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Carrie and I are tentatively planning a ride to Mt. Rushmore for next summer. Being a happily married couple, neither of us have any desire to visit Sturgis during the actual rally, but we figure we might as well bop through on our way to Rushmore since it's right there.

Has anyone been to Sturgis during the off season? Is there enough there to even bother stopping through when it's not rally? And if it is worth going, what things do you recommend checking out?

I went to Mt Rushmore a couple of summers ago, will it was late spring. We camped out in Custer State Park, and went a saw Crazy Horse, Mt Rushmore, and rode 16A 87 and 89. Good times.

Not much happens there in off season. There is a great motorcycle museum (year round) in Sturgis also a Museum at Ft Meade and some off season concerts and a threshing bee in August after the rally. Most things around this part of SD are in Rapid City (too much to mention Google it)

Also if you are on a bike do not miss Iron-mountain Hiway(free) and Needles Hiway(toll) Both are close to Rushmore/Custer Park area. Hell donT miss them in a car! Check out Custer State Park. Black Hills are full of great riding

The top of Mt Haney (highest point in SD) is a nice small hike. (I seem to have a lot of energy at this lower altitude, very few areas in SD are in excess of a mile)

Sturgis is also close to Deadwood (Old West style town with legalized gambling, casinos have good food)

Crazy Horse charges admission. Rushmore is free but charges for parking.

Best map for the Hills is the USFS Black Hills Nat. Forrest map, can order from website or buy locally.

Awesome, thanx for all the great information Slim! It sounds like there's plenty to do even without the rally. I think we'll stay in the Mt. Rushmore area for two days -- it was going to be Custer, but after your post it sounds like I need to check out the Deadwood casin-os.

And John, I checked out those roads on Google Maps and they look amazing. I'll definitely be riding all through that region.

Thanx again guys!

I sure wouldn't mind heading out that way best of luck on your journey!!!!!