Sturgis Preview

My favorite part of any motorcycle rally comes when I’m struck with the feeling that everyone around me is a motorcyclist, motorcycle fan, or is somehow connected to motorcycling. It’s the same feeling that I imagine overtakes a superhero fan when they walk into Comic-Con, or to a dedicated sewer when they enter the halls of Quilt Festival. It’s a feeling of belonging, of fellowship – when my heart shouts, “These are my people!” It’s what keeps me going to motorcycle rallies and events year after year. When I ride, I like to be alone, or with just a few trusted companions. But when it’s time for a rally, the bigger the better, the more the merrier. And no annual motorcycle rally is bigger or more than Sturgis.

The 78th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will be held in and around Sturgis, South Dakota, from Friday, August 3 to Sunday, August 12, 2018. Close to one-half million people attend each year, dwarfing the population of the city of Sturgis, which is close to 7,000 souls. Motorcyclists travel from all over the country, all over the world, to take part in the rally. People from all walks of life, drawn by a common interest, hobby and lifestyle.

The origin of the event was motorcycle racing, which still helps to form the backbone of the sprawling week. The Jackpine Gypsies, the motorcycle club that helped found the rally in 1938, organizes multiple short-track races, hill-climb events, drag races and motocross races during the week. The Black Hills Speedwaywill host the popular American Flat Track series’ Harley-Davidson Black Hills Half-Mile on August 7. The Buffalo Chip will be the site of the American Flat Track’s Buffalo Chip TT on August 8.

Music also plays a big part in the rally, with multiple concert venues featuring big-name acts and smaller stages and bars hosting local and touring bands all over town. Some of the headliners scheduled for 2018 include Foreigner, Pop + Evil, Tyler Farr, Blackberry Smoke, Red Sun Rising, Theory, Trace Adkins, POD, Lit, Uncle Kracker, Alien Ant Farm, the Marshall Tucker Band, Eric Church, Steel Panther, Kid Rock, Lita Ford, Jackyl, Steppenwolf, Yelawolf, Chevelle, Queensryche, and – of course – Lynyrd Skynyrd, without whom no Sturgis Rally would be complete.

Many riders opt for a campsite at Sturgis, but that choice means that you’re going to spend the week sleep-deprived in the midst of a never-ending party underscored by the blast of motorcycle exhaust notes. I prefer to stay at one of the area Best Western Hotels & Resorts properties, where I can retreat to the comfort of my air-conditioned room to watch a few minutes of SportsCenter when the crowds overwhelm me. There are seven Best Western Hotels & Resorts properties within 50 miles of Sturgis, South Dakota, including my favorite, the Best Western Hickok Housein the historic town of Deadwood, just 17 miles from downtown Sturgis. Rooms book quickly and well in advance of the rally, so act quickly, and don’t forget to sign up for Best Western Rewards to maximize your benefits.

See you at Sturgis!