Sturgis

The Rally officially runs for 10 days every August, starting on the first Friday of the month. The size of the crowds is hard to overstate. The annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally turns a town of 7,100 into a city of more than 450,000 each year.

Motorcycle traffic to and around South Dakota typically increases as early as two weeks before the official start date and continues for as late as two weeks after the conclusion. If you're planning to visit during rally week, book accommodations as early as possible, ideally six to nine months in advance.

Not at all. For two weeks a year, the charming small town of Sturgis becomes a mecca for bikers from around the globe, but you don't need a motorcycle to have a good time there. The rally is free to attend, and plenty of visitors come for the concerts, food, people-watching, and atmosphere.

Outside of rally week, Sturgis is a year-round outdoors destination with hiking, mountain biking, and cultural attractions that have nothing to do with motorcycles.

More than most visitors expect. Sturgis is a stone's throw away from Bear Butte State Park, a sacred site that has served as a place of pilgrimage for numerous Native American tribes. History buffs can visit the Old Fort Meade Museum, first established on September 24, 1878, by the surviving members of George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry. The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is worth a stop year-round, and hikers can explore the Centennial Trail in the Fort Meade Recreation Area or choose a trail in Bear Butte State Park.

Sturgis sits in the middle of some of the best motorcycle and driving country in the United States. Within easy riding distance are many attractions including Mount Rushmore (62 miles), Crazy Horse Memorial (67 miles), Custer State Park (75 miles), Spearfish Canyon (20 miles), Deadwood (13 miles), Devils Tower National Monument (84 miles), and Badlands National Park (110 miles).

Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop are among the most celebrated routes in the region and are spectacular whether you're on two wheels or four.

Yes, especially as a base for the northern Black Hills. Tucked between the Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National Park on I-90, Sturgis is the gateway to great attractions, shopping, and year-round outdoor activities. Outside of rally week the town is quiet and walkable, with local restaurants, galleries, and easy access to Deadwood (just 13 miles away) and Spearfish Canyon. If you do happen to visit during the Rally, the energy is unlike anything else in the region — even if bikes aren't your thing, it's a spectacle worth seeing at least once.