Poor Planning

Left northwest Oklahoma 4th of July weekend headed to a cousin's 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Kennewick, WA. We had our 8 yoa grandson with us, so traveled thru AZ, UT, NV, northern CA and OR. We visited several National Parks and the grandson expressed a desire to go to Mount Rushmore. I got reservations in the third campground I tried and thought people must be getting their vacations in before school starts. When we arrived in Custer, SD, we discovered it was the opening weekend of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

If you're not one of them, not a good time to be there! All the towns close parking areas to cars, so the motorcycles will have a place to park. On the scenic drives, all of the turnouts are full of motorcycles. No room for a car to stop. Long lines every where, gas stations, eating places, restrooms, grocery stores, etc. Wife and I made the decision to at least get out and walk around at Sturgis. Couldn't find a parking place, plus saw nobody walking around with children.

Wish I had done a little research, when it took three RV parks to get a reservation!

We worked in the town of Keystone one summer at a couple hotels. The hotels double their rates for the weeks of the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

I have been to Sturgis in my MH with towed bike, but I am not so crazy as to do that during the week long rally. It is true that you must be "one of them" to want to do that adventure. But that's a fact with people who gather for quilting conventions, an RV rally, etc. It is sort of like getting tickets to the Super Bowl. Expect to pay dearly and don't expect to be the only one in the stadium.

But that ND, SD, WY, MT corner of the US is a fantastic place to explore when one pre-plans.

I have been to Sturgis several times. By MH, by MC, by car. I have been there for the biggest gathering(approximately 600,000 bikers gathering to do the thing bikers do. But if you are not a biker and you want to enjoy the same drives/rides the bikers love - go a couple weeks before or after the rally. It is an awesome place to discover and explore. I will be going back. But then again, I do consider myself a biker.

JRahn> I agree with you. If one is a motorcycle enthusiast, Sturgis is a bucket list item. If not it's a t-shirt experience and there are lots of things to do in that area.

I used to ride a SE Gold Wing, but I was getting to old to hold it up under all conditions Downsized to a Honda CTX1300 cruiser. What is your ride?

I am old school. I have ridden almost every bike out there. I started in 1955 with Harley Davidson. I had a Gold Wing for a while, but it ran so smooth and quite I couldn't tell if it was running. I raced flat track, motocross, and TT. Now I am just a highway cruiser on a HD.