Rider bags loaded on the Arkansas Graveler gear truck
Rider Guide
Part 3 of the Rider Guide

Before you arrive

Travel, parking, the bike, what goes in the bag, and who you are bringing.

You ride. We carry the rest.
3.1

Getting there and parking

Fly into Memphis, drive to Jonesboro, park free for the week.

Fly into Memphis. Drive to Jonesboro. Free, secure parking is provided at Arkansas State University.

Parking is free for the whole week at either end of the route, including the Helena / Storm Creek lot for Half-Grav riders. Select the complimentary return transportation add-on so you have a seat on the Sunday bus.

Getting there and shuttle

3.2

Packet pickup

Monday, October 5, 3:00–7:00 PM, The Forum on Main Street, Jonesboro.

When
Monday, October 5, 3:00–7:00 PM
Where
The Forum, Main Street, Jonesboro
Half-Grav
Packet pickup at the Storm Creek Day-Use Area on Thursday, October 8
There is no bag drop on Monday

Bags go on the truck for the first time at the Tuesday start line, during the 6:00–7:00 AM window.

Packet pickup and gear drop

Storm Creek Day-Use Area on Google Maps

3.3

Your bike and your tires

Nothing under 38c, 42–55mm is the range, tubeless strongly recommended.

Tire choice matters more than bike choice out here. These roads get fresh rock regularly and it sits loose on top. A wider tire floats; a narrow one digs in and you fight the road all day.

Bike and gear

3.4

What goes in the bag

How the tote-and-bag system works, and how you split your things.

Each rider brings two pieces of luggage: a 27-gallon tote and one additional bag weighing up to 50 lbs.

You drop both at the gear truck each morning and they are waiting at the next camp, numbered against your rider number.

Most riders use the tote for camping gear and the additional bag for clothes, but it is entirely up to you how you split your things between the two.

The packing list

3.5

Bag size and weight limits

A 27-gallon tote plus one additional bag up to 50 lbs per rider.

Tote
One 27-gallon tote per rider
Additional bag
One bag, up to 50 lbs

That is everything the gear truck carries for you, so pack with the weight limit in mind. How you divide your gear between the tote and the bag is up to you.

3.6

Bringing a non-rider

Meals, camp, music and the festival, without riding a mile.

Non-riders travel between venues under their own steam and take part in everything else: meals, camp, nightly music, the King Biscuit Blues Festival, and the outdoor recreation at each venue.

Bring a non-rider

3.7

The non-rider driving route

A week-long driving route between the venues, on the map and on Google Maps.

Non-riders have their own driving route between the camps. The map below shows the whole week — open it in Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions, or keep this page open and follow it town to town.

Open the route