Destination...or Journey - Part Two: On the Road to Sturgis

(You did decide where you’re staying, right?  You made reservations, right?  If not, bring a tent – there’s plenty of campgrounds!)

So you are all packed