But many of the 64,000 people who remained on site as of Monday may choose to stay one more night and watch the festival's giant namesake effigy go up in flames Monday night, one day past schedule.
Unexpected summer rain turned the week-long, annual counterculture arts festival into a muddy nightmare.
For days, up to 70,000 people were ordered to stay put and conserve food and water as officials closed the roads, requiring vehicles to stay put.
One person died at the event, officials said on Sunday, providing few details. An investigation was under way.
Event organisers urged drivers to take it slow on Monday and consider delaying their departure until Tuesday to reduce traffic. Even before the road opened, some attendees told Reuters a steady stream of vehicles had left since pre-dawn, many struggling through the slop.
The way out is an 8km dirt road to the nearest highway. Photos shared online showed hefty recreational vehicles sunk up to the tyre rims in mud, with some using boards under the wheels to help get traction.
Some festival-goers ignored the order to stay put and attempted to walk or drive out to the highway.
Others partied on in the rain.
Videos posted to social media showed costumed revelers - including a few children - sliding through the sticky mess, most of them covered from head to toe in wet earth.
"When you get pushed to extremes, that's when the most fun happens," said Brian Fraoli, 45, a veteran "burner" who works in finance in New York.
Fraoli said he had tried to drag his luggage through the mud and escape, but gave up and decided to relax and enjoy the experience.Â
"Overall it was an amazing week and next time we will be more prepared," he said.
Every year Burning Man brings tens of thousands of people to the Nevada desert to dance, make art and enjoy being part of a self-sufficient, temporary community of like-minded spirits. Originating in 1986 as a small gathering on a San Francisco beach, the week- long festival is now attended by celebrities and social media influencers. A regular ticket costs $US575 ($A890).
