we love seeing your photos and video, attendees are not permitted to fly drones at Open Roads Fest.
If you attend Open Roads Fest, you agree to these Terms and Conditions regardless of your role, whether you are an attendee, volunteer, sponsor, vendor, or other.
