Going to Sturgis this year. Will be riding there (about 1650 mi). Want to ride the Black Hills, expereince a little of the scene (but not a huge "let's get drunk and make a complete of myself" kind of partier). A few questions:
Is now too early to book room?
Thinking of hotel, what city would you recommend?
I'm expecting rates around $150/night - am I in the ballpark?
B/C we're more about the ride, what's it like the few days before the rally?
Any other tips or advice?

Thanks

 

No it's not to early to book, actually it is too late if you hoped to get a good deal in or near Sturgis. You can still get rooms 20 or 30 miles out though...
The very best places / deals need to be booked upwards of a year in advance...

 

you can rent houses up there, rooms in houses, camp in peoples front yards for a fee. Its never too early because they book up quick. If its about the ride then go somewhere outside of Sturgis and camp/stay so you can get some rest and not be inundated with pipes all day.
It seems people are getting there earlier each year but it wont be as crazy as in the middle of the week, so do the early thing and get some riding done! Good plan

 

Go before the Rally. Catch the first couple days and leave on Monday/Tuesday to at least experience it.

We usually stay in Deadwood. 150 may be a bit shy. Rapid City should have better rates and you won't get raped by the "Rally prices" line at the bars if you want to have a drink at the end of the day.

The advantage of Rapid is you are a bit closer to the fun roads. Iron Mountain, Needles etc.. There's a road from Rapid to Sturgis called Van Knocker Canyon that is an awesome ride also.

Tough to beat Deadwood though. Awesome town. Book asap.

 

Actually, you're probably too late for this year for a decent hotel. Things start filling up a year ahead of time.

We stay in Deadwood and walk to the bars and casinos. It's a nice town to hang around and is a short, gorgeous ride from Sturgis. You should definitely do the rally one year to see the craziness, but the riding is much, much better a week or two before or after the rally. Much safer too. Really beautiful country out there.

 

If you're not in it for the party.... go the week before. You can rent a cabin for about 100 bucks a night........ price goes up the week of the rally. Most vacation cabins are fully equipped will all the amenities. You supply food and drink, and you're set.

THE WEEK BEFORE THE RALLY:

All the rally bars are open, and all the vendors are open.

About 100,000 bikes in the area.

NO LINES for food or to pee. Especially important for us old guys.

Beer is cheaper.

You can park in front of where you're going.

The locals aren't pissed off yet.

No motorcycle traffic jam.


The rally in the past few years has turned into a vacation destination for Mom, Dad, AND THE KIDS. They like to hang with the bad *** bikers.

 

If you are not into the all night party scene this may work for you.

http://www.bhsu.edu/StudentLife/Livi...3/Default.aspx

Black Hills State University rents out their dorm rooms cheap. Nothing close to a Hilton but clean and quite. Also have a great breakfast available every morning. We went early week for riding.

 

Thanks so much. This is the kind of information I am looking for.

Wife and I are seriously considering Rapid or Custer State Park. And while the riding is the main goal, we would like to see the craziness once. So your idea of going the week before and leaving on mon/tues sounds great. But we still want to see teh bars and vendors. We were concerned that the vendors wouldn't be open the week before.

 

EVERYTHING is open...... and cheaper


Main Street Sturgis the week before the rally

 

subscribed, since i have the same questions for my first sturgis trip this year