Where to Stay? Tent or Hotel?

[toolman44092]

It seems like everyone I talk to has a different take on this. We're planning on riding out (1,300 miles each way) and will be grabbing motels each way.

A buddy stayed at the Buffalo Chip site last year and told me if Ii want to do Sturgis right, I need to stay there. That's where the bands play, etc. It's just a couple of miles outside of town too. Another buddy went last year too and stayed at an Inn about 30 miles outside of Sturgis. I guess they were like cabins or something. He liked it because they could go in town and do "Sturgis" or get away from it all if they wanted to.

Please share your thoughts of where you've stayed or suggestions you have. I'd like to get some reservations made within the next month or so. Thanks bro's.

[YankeeBob]

First, you have to decide if you want to be in the heart of the action or out on the fringes. If you are in the heart, you might not get much sleep.
We rented a house in a town called Nemo, about 20 miles to the south of Sturgis. It worked out great! We are not into the partying. More into riding the countryside. Nemo has relatively easy access to Sturgis, Rapid City, Spearfish, etc.
Lots of options.

[toolman44092]

Originally Posted by YankeeBob

First, you have to decide if you want to be in the heart of the action or out on the fringes. If you are in the heart, you might not get much sleep.
We rented a house in a town called Nemo, about 20 miles to the south of Sturgis. It worked out great! We are not into the partying. More into riding the countryside. Nemo has relatively easy access to Sturgis, Rapid City, Spearfish, etc.
Lots of options.

I've heard of several people renting houses in the area. How do you find a listing of these?

[YankeeBob]

Try this:

http://www.sturgisrentals.com/

[Steelhorse]

In 07 we stayed right in town in a motel. Was nice to be able to walk into town, but way to expensive for the room you get..the one nice thing was that we could walk back after we had a night out on the town! Next time I'll probably stay in another town close by. If you camp there are a ton of options, good luck.

[moulin6801]

I stayed in a B&B 40 miles from Sturgis, close to Mt Rushmore. I was glad I had a nice place to stay, hot shower, etc. I am sure I was able to get more out of my days, after having a good, quite place to rest, even if was for just a few hours some days
If you end doing as I did, just be aware that you have to take a jacket and gloves to ride back at night, day and late night in the mountains were a diffirence of 40 degrees!!
I hope it helps!

[toolman44092]

Originally Posted by moulin6801

I stayed in a B&B 40 miles from Sturgis, close to Mt Rushmore. I was glad I had a nice place to stay, hot shower, etc. I am sure I was able to get more out of my days, after having a good, quite place to rest, even if was for just a few hours some days
If you end doing as I did, just be aware that you have to take a jacket and gloves to ride back at night, day and late night in the mountains were a diffirence of 40 degrees!!
I hope it helps!

Sounds a lot like what my one buddy told me. Remember the name by chance?

[Retrax]

I have stayed at the chip in the past. A good friend of mine now owns property in Lead, so I tent it there (and use his hot shower and bathroom! ) If you plan on staying in a hotel you will likely get raped with fees. Most hotels charge a RIDICULOUS rate and have something like a 9 day minimum with cash up front if you can eve find an open room. If you go the week before or the week after the rally the rates might be a little better. If you stop into a hotel toward the end of the week like a Thursday or Friday you can usually find a room with a discounted rate and no minimum stay.

If you stay at the chip you likely will not get any sleep. Lots of screaming, yelling, drinking, loud bikes, stereos, etc. They do not have security to go around and tell people to quiet down so be forewarned. I had a lot of fun when I stayed there but I was a lot younger then and the quiet now appeals to me more. I think you should try a Sturgis campground experience at least once in your life but just know what you are getting into. Also, the chip is East of down town and they have a lot of concerts there. This means you have to fight main street traffic and then deal with the back up for several additional miles to reach the chip every time you want to get back to camp.

Oh yeah, two of the years I have been there they had several days with temperatures in the high 90's to over 100 degrees. Keep that in mind if you are going to stay in a tent!

[hdwoman48]

I just made reservations for our trip to Sturgis in 09, and many places are already booked. We're going to end up staying at the Best Western in Rapid City. Since we want to see Mt. Rushmore and the Custer National Monument, this works out just fine. We're past the point of wanting to be in the thick of the party. I was surprised at how booked up most places are already, though.

[fourstar]

In '06 I stayed at a campground called Katmandu about 2 miles out of Sturgis. They had showers and there was a kitchen trailer there that sold fast food all day. It was quiet and secure. I could hear bikes going by on the freeway between Sturgis and Rapid City but it really didn't keep me awake. We rode into Sturgis a few times (which was plenty) and spent most of the week riding to all of the great things to see in the area. I don't care much for the noise and partying all night long either so this place worked out fine. It's a great trip and I'll do it again!

[YankeeBob]

Hehehe. I forgot to mention the altitude of Nemo. It is about 5000' in elevation. So like moulin said...be prepared for cool evening temps. You have to be prepared (carry on bike) for hot days, cool nights, and pop up thunderstorms.

[BVBOB]

Doesn't matter where you stay if you decide to tent it, like YB said, Nemo is beautiful, with really easy access to Sturgis, you can look into the Lead area, Keystone, Deadwood, Custer,etc, Also a pile of Hotels in Rapid City and don't forget to search Black Hawk, which is pretty much connected to Rapid City. As for a close campground, Hog Heaven is just accross the interstate from Sturgis and has basic camping, showers, etc. From my personal experience, I have tented it for the last time out there, the weather is just too unpredictable, the last time I tented I was lucky enough to ride back from Keystone to Sturgis in hard rain and then spend a romantic evening sleeping in our rain gear in 45 degree weather with my wife because our tent had standing water in it. Dont forget to check out Hill City when you are there, there is a new bar downtown called "The Mangy Moose" and also check out the Hotel/bar in downtown Keystone. The lookout on Terry Peak outside of Lead is a neat stop on your way to cruise Spearfish canyon if you dont mind a little riding on gravel. Also the must see's like Needles Highway/Iron Mountain road, Crazy Horse, a lot to do and pretty much one of the most beautiful places for scenic riding you will ever find, Oh yeah, and the Rally also, if you like walking your bike around looking for a place to park and elbow to elbow people.

[pjciii]

i always stay at the hill city/ mt rushmore KOA in what is fondly refered to as a shed with a bed...that have 1 room and 2 room that will sleep from 4 to 6. it is quiet, cool at night, they have a bar, a restraunt and a snack bar. it inexpensive and you are already in the heart of the riding..if you tent up in the hills because of the temp changes from day to night..you can get a moisture build up in the tent and everything will feel moist. it can get cool but if you get down close to sturgis it can be hot(africa hot)during the day, thunderstorms and hail and noisy. it's nice to be around it all day and some of the night and then have a comfortable place to go for a goods nights sleep. i love it out there

[deb93fxlr]

pjcii - that's my favorite place too. What I love about it is that you can have a campfire there. You can't in Sturgis. The kamping kabins are definately a lower cost alternative to a hotel. You are warm and dry but still have the feel of camping.

Anyway toolman, like others said, you will pay and pay big to stay in a hotel/motel. But, some people just aren't campers. So, it's a question you really need to ask yourself and anyone else you are going with. No matter which way you go, your first time will be something you'll never forget!

[nvsteve]

I can tell you that at least one night this year, I think it was Tuesday, there were alot of campers that I'm sure wished they had a hotel. Huge rain and hail storm. Golf ball size and alot of damage. Some of the major concerts were canceled.
If being in on the "action" is what you like then camping is good.
Too many other things to do and really didn't want to screw around with the negatives.