diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 34f67e8..afb2218 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -68,7 +68,11 @@ export function App() {
                     <PWAInstallPrompt />
                     <BetaDisclaimerDialog />
                     <Suspense>
-                      <AppRouter />
+                      {/* Gentle opacity reveal so content eases in under the
+                          departing splash (pure opacity — never shifts the map). */}
+                      <div className="animate-app-reveal motion-reduce:animate-none">
+                        <AppRouter />
+                      </div>
                     </Suspense>
                   </TooltipProvider>
                 </NWCProvider>
diff --git a/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx b/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
index 642e968..5e8cb57 100644
--- a/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@ import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 
 const SESSION_KEY = 'splash-shown-session';
 const MIN_MS = 650;   // don't flash-and-vanish on instant loads
-const MAX_MS = 1600;  // hard cap — never block on a slow/offline network
+// Once relays are connected we allow content a short grace window to arrive so
+// the reveal lands on a populated map. If content shows up first, we dismiss
+// immediately. Either way MAX_MS is the absolute ceiling.
+const WARM_GRACE_MS = 550; // extra wait AFTER connection for content to stream in
+const MAX_MS = 2200;       // hard cap — never block on a slow/offline network
 const FADE_MS = 320;
 
 // Skater-voiced status lines that rotate while we warm up.
@@ -56,14 +60,22 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
     return () => clearInterval(id);
   }, [visible]);
 
-  // Dismissal logic: warm-signal OR max timeout, always respecting the minimum.
+  // Dismissal logic. Priority:
+  //   1. Real content arrived (`content-ready`) → reveal a populated app now.
+  //   2. Relays connected (`relays-warm`) → wait a short grace for content,
+  //      then reveal regardless (covers cold-start routes that aren't the map).
+  //   3. Hard cap (MAX_MS) → always dismiss, even offline. Never traps anyone.
+  // All paths still respect the MIN_MS floor to avoid a jarring flash.
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!visible) return;
 
     let done = false;
+    let graceTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
+
     const finish = () => {
       if (done) return;
       done = true;
+      if (graceTimer) clearTimeout(graceTimer);
       const elapsed = Date.now() - mountedAt.current;
       const wait = Math.max(0, MIN_MS - elapsed);
       setTimeout(() => {
@@ -79,15 +91,24 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
       }, wait);
     };
 
-    // Relays reported warm → dismiss early (after the minimum).
-    const onWarm = () => finish();
+    // Content is here → reveal immediately (a populated landing).
+    const onContent = () => finish();
+    // Connection is up → give content a brief grace window, then reveal.
+    const onWarm = () => {
+      if (done || graceTimer) return;
+      graceTimer = setTimeout(finish, WARM_GRACE_MS);
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener('skatespots:content-ready', onContent);
     window.addEventListener('skatespots:relays-warm', onWarm);
 
     // Hard cap so we never trap the user.
     const cap = setTimeout(finish, MAX_MS);
 
     return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener('skatespots:content-ready', onContent);
       window.removeEventListener('skatespots:relays-warm', onWarm);
+      if (graceTimer) clearTimeout(graceTimer);
       clearTimeout(cap);
     };
   }, [visible]);
diff --git a/src/index.css b/src/index.css
index 8e02eb4..1966063 100644
--- a/src/index.css
+++ b/src/index.css
@@ -307,6 +307,16 @@
   100% { transform: scale(1.6); opacity: 0; }
 }
 
+/* Pure-opacity reveal for the app shell under the departing splash — no
+   translate, so it never nudges a full-bleed map on reveal. */
+@keyframes appReveal {
+  from { opacity: 0; }
+  to   { opacity: 1; }
+}
+.animate-app-reveal {
+  animation: appReveal 0.5s ease-out both;
+}
+
 /* ── Cold-start splash screen ── */
 @keyframes splashPulse {
   0%, 100% { transform: scale(1); filter: drop-shadow(0 0 12px rgba(255,0,64,0.4)); }
diff --git a/src/pages/MapPage.tsx b/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
index fda8625..6d9da5b 100644
--- a/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
@@ -554,6 +554,16 @@ export default function MapPage() {
   const followCount = followingList?.length ?? 0;
   const { data: spots, isLoading: spotsLoading } = useSkateSpots(2000);
   const { data: shops, isLoading: shopsLoading } = useShops(500);
+
+  // Tell the cold-start splash that real content has arrived, so it can reveal
+  // the map already populated (rather than dismissing on bare connection). The
+  // splash still has its own hard cap, so this only ever makes the reveal feel
+  // more "ready" — it can't delay dismissal.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!spotsLoading) {
+      window.dispatchEvent(new Event('skatespots:content-ready'));
+    }
+  }, [spotsLoading]);
   const { data: marketplaceItems, isLoading: marketplaceLoading } = useMarketplaceItems(200);
   const { data: tours, isLoading: toursLoading } = useTours(100);
   // Upcoming events for the (opt-in) Events map layer