I heard today that the little town of Sturgis (spelling?) South Dakota is expecting 400,000 bikers this weekend at their annual party. To anyone who has been there, how is this possible? How can they handle four hundred times more people than their own population? This would be comparable to 400 million tourists going to Fiesta in San Antonio.

Well, there's a little more elbow room in Sturgis. And they bring their own camping gear.

Bikers camp out and this is the biggest biker rally in the US. Daytona is 2nd. How it all started in Sturgis, beats me.

With an F-1, CM etc license, I'll never go there.
M

My first thought: Woodstock.
The population of Bethel NY in 1969 was 2300 people. Over 400,000 attended the Woodstock festival. Bikers arrive in Sturgis better prepared (camping gear) and there's more room to spread out, but there are more than a few similarities.

Actually what I have been hearing in
the local media is that it will be closer to 500,000. They are spread out all over the hills. Downtown Sturgis is quite the sight, especially at night. I feel sorry for any unsuspecting tourists that happen to come thru this area. In the early 1990's the attendance ran 75,000 - 100,000. Ever since the 50th attendance has grown tremendously. This year they started coming in early,
so instead of a weeklong event it is turning into a two week event.

Free beer to topless women. A friend's niece goes every year and makes thousands on tips selling beer. Campers everywhere. Sounds like a modern day version of a gold rush camp...with a twist.

Highway Travel Advisory for Sturgis, SD

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34519523

yeah and there is not many police on hand so I would be avoid or be extremely careful in that area. They used to profile Sturgis on COPS, and 1 cop was saying like there was only a few dozen of them around. I agree with Sven, I hope no tourists driving along have to come across all those bikers. (not that all bikers are bad or anything)

Sturgis has to be more than 400,000 because Daytona and Myrtle Beach are bigger than that and Sturgis is the mother ship.

Jor, I think it is the birthplace of Harley Davidson, the mothership so to speak.

Sturgis attracts a wide assortment of folks. My brothers (a lawyer and a retired government employee from DC) just got back from there. People bring in their bikes towed behind Escalades, etc! They said it is a once in a lifetime experience!

My boyfriend's been to Sturgis bike rally a couple times too (a few years back) without a bike as a spectator only. He said it's a pretty amazing thing to see so many bikes, people, etc. He's one of those ones who would have "eyes only" for the metal & was probably totally oblivious to all that was going on with the crowds (hmmm... he missed the topless??!!)

Vehicles are parked all over the area, Deadwood, Lead, etc. And I mean all over. They just pull off the road and park all along the highways & byways.

If you are "into" bikes, that's the place to be. (as someone said, "the mother ship")

Anybody know of a web site to see some photos of the rally?

We were driving out that way a few years ago just before the rally started and stopped for breakfast at a local spot just off the Interstate. It was the most diverse mix of folks I've seen in one restaurant in a long time--tourist families passing through, biker couples with tatoos and leather, local white ranchers with cowboy hats and boots, Hispanics in work clothes, Native Americans...everyone was enjoying breakfast, noting the variety of clothing and vehicle choices.

jor

www.sturgis.com

www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com