I need to know if anyone out there has ridden to Sturgis from the New Orleans area. I need some advise about the route, weather traffic. This will be my first really long ride .

 

WHOOOOAAA! Google Maps shows me that is about 1,500 miles one way for you. Hope you have some major seat time before you tackle that ride.

 

Going there from NO first week of May...

 

If you get close to SD, pm me. I live in SD and can give you some good directions from the Sioux Falls area to Sturgis. You can certainly take I-90 across the state but there are better routes to see. We ride north of Sioux Falls and catch HWY 34 and ride that all the way out to Sturgis. You will go through some great areas with good views. It also goes through Pierre, SD and there are some good sights there along the Missouri River including the dam. you can also catch HWY 44 from outside of Sioux Falls and take that all the way across the state and up through the Badlands which is also a great route. Weather here right now is cool and you will see cool weather in May. If you plan to ride in the Black Hills area, you will want your cold weather gear due to the elevation and the time of year. I also suggest you have some good rain gear as it will still be cool and very possibly wet due to the spring rains here. But you could also see some good 70 to 80 degree days too. If you come up through kansas City, I can suggest some awesome riding just north of St. Joseph to Sioux City, IA. The Loess Hills scenic highway is awesome and a must do if you have the time. Anyway, just let me know and I can give you more info. Once you get to the Black Hills, the riding is awesome and there are some must see places there too. I can give you the highlights on that if you want. lastly, once you get north of Kansas City, you will leave the traffic behind until you reach Omaha. But once you clear Omaha, NE, it is back to very little traffic. Once you hit SD, you won't have any traffic at all. Its one of the perks....be safe, have a good ride man.

 

U.S. 65 to I-44W, to MO 13 out of Springfield to KC,MO, then contact Westy. If you don't mind interstate type rides, i.e. basically straight, you'll have a good time. If you really want some pretty mountain riding; cut west over to Hot Springs, AR and ride S.H. 7 to Harrison, AR. Then get back on U.S. 65 at Harrison. You won't regret it.

+1 on the "Black Hills are awesome"!! (So is that ride up S.H. 7 in Arkansas)

 

Thanks guys. Westy thanks. I would like more info back staying off the interstate like how much longer of a ride will it be.

 

If u come thru or close to Chicago in ur travels let me know,maybe we can get together or u can even stay and rest,we have plenty of room,food and spirits.Travel safe Hiram.

 

Once you hit SD, you have to travel completely across the entire state (east to west) of SD. From Sioux Falls to Sturgis is about 400 miles I suppose. I-90 has a speed limit of 75 and Hwy 34 is 65 while Hwy 44 is 65 for half the way and 55 half the way. However the area of 55 is extremely low population and 55 is certainly not the norm. Both roads are recently updated and in really good condition. Traveling the highways will likely add some travel time but worth it. As far as the route from St. Joseph, MO, up through Loess Hills, that will add some significant time as it is a lot of very rural area with a considerable amount of twisties and scenery. That route could add half a day vs. coming up I-29 but again, well worth it if you have the time. If you want fast, come up on I-29 from the South out of Kansas City all the way to SD and then West on I-90 to Sturgis.

 

Well, I ride from Nashville every year. This will be year 22 - never the same route twice. Have gone by way of Winnipeg, Idaho and New Mexico.

Route: Get off the interstate. Enjoy the ride. Explore America. Those folks who just 'burn it' to get there miss half the fun. It's the journey, not only the destination. If the idea is to get thee as fast as humanly possible so you can enjoy the time thee - throw it in a trailer and high-tail it there! Otherwise enjoy the ride for it's own rewards.

The 2 lanes west of the Mississippi are a lot more fun and show you a whole bunch more than the same old billboards and food chains. You'd be amazed at what you'll find.

But YOU have to decide if the journey is "Part of the Trip" or if it is simply an Inconvenience .

Weather: Anything from Perfect, 72 Degrees and dry to windy, 45 and spitting snow to 102 and baking hot with hail. Heck, the weatherman can't get it right for tomorrow - how are we going to get it right for 4 months from now?

Part of the fun of being on a bike - you have to be as prepared as you can be and then you have the fun of improvising. That's where the great beer drinking stories come from later!

Have fun. I'll be the guy on the Harley wearing leather.....

 

I would really like to make the trip this year, I'm also from Chicago. this would be my first time making the trip any suggestions? I'm not really a planner so is it crazy to think i can pull in a camp ground with-ought a reservation?