Rafter J-Bar / Custer / Rushmore

You will pass the Corn Palace very interesting place different every year, has RV parking, worth a couple hours, Also Badlands, can drive through, and Wall Drug kind of a tourist rap but has RV parking and worth a stop.

Hey gang... we've been on the road for a few weeks now, will be leaving from Fargo ND this thursday morning. Im looking for some things to do while en route. Traveling with a 12 year old who shoots guns and paints her nails, she likes piano, guitar, hotrods and diesel trucks and shopping.

this is the route we intend to take.

If you check the traffic counts and attendance stats, you will find that the week before the rally and rally week are the when it's busiest. Traffic builds for the week before, peaks mid-week at the rally, and tapers off by the last day. Monday morning after the rally things are back to typical summer traffic. Have a great trip, there is a ton of fun stuff to do, and ten days will go fast.

CharlesinGA wrote:
With some 400,000+ in attendance at the rally, odds are, you will not be able to enjoy slow scenic rides thru the hills, and the crowds at various venues in the area such as Rushmore will be heavy.

Charles

Considering most of the bikes are Harley/cruiser bikes, the only rides through the area will be slow. :)

It's a nice area, but I'd avoid Bike Week like the plague. Rode my motorcycles up through there lots of times, but never during Bike Week or even anywhere near that time.

Custer is awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take any side road you can -wildlife you find is worth it.

MudChucker wrote:
Thanks again for the input. We decided to push our reservation up a week so we arrive on thr 8th and stay for 10 days. I understand that there will still be a lot of bikes and what not but Im thinking it will still be a fun experience.

Stock up, yes we will load up at our overnight en route in Fargo ND, we'll dry camp at Sam's or Wally's and load up before we go.

It'll be fun... we used to go to the rally every other year, but got involved with other things so the last time we were there was in 2012. Definitely take a trip into Sturgis to soak in some of the atmosphere.... I'd suggest on the 9th or 10th. A lot of people will be packing up and leaving the morning of the 11th and the roads will be much less busy and quieter for the rest of your stay. We are tentatively planning to be out in that area sometime around the 15th. We will see how things shake out .

Custer State Park is celebrating the 100th anniversary of their founding this year. Google it, but I believe it is in July. They are having a get-together for all former employees and volunteers

Thanks again for the input. We decided to push our reservation up a week so we arrive on thr 8th and stay for 10 days. I understand that there will still be a lot of bikes and what not but Im thinking it will still be a fun experience.

Stock up, yes we will load up at our overnight en route in Fargo ND, we'll dry camp at Sam's or Wally's and load up before we go.

Don't worry about the crowds, go and have fun. Sturgis isn't as bad as it was in the old days. It is much calmer and well policed. Make sure you do a day trip into Sturgis while there. The animals don't go hide during the rally, a buffalo will go where it wants and when it wants. If you have reservations, you are good to go but I would stock up on staples before you hit camp as the prices do go up for the week

Next year would be the year to avoid if your not a biker as it's the 80 year for the rally. The 75 was huge and the 76 was way down.