Sturgis 80th Anniversary Motorcycle Tour - Salt Lake City to Sturgis

The longer road to Sturgis, and much the better one. Twelve days from Salt Lake City, eleven nights and around 1,370 miles, with four nights at the Black Hills Rally in the middle and two of America’s finest national parks on the way there.

The approach is the real reason to choose this version over the shorter one out of Denver. Bear Lake and the Snake River lead to Jackson, then the route crosses Grand Teton and Yellowstone in a single day, taking in Old Faithful and Yellowstone Falls on the ride to Cody. The Bighorn Mountains follow, then Devil’s Tower, a volcanic monolith rising 870 feet straight out of the Wyoming plains, on the way to Rapid City.

Then comes the rally. Four nights are based at Rapid City, with guided day rides available or the option to head into Sturgis independently, which a good many riders prefer. The Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and the Needles Highway are all close by. The return crosses to Cheyenne and finishes through Estes Park and the Colorado Rockies into Denver.

EAGLERIDER provides the motorcycle, the tour leader and all eleven nights including the rally accommodation. Fuel, most meals and insurance sit outside the price. Note that despite the title, the tour finishes in Denver rather than at Sturgis. For riders who want the rally and the great national parks inside one trip, this version adds Yellowstone, the Tetons and Devil’s Tower for two extra days and not a great deal more money.