Overview
Sturgis is a city in the Black Hills of South Dakota that is most famous for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
9 sights · 5 things to do · 3 places to eat · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Sturgis
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
Black Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
One of the largest and most famous motorcycle rallies in the world.
Fort Meade Cavalry Museum
Wonderland Cave
Fort Meade Recreation Area and National Back Country Byway
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 79°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Mount Rushmore National Memorial)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- RAP Rapid City Regional Airport, Rapid City — 34 mi away. Directions
- GCC Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport, Gillette — 100 mi away. Directions
Sturgis is located along Interstate 90 and US 14, about 30 miles west of Rapid City and 20 miles east of US 85 at Spearfish.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $6 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Hotels, Campgrounds in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Fort Meade Cavalry Museum, Wonderland Cave, Poker Alice House
- Lunch Boulder Canyon Country Club
- Afternoon South Dakota Centennial Trail, Sturgis Regional Rodeo
- Dinner Uncle Louie's Diner
Day 2
- Morning Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Fort Meade Recreation Area and National Back Country Byway
- Lunch Loud American Roadhouse
- Afternoon Annie Tallent Home, Sturgis Mustang Rally
Day 3
- Morning Black Hills National Cemetery, St. Martin's Chapel
- Afternoon Charles Nolin Monument, Cavalry Days
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car (or motorcycle)
Sturgis is located along Interstate 90 and US 14, about 30 miles west of Rapid City and 20 miles east of US 85 at Spearfish.
South Dakota Highway 79 goes north, past Bear Butte State Park towards Newell and North Dakota.
South Dakota Highway 34 heads east to the capital city of Pierre.
US Highway 14A enters Sturgis through scenic Boulder Canyon from Deadwood.
By plane
For passengers, Sturgis is best reached by the Rapid City airport (RAP).
Pilots can use the Sturgis Municipal Airport (FAA code 49B), with its 5100 ft long, 60 ft wide paved runway.
Get around
By car
Junction Avenue runs north from I-90 Exit 32 through the center of town. It now runs south of I-90, turning into Vanocker Canyon Road.
Main Street runs east/west, and intersects Junction Ave in the north.
Lazelle Street (SD Hwys 34&79) runs east/west on the northern side of town, parallel to Main Street, and is the major thoroughfare through town. It intersects I-90 at Exit 30 on the northwest side of Sturgis, and continues west up Boulder Canyon to Deadwood. Going East, it splits into SD Hwy 79 which goes north past Bear Butte to Newell, and east on SD Hwy 34 to Union Center and Pierre.
Ball Park Road curves from Junction Ave in the south along residential areas, passing by the fire station and elementary school, to meet Sherman Street (next to Main Street) in the north.
By foot or bicycle
A bike path follows Bear Butte Creek running west to east across the northern part of town, extending past Ft. Meade to Sturgis Brown High School, and also follows the Short Track Road along the southwest side of town. The bike path crosses the Centennial Trail near Ft. Meade, which runs from Bear Butte State Park in the northern Black Hills to Wind Cave National Park in the southern Black Hills.
See
See St. Martin's Chapel
See Poker Alice House
See Annie Tallent Home
See Charles Nolin Monument
- Public Sculptures:
- Kinship at the Sturgis Community Center
- General Samuel D. Sturgis at the Hills and Plains Park at the east entrance to town
- Jesus in the Garden at the First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden
- St. Francis of Assisi at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
- An abstract sculpture in front of the Sturgis Public Library.
Do
Events
Do Sturgis Regional Rodeo
Eat
Eat Boulder Canyon Country Club
Open to the public. Enjoy dinner while viewing the secluded nine hole golf course in the beautiful Black Hills. Full bar and restaurant. Private parties and corporate dinners available upon request.
Eat Uncle Louie's Diner
Bob's serves a great breakfast, lunch, and dinner (on Fridays).
Eat Loud American Roadhouse
The locals' favorite place for great food and cocktails. Their "Legendary Steak Tips" are the best around, having consistent taste, price, and creativity in the dishes served. The Roadhouse's staff is friendly, courteous, and provides prompt service. After the sun goes down, the night life heats up the place, with great bands and flowing spirits. Everything from reggae to country can be heard on the "Jack Daniels Stage" every weekend in the winter time, and summer boasts the annual street dances and concert series, popular with people of all ages. Unlike some other restaurants in the region, this is a no smoking restaurant, and it also has good security.
Sleep
Hotels
Campgrounds
Stay Legendary Buffalo Chip
An event venue outside Sturgis, South Dakota, USA. It is a gathering place for motorcycle enthusiasts and music festival visitors each year, and has been since being founded in 1981. Host to a 10-day Concert Series and thousands of motorcyclists each August during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the Buffalo Chip provides a music festival, various other forms of entertainment, and full service tent, RV and cabin camping on almost 600 acres in rural Meade County. The motorcycle and music festival also features entertainment such as beauty pageants, dance performances, bike shows and stunts, roller derby, midget bowling, military tributes and more. The Sturgis Buffalo Chip has been featured on multiple television specials on the Travel Channel, Discovery and the Fox Sports Network.
Go next
- Bear Butte State Park
- Black Hills National Forest borders Sturgis all along the south and west, and can be entered through scenic Vanocker Canyon (connects to Nemo Road).
- Deadwood is possibly America's most storied small town from the wild frontier days and is just 15 minutes from Sturgis on scenic Hwy 14A through Boulder Canyon.
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial is about an hour away, and so is the even larger Crazy Horse Memorial.
- Spearfish is about 20 minutes in the opposite direction of Rapid City, and has several attractions.
- Rapid City is the nearest "large" city, providing most any desired services.
Nearby
Bear Butte State Park
Park · 1 listings · 6 mi away
Deadwood
City / town · 63 listings · 10 mi away
Lead
City / town · 3 listings · 13 mi away
Spearfish
City / town · 25 listings · 17 mi away
Belle Fourche
City / town · 11 listings · 24 mi away
Rapid City
City / town · 37 listings · 27 mi away
Hill City
City / town · 7 listings · 33 mi away
Black Hills National Forest
Park · 9 listings · 34 mi away
My experience
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