I went to the rally in 2004, had a great time but for me it was the riding not the t-shirt venders and bars. I want to go out again in 2013/ can't do this year. When would be the best time to go ?? I have been told that 2 weeks before the rally mid July is nice/ cheaper hotels prices/ less crowds and still a few early venders. Can any one confirm this ?? I would like to hit the regular sights and then hopefully Yellowstone. I really want to do as much riding as possible so weather is a big factor.

Any advice would be a great help, thanks in advance

Be Safe JIM

 

I'm leaving on June 8th this year for a trip to Sturgis with a few stops before arriving at Sturgis. Hope to get nice weather. Fingers crossed.

I don't want to fight the crowds.

 

I can not say for certain but I dont think much would be open 2 weeks before. We went the week before Sturgis last year and loved it. Quite a few vendors were open most of the week and by the end of the week damn near all of them were open. A LOT less crowded. I without a doubt prefer the week before. I had my partying days and like you went for the riding and some of the rally. Honestly the main thing you miss out on going the week before the rally is the partying and the "big name" bands...both of which I didnt mind missing.

We are going the week of Sturgis this year only because one of the guys we are going with has never been to Sturgis. Every other year we go the week prior.

Also a nice quiet campground that is amazingly clean, hot showers, and damn nice people is Shade Valley.

 

I've gone a couple of times the week before. Last time was in '10. The prices were cheaper than the week of, but the area is catching on to 'the week before' thing with higher pricing - $100/night rooms instead of $50. Two weeks before should do it for even better room pricing and also makes for no waiting lines or heavy traffic.
Have fun, man.

 

If you are not interested in any of the rally stuff, the best times are first part of May or last part of Sept. It gets rid of 90% of the tourists and the rates are much better.
We had nice weather last year - did two days the second week of Oct. The leaves turning color in Spearfish Canyon were just absolutely unbelievable.
I live just up the road, do Sturgis 2 or 3 times a year.

 

If it were me, I'd go early (or really anytime) in June. You will miss most of the God awful heat, and no traffic or crowds. I love the area, but will never go during the rally again. I go there to ride and take in the sights, not party and be drunk.

 

Been to Sturgis before - based on that experience this year I'm planning on the following:

I'm staying in Rapid City (far enough away to get a little peace and quiet, close enough not to matter).

I'm going to arrive Saturday, Aug 4th and leave Tuesday Aug 7th (hotel already booked using points earned through the year donig business travel). This way I get to enjoy some of the rides before the rally, a little of the rally (begins Monday Aug 6th this year), and get to high tail it out before it gets super busy. The further away from Sturgis you are the easier it is to find accomodation without making prior reservations.

 

Last year my GF and i rode up two weeks before the rally to visit my brother in Spearfish and enjoy riding in a less croweded hills .
I have rode to the Rally 13 times on my shovel in the 80's and 90's usually taking the long senic way threw colorado rockies or wyoming and montana .

This was my GFs first long ride on her 1999 FXR3 it was 4 days 1650 miles round trip lots of twistys in the hills.

First long trip on my 2008 FLHRC i bought last spring.

 

I would love to jump on the scooter and head over there in 2013, I have been to Datona once, 1 week prior back in `93 and we kept getting called "breakers" and lots of places had "No Breakers Allowed" needless to say I was in my early 20's so I guess we could have been confused with bring a "breaker".

 

what's a "breaker" ?? any locals know ?