Sturgis Campground Plans
Needles Highway offers great riding in a wild backdrop.
Courtesy of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The campgrounds are where it’s at during Sturgis. This isn’t a bunch of Boy Scouts learning to tie knots and build fires, though (although there’s plenty of that sort of thing going on). Each year the campgrounds of the Black Hills turn into party cogs turning the great machine that is the Sturgis rally. Bike shows, amazing concerts, and all manner of live entertainment await rally-goers at South Dakota’s camping facilities each and every August. If you haven’t camped for Sturgis, you should. If you have, you know exactly how much fun the camps are.
Details are still coming in for what you can expect this year. This is what we know so far…
South Dakota’s Sylvan Lake. Pretty awesome, isn’t it?
Courtesy of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Established in 1998, the Iron Horse Campground is on the quiet side of campgrounds yet close to the main events.
Courtesy of Ironhorse Campground
20446 State Hwy 79
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 4.8 miles
(877) 700-4766
The Iron Horse has a great party every night of the rally with live bands nightly, great food at their restauran, and more fun than some people can handle, including happy hour 5pm-7pm nightly. Their convenience store is open in case you forgot something, or just need to stock up on supplies. Da Bus Shuttle service is a great way to avoid the parking, traffic, and, most of all, DUI’s. Iron Horse is a regular stop for Da Bus, So if you want to Party Hard and not worry about how to get home, Da Bus is the answer. They are located between the Drag Strip and Bear Butte on Highway 79, 4 1/2 miles from famed Main Street.
RELATED | MORE STURGIS
Glencoe Camp Resort rests on 600 acres of land east of Sturgis.
Courtesy of Glencoe Campground
20555 Glencoe Dr
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 3.7 miles
(800) 272-4712
Glencoe Camp Resort rests on 600 acres of land east of Sturgis. It also holds the world’s largest amphitheater on its premises, as well as the rally’s only covered, air-conditioned entertainment pavilion. The Pavilion has held some exceptional acts through the years, and the 76th Rally is no exception. In addition to the Pavilion, there will be more entertainment to see, and even in which to participate. For information on entry and pricing, check the Glencoe website.
Bean’re’s World
The Mayor of Fun is bringing his three ring circus to Glencoe for this year’s rally. He’s teamed with the builders from The Chop-In Block to launch the inaugural Glencoe Mini Bike Races and Rodeo. Bean’re, Glencoe’s Jason Sims, and eight builders from The Chop-In Block will each craft a customized mini-bike to be ridden all week long by Glencoe Campers and VIP Celebrity Guests in a series of rodeo games.
Glencoe’s Hostess with the Mostess – Eva Steele
Courtesy of Glencoe Campground
When there’s a party in the campground, you can bet Eva Steele will be in the middle of it. Our resident trouble maker, emcee, and good time Charlie can be found hosting the frozen t-shirt contest, grown up games, volleyball tournaments, beer pong, cornhole, singing with the bands, and shaking her money maker non-stop for 14 days!
aka Full Throttle
Courtesy of Full Throttle Saloon
Full Throttle/Pappy Hoel Campground and Resort
19942 South Dakota Highway 79 North
Vale, SD 57788
Distance from Sturgis: 5.4 miles
(605) 423-4584
The new campground is named “The Pappy Hoel Campground and Resort” to honor the father of the Sturgis rally himself, Pappy Hoel. It’ll have RV accommodations and, hopefully, a whole lot more. Like the original Full Throttle Saloon, it’ll probably become a major destination for anyone going to the bike event. The original location died in flames last September and was part bar, campground, and concert venue, and a whole lot more. It even had zip lines and a wrestling ring. Oh, and there were cabins for rent, too, in case you’re into that sort of thing at a campground.
