What To Know Before You Go to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

With hundreds of thousands of attendees annually, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held each August in South Dakota, is the largest biker rally in the world. It’s a major event in the riding community and people flock from all over the U.S. to take in the sights, sounds, and events that take place on and around Main St. in Sturgis, South Dakota. If you’re an avid rider and you’ve never attended, you should put it on your bucket list, but there are a few things you should know beforehand.

Attending is Free

The rally itself is free, but many of the events are not. If you just want to make the trip and see what it’s about, you can show up, find free parking. and take in the action without attending concerts, events, and the many other things going on. Just keep in mind that parking overnight on or around Main St. will get you towed since the streets are cleaned between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. If you do want to take in the events at the rally, many of those are also free, and you can buy a pass for the paid events.

Riding is the Highlight for Many

There’s no shortage of things to do at the rally, but the highlight for most attendees are the many great riding options in the area around the Black Hills. Some of the most popular rides include Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, and the Canyon Ride.

The Fun Starts Before the Rally

The 10-day event officially kicks off on the first Friday of August, but things get started the weekend before as bikers flock to the area in anticipation of the yearly celebration. If you want to get a little extra bang for you buck, you can show up early and feel like you’re getting the rally started before the event official begins.

Keep An Eye on Weather

It’s typically hot in August in Sturgis, but some rides can get breezy so you should plan for that as well. It’s also not uncommon for rainstorms to hit the area in late summer so appropriate riding gear and clothes should be included in your preparations.

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Book Hotels Well in Advance

The number of people that attend the Sturgis Rally gets well into the hundreds of thousands, so it’s to your benefit to book a hotel well in advance—a year in advance is recommended. With so many people attending, the rally itself can effectively double the population of the entire state so hotel rooms can be hard to get.

Helmets Are Not Required

The state of South Dakota and most surrounding states do not require a helmet to ride as long as you’re 18 or over. An exception is nearby Nebraska, which does have a helmet law, so keep that in mind if you’re riding through other states.

Souvenirs Get Cheaper at the End

If you’re going to Sturgis, you’ll probably want to go home with some keepsakes, souvenirs, t-shirts, or other things you can pick up at the rally. If you have the patience to wait until closer to the end of the festivities, you’re likely to find some great bargains as merchandise gets marked down dramatically.

Ship Items to Save Space

Since storage is at a premium on a bike or tow trailer, it’s not a bad idea to ship some items you’ll need at the rally ahead of time. The local post office in Sturgis will hold packages that are shipped for up to 30 days so you can easily send clothes and other items to have them waiting for you when you arrive. Likewise, if you’re coming from out of state and don’t feel like making the long ride to get there yourself, you can also have your bike shipped and simply fly in to enjoy the events.