I am thinking about going to sturgis this year and would like to hear from the veterans on what/what not to do on this trip.I am on a budget so camping seems to be the choice of shelter.Leaving from chicago.I have one week of travel time for this trip.

 

Going alone or with others??
Looking for the party scene 24/7 or are you more relaxed??

If you want to see the craziest stuff, Buffalo Chip is a good place to stay. Always something going on, and I do mean always. Glencoe is also a great place for someone looking for a good time all the time. Full Throttle is just down the road, One Eyed Jacks in town serves good food but is a zoo during the rally. All the sights and twisty roads are amazing. Needles Hwy is fun but usually pretty crowded, even without the Rally traffic. I think riding Iron Mountain Road from south to north has better sights and the best road in the hills to ride is Lead to Spearfish, Spearfish Canyon is awesome.

Hope I did more for you than create more questions. If you want to know more then just ask.

Better start looking at places to camp. There are a few campgrounds that don't take reservations but most fill up quick.

 

I am also riding out to Sturgis for the first time this year 1660 miles. I have heard from a good number of friends that have been, that the best time to go is the week before the Rally (thats when we will be there). All the vendors with much less traffic. I am renting a house on Terry Point for 5 of us.

 

Best tip from me is.......BE PATIENT!!
lots & lots of people, just relax and have fun

Plan early also!

 

I've been there twice now. Great time. The second time I mostly stayed away from the town of Sturgis. Just trying to ride through the town can be a real task. Slow, and a good way to over heat your bike if its really packed and hot. There so much going on outside the town too.

 

Hog Heaven has been my choice for a campground precisely because there's NOT a lot going on 24/7. Your choice may vary. Pack clothes and gear for just about every kind of weather you can imagine. Expect hot days, cold nights, thunderstorms...You may not get all that in your week...but it canand has happened. On the other hand...there've been some awesome weather weeks too...but I go prepared. When camping in one spot for several days, I stop @ Wally world and buy a cheap pillow for me and my ummm..."guest".
Whern packing up, just leave'em there. Once again...that's just me.
Spend a little time in Deadwood and Hill City. Ride over to Devil's Tower. Be VERY aware of DEER running out onto the 2-lane highways around dusk.
ENJOY..!!!!

 

I'm only a couple hundred miles from the rally, been going ever since I moved to South Dakota 8 Years ago. Love every minute I'm there. Weather can change there from town to town. Literally been 3" rain in one town then 25 miles later sunny 95 degrees with 80% humidity. Cools down a lot at night....low 50's at times. I'm one of the lucky few who get to camp out in my buddies back yard just north of Rapid City. Want to party a lot I say stay close to Chip or Glencoe. Want peace and quiet at night 1) get as far away from the interstate as you can, where I stay its 24-7 bikes haulin a** at 80 2) Lots of neat campsites on the main 2 lanes. Best rides?---Spearfish Canyon, Devils Tower, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, the wildlife side roads can be neat but usually see more wildflowers than wildlife. The only other advice I can give is let yourself go...have fun! Hope to see you there!

 

I stay at Katmandu campground, its NOT wild and crazy but very clean and they have a bus that takes you to town and back, on the hour, every hour!..no need to drive if you are planning on partying. The best benefit is you are on the side of sturgis that the best riding is right there! you dont have to ride through town everytime to get somewhere..unlike Buffalo Chip or Glencoe. I've stayed there the last six years and will be there again this year. I would recommend clothes for thw weather, it does change fast out there. Needles Highway is a must, Leave at daylight and its almost always smooth sailing...afternoon and evening could really suck..alot of traffic in stop and go on hills! Once you go, you will return!

 

All good advice here. There is hardly a bad road anywhere, and a lot to see. Some of the stores have local maps with the smaller roads and stuff on them. You will go back again.

 

Sorry but there are lots of questions. Do you just want to get there fast or wander two lanes? Fast from Chicago 1 long day or 1-1/2 days, or wander back roads, 2 or more days.

Are you going for the riding and amazing scenery or to drink and party. If it is party, get close to Sturgis. If it is riding get out a ways..Hill City, Custer, Spearfish, Rapid, Keystone, etc. Enjoy the ride into Sturgis, spend a day, then ride the greatest roads in the country for the rest of your stay. There are fun things to do and see in every town in a 100mile radius of Sturgis. All of western SD is part of the rally not just Sturgis.

Do you want to party or sleep? Some campgrounds are a 24/7 Party, others are quiet. Keep in mind the population in South Dakota doubles that week. Things like Campground Showers and bathrooms are a premium. It is also going to rain at least one day (it always does) and Rain in the Black Hills isn't our midwest rain, it dumps huge amounts in minutes. If your campsite is low your tent is gonna be underwater. If you find a nice open camping spot there is probably a reason it is open...find out why. Also, even if it rains, if the season is dry no campfires.

My advice is to bite the bullet. For your first time get a motel in one of the outer towns I mentioned. I have a feeling this year is going to be slow and there will be more reasonable rooms available. Ride the area, check out the lay of the land, talk to folks (almost everyone is friendly) check out campgrounds, see what you like, don't buy too much junk (it is easy to get caught up in the frenzy) have some fun. You will have a safe secure place to rest and go "wow" at night. Then when you come back, and you will come back, you will know more and not be coming in blind.

Also ride SAFE! There are a lot of people on the roads out there that shouldn't be. There is also a LOT of wildlife on the roads human and otherwise. Don't ever assume because someone has a $50K custom or a SE Ultra they know how to ride. And if you stop near a Buffalo and it turns to you and snorts, your in deep s**t.

When you are there go to Hill City, a fantastic town, thousands of bikes during the day, quiet at night, a Harley Shop, food, fun, my second home. As you go down main street there is a small motel named the Harney Peak next to the Alpine Inn (you have to eat there one night) in front of the motel in one of the chairs will be a fat bald guy, say hello to me.