Seeing as how the new property used to be the Broken Spoke, the Ballards and their partner, Jesse James Dupree, will probably make that deadline. You can get reservations by phone at (605) 490-2140 or at the Full Throttle Saloon website. Thus far, they’ve announced the following for their festivities:
The Hoel Motor Ride
The Hoel Motor Ride takes place Wednesday August 10th, 2016. Register at 9:00am. The ride will leave the Full Throttle Saloon at 10am. There is a $50 per bike donation required and proceeds support local charities. Please select whether you have one or two riders.
On the ride this year celebrities will include Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl, Angie from Angieland and Michael Ballard, owner of the Full Throttle Saloon. Please bring the driver’s license that you checked out with during online registration, to confirm when you attend.
The Wall of Death
The Wall of Death is the original extreme, the grand daddy of all motorcycle stunt shows. Dating back to the early 1900’s, before the double back flip, before the X-games, before Evil Knievel, and even before the globe of death, men and women have raced, ridden, slipped, slid, dipped, and dived up and down vertical board walls with motorcycles and cars. It’s one of the most dangerous sports in the world even for riders and spectators, which eventually caused outlawing the sport of old board track racing. Men and women have not worn helmets or pads while performing this sport. This year catch the Ives Brothers Wall of Death at the Full Throttle Saloon during the Sturgis Rally.
The Vicki Ballard Memorial Ride
The 2016 Vicki Ballard Memorial Ride is dedicated to the memory of Michael and Cass’s sister, Vicki Ballard. Vicki battled breast cancer for seven years and passed away in August 2010, following the Sturgis Rally. Vicki loved the Full Throttle Saloon and the people who go there. She was side by side with Michael in making it what it is today. Vicki is dearly missed by everyone who knew her.
Moto-Camp, a division of Headwinds Inc., operates their camping equipment store in Sturgis, South Dakota, during the rally (August 4-13).
Words: Mark Masker Photography: Shooters Images
The store offers biker-tested camping gear that fits on your motorcycle! Tents, sleeping bags, cots, racks, gas cans, kitchen gear, and first aid kits are just some of the items they carry. The store is conveniently located in Sturgis at 719 E. Lazelle, on the east end of town on the way out to the Chip, Glencoe and the Pappy Hoel campgrounds. To see what Moto-Camp offers or to order online, visit headwinds.com or call (626) 359-8044.
Stockade Lake is just one of the cool scenes you’ll find in South Dakota.
Courtesy of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Campground Listings
South Dakota has tons of campgrounds. If we listed them all here, it would look like a Google search. Having said that, we’ve compiled listings for the ones ten miles or closer to town. Which, not coincidentally, is the range of Da Bus, the local shuttle bus service for traveling between camp and town.
Coordinates: 44°24’06.7″N 103°31’44.6″W
Distance from Sturgis: 0 miles
(605) 347-1510
2501 Avalanche Rd
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 0 miles
(605) 347-2331
1214 Pineview Rd
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 1.7 miles
(281) 229-5877
20497 Avalanche Rd
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 1.7 miles
(715) 425-9057
20555 Glencoe Dr
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 3.7 miles
(716) 838-3249
No Name City Luxury Cabins & RV
20899 Pleasant Valley Dr
I-90 Exit 34
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 4.3 miles
(605) 347-8891
12927 Katmandu Ln
I-90 Exit 34
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 4.8 miles
(866) 776-0758
20494 SD Hwy 79
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 4.8 miles
(605) 490-8292
Canvas Town Event’s Luxury Furnished Tents
20538 SD Hwy 79
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 5.1 miles
(605) 304-6310
21120 Pleasant Valley Dr
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 6.4 miles
(605) 347-8000
Red Barn RV Camp
13397 Alkali Rd
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 6.8 miles
(605) 347-5278
Tilford Gulch Rally Campground
13157 Deer Meadow Rd
Piedmont, SD 57769
Distance from Sturgis: 8.2 miles
(605) 787-5573
20158 137th Pl
Hwy 34
Sturgis, SD 57785
Distance from Sturgis: 10 miles
(605) 347-5556
