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Just got back from another successful rally trip. I have always stayed in hotels. Mostly in Deadwood where I can park the bike and enjoy the evenings wonders without worry of driving.
Now that I'm older and don't feel the need to drink so much that I feel it for 2 days, I'm wondering about camping. It's the side of Sturgis I've yet to experience. Is the cost of the big "Concert" campgrounds worth all the money and cramped conditions? I saw some pictures from the chip and it looked like they were packed in pretty tight. Or is a quieter campground with bands and a bar better?
I know everyone says the "Chip" is part of the experience, seems pretty pricey if you only like one or two of the bands.
Try Hog Heaven Campground. You are close, but there are quiet hours (I think 12am-6am). Showers and restrooms are clean and Da' Bus picks up and drops off there.
Back in 2015 I camped at Buffalo Chip. I didn't set up my tent in the "tent camping" area. I went with my cousin that had an RV and I set up my tent on his site. We were in the back of the campground on the last row beside the property line fence. It was actually fairly quiet. I was in my tent by midnight most nights and slept really well. As you know the nights are cool out there and with a fan to drown out any talking noise from my neighbors and it was nice. The property is huge and you can find somewhere away from the ruckus.
We stayed at the Buffalo Chip this year. Third time we've been there. Yeah, its kind of expensive, especially if you're not into the bands, but there's plenty to see and do there. We were setup a ways out, but it was still plenty loud. We could here dudes doing burnouts and blasting their stereos late at night, but I just drank enough beer that I didn't care.
I think if/when I go back, I'll probably stay somewhere else a few nights, and maybe just stay at the Buffalo Chip if there's a band I want to see. But if you've never been there, I'd say its worth the experience.
The last couple times my wife rode there and we stayed in a tent, but she decided to drive this time, so we camped out of the back of her SUV. Worked pretty good.
A few hours before the bands started. I think there were as many golf carts and UTVs as there were bikes.
I get going to the Chip for the concerts but boy, if you only really like 1 or 2 bands, it seems like quite a bit of coin. I've also heard some stories coming out of there this year that it wasn't the cleanest. Is it that bad or are people standards way out of line for what it is.
While not the campground, I did visit FTS. Boy was I disappointed. All the garbages were overflowing and blowing all over the sitting area. Staff walking right by without a care. Also wasn't impressed with the "side of the road" old office furniture brought in for seating. I'm not bashing just comparing it to some of the other venues I was at. Wonder how their campgrounds are?
I've always enjoyed staying in the Spearfish town campground. Everything I want to do I can get done before midnight and it's quiet enough (for me) to sleep without issue. Sometimes it's nice to be out of the way a little.
First time I (we) went to Sturgis was in '89 (the 49th) Days End IIRC. and we camped in the west part of town in a place called IIRC.
We repeated this in '90 (50th) and the wife came out for a few days so we got a room right in Sturgis.
After that on future trips we've stayed in Rapid City, Deadwood, Spearfish, Hill City or in Sundance, or Hulett WY.
Nearly all of these towns have overflow from the RALLY and there's plenty to see without the larger crowds and noise.
The campground in Deadwood was actually very peaceful at night but that was back many years (and rallies) ago.
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Another Rally in the books. Is it worth it?
