The only thing better than seeing America’s wild and rugged landscape is experiencing it. In a car, the breathtaking scenery rushes by outside like scenes from a movie. But on a motorcycle, we are transported into the landscape. On a bike, the smells, the sounds, the wind, the weather, and even the danger surround us with an uplifting sense of life and vitality. And what could be more iconic than taking your bike — and that rugged sense of adventure — to the Black Hills of South Dakota for the world’s largest motorcycle event: the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is 78 years old, and has grown from 9 participants in 1938 to over 700,000 attendees. It’s on almost every motorcycle enthusiast’s bucket list — but did you know that less than half of Sturgis’ attendees arrive by motorcycle?
Taking the trip by motorcycle will undoubtedly leave you with a lifetime’s worth of golden memories, but it will also leave you with extreme exhaustion, windburn, sore legs, a sore butt, back pain, wrist pain — the list goes on. Let’s save those experiences for the rally itself.
RV Parks Near Sturgis
There are dozens of campgrounds available for the Sturgis Rally. Days End Campground and Sturgis RV Park are the closest facilities, offering full hookups. Glencoe Campground has over 1,000 RV sites, and more than 200 acres at their disposal. And if you’re interested in something a little more quiet or off the beaten path, here is a link with a discussion on seven other RV parks available during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Plan to make your reservation well in advance! In July of this year, the Glencoe Campground was almost at capacity for their RV sites. And every year, as the rally grows, space will only get tighter and be in higher demand.
Traffic Tips
When planning your RV route to the rally, keep traffic in mind. If you’re arriving after the start of the event, be aware that some of the highways will have reduced speeds, and some will even be closed to four-wheel vehicles. South Dakota’s Department of Transportation has an updated list of temporary road closures, highway speed reductions, and temporary traffic signals during the rally.
Weather Readiness
If you’ve never been to South Dakota, it’s worth doing a little research on the weather before you go. The heat of the summer will be upon you during the rally, and you will want to be prepared with preventative measures. Most days will be hot, with temperatures in the mid 80s; but thunderstorms can pop up violently and unexpectedly.
In contrast to the hot sunny days, evenings tend to be chilly. Bring a variety of clothing for all types of weather. Be sure to check the forecast and keep an eye on the weather as you plan your long motorcycle rides. You don’t want to get caught in a hail storm if you can help it! And if you are bringing pets to the event, please keep the heat in mind. The temperature inside an RV baking in the sun could be lethal to animals left inside.
Mastering Meal Prep
In my opinion, the biggest benefit to RVing versus camping is the food. There is only so much cooking and food prep you can do in a tent with a cooler. Tent camping is great — until you start trying to grill in the rain, or use your propane stove on a windy day, or all the ice in your cooler melts, leaving your delicious margaritas warm and sad.
Don’t get me wrong! Culinary magic does happen at the talented hands of camping gurus; but, personally, I find it to be more hassle than it’s worth. In an RV, the kitchen is your oyster. You will have endless opportunities to cook wonders and feed your friends. If you’re really resourceful, you can food prep for the entire 10-day event, and leave the worries of meal planning behind you. Here’s a great two-week food prep meal plan with ideas for potlucks and feeding larger groups of people. This food prep map is a great place to start even if you don’t like the recipes — you can always insert your own! Meal-planning the Sturgis Rally is an excellent way to free up more time for scenic motorcycle rides and socialization with new and old friends.
Sites and Sights Around Sturgis
At the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally you will relish in the company and energy of other bikers. Highways are packed with riders, and much of downtown is designated for two wheels only; that alone is one of the more enticing attractions of the event. But veteran Sturgis attendees know that there is so much more to the rally than just the parties.
The Black Hills of South Dakota is a land with historic ties to the Lakota people. The topography is laden with ancient sedimentary rock and bedrock aquifers. Here is a link to some of the most scenic motorcycle rides around Sturgis that will leave you with unforgettable memories of the American Landscape.
Riding Off the Beaten Path
If you want to dig deeper into the ancient history of Black Hills of South Dakota, you won’t need to go far. You can see the remains of mammoths and other megafauna dating back to the ice age at a paleontological dig site that you can tour in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Along with many other natural landmarks. Here are some more hidden gems in and around the Black Hills of South Dakota that are rider-friendly. If you have the time to explore South Dakota outside of the Sturgis Rally, you won’t be disappointed. The landscape will leave a permanent footprint in your memory.
If you’re headed to the biggest motorcycle rally in the world, the best way to experience it is to the fullest. And to do that, you need to bring your RV. (With all good nights of sleep with it.) If you’re still on the fence, here is a great discussion on motorcycle RVing versus motorcycle camping.
