The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has welcomed motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world since 1938. From humble beginnings as a weekend celebration with less than two dozen racers, this annual event now runs for 10 days every August and welcomes 500,000 attendees on average. After busy days of bike racing, poker tournaments, pub crawls and live music, it’s essential to have a comfortable place to rest and recharge. Sturgis and the surrounding areas offer excellent lodging options, from motels, inns and casino resorts to cozy vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, glamping spots and, of course, the best places to camp in the area.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

It’s called The Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling® for a reason! The iconic Sturgis Buffalo Chip® has been the hub of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally since the venue opened in 1981, bringing together music, motorcycles and camping for the ultimate Rally experience. Camping options at the Buffalo Chip include tent camping, EZ camping, concierge camping, RV camping and rentals and cabin rentals.

Hotel Sturgis

The Hotel Sturgis is a unique hotel in the heart of downtown, featuring luxurious rooms and spa-like bathrooms. Kick back on your private balcony with a cup of coffee or some delicious ice cream from the in-house coffee shop before enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city. This hotel is within walking distance of unique restaurants like The Knuckle Brewing Company, the Oasis, Loud American Roadhouse and Uncle Louie’s Diner (home to the 6-lb. burger and fries challenge).

Sturgis Motel

The family-owned and -operated Sturgis Motel is a cozy and affordable lodging option just a short walk from downtown Sturgis. In addition to comfortable rooms, the motel also offers nearby camp spots for the Rally. If you want to step back into Old West history, stay at the historic Poker Alice House, which is part of the motel property.

See more of the stunning Black Hills while staying close to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. These nearby cities are close to downtown Sturgis and offer unique hotels, lodges, glamping sites and vacation rentals that will make your trip even more enjoyable.

Spearfish Lodging

Drive time to Sturgis: 20 minutes

Feeling outdoorsy? Incredible scenery, recreation and lodging await you in Spearfish, located at the gateway of the spectacular Spearfish Canyon. The Spearfish Canyon Lodge is surrounded by spectacular forest and cliffs and was built and decorated in an Old West lodge style. It’s the perfect place to escape after a busy day at the Rally. For a more intimate experience, stay at Rim Rock Lodge, a seasonal lodge that offers six cabins and three luxury suites with gorgeous views of the canyon. If you’re feeling extra outdoorsy, level up your glamping experience at the family-owned Shortgrass Resort, a bespoke glamping experience that offers luxury Danish tents with private bathrooms, an on-site restaurant, spa services and more on 52 acres of sprawling prairie land.  

Deadwood Lodging

Drive time to Sturgis: 20 minutes

Saddle up, travel back to the Wild West and take your pick of the exciting and unique hotels in Historic Deadwood. The Lodge at Deadwood is an all-in-one casino resort with a secluded country vibe in downtown Deadwood. At the Historic Bullock Hotel, walk the corridors that the first sheriff, Seth Bullock, supposedly still “haunts.” Deadwood’s first hotel, The Bullock combines fully restored 19th-century décor and architecture with modern amenities. Martin Mason Hotel is a smaller, boutique hotel with an authentic Victorian atmosphere and on-site casino, cafe and ballroom. For more hotel/casino options, check out the Deadwood Mountain Grand, Deadwood’s only large-scale event center and casino, or the Deadwood Station Bunkhouse Gambling Hall, located in a quiet section near the town’s entrance. Don’t miss the perfect blend of comfort and fun at favorites like the Hampton Inn Deadwood at Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort and the luxurious Springhill Suites by Marriott.

Rapid City Lodging

Drive time to Sturgis: 30 minutes

If you want to explore South Dakota’s second-biggest city, book your stay in Rapid City. Here, you’ll find a wide selection of lodging options, like the historic Hotel Alex Johnson, built in 1928 and a member of the Hilton Curio Collection. This stunning hotel features original 1920s handcrafted décor and Germanic Tudor-inspired architecture with modern amenities and services, including a rooftop bar and restaurant. For a cabin experience, reserve a rental at Canyon Lake Resort, a family-owned resort with multiple cabin options, motel rooms, a five-bedroom house and a nine-bedroom lodge. Looking for something more secluded but close to the action? The Black Forest Inn Bed & Breakfast is 30 minutes from downtown and offers easy access to the Black Hills’ biggest attractions and outdoor recreation.

Hill City

Drive time to Sturgis: 1 hour

Hill City is just a short drive from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial®, Needles Highway, Custer State Park and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Book your cozy retreat at Mountain Peaks Inn, nestled in the heart of the Black Hills, with themed suites and an on-site coffee shop. Two blocks from downtown Hill City, you can stay at Trails End Cabins & Motel, which offers deluxe motel rooms, log cabins and cottages, patio space, a hot tub and campfires. Find stunning seclusion at Newton Fork Ranch, a log cabin where you can unwind and relax in the middle of nature just a half-mile from downtown Hill City.

Wall

Drive time to Sturgis: 1 hour, 15 minutes

The town of Wall has a population of less than 1,000, but still offers unique and convenient places to stay. At Badlands Frontier Cabins, choose from 33 authentic, custom-built log cabins with great amenities just six miles from the entrance to Badlands National Park and six blocks from the famous Wall Drug Store. Offering 12 rooms and six cabins, Hansen Inn & Cabins is also close to all the famous Black Hills attractions like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial.

Custer

Drive time to Sturgis: 1 hour, 16 minutes

Stay in Custer if you want to check Custer State Park and other Black Hills attractions off your bucket list while staying near the Rally. Open year-round, the Rocket Motel is an American roadside classic, offering comfortable accommodations in retro-styled rooms. In contrast to the American Wild West-themed lodging that South Dakota is known for, the Bavarian Inn combines European influences for a peaceful and cozy stay, just minutes from excellent hiking trails and mountain climbing. For an intimate lodging experience that’s less secluded, EO Bungalows are private homes in a gated community right in the heart of downtown Custer. It’s a small, walkable town, and you’ll have quick access to restaurants, pubs, bars and all the amazing Black Hills hiking trails.

Hot Springs

Drive time to Sturgis: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Hot Springs offers plenty of accommodations that are perfect for all types of Rally visitors. Suites at the Red Rock is a family-run business with lifelong roots in South Dakota, where elegant suites are housed in a beautiful sandstone building from 1891. The FlatIron Boutique Hotel, structurally inspired by the famous Flatiron in Manhattan, is another historic sandstone building featuring luxury accommodations. For rustic and outdoorsy accommodations in Hot Springs, check out Evans Cliff, a unique vacation rental experience still close to Hot Springs but further into the southern Black Hills, where you can stay in an RV, SeaCamper or Sibley Bell tent on a beautiful cliff/canyon overlook. Fall River Ranch RV Resort is a peaceful basecamp for traveling back and forth to the Rally events and visiting nearby attractions like the The Mammoth Site, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park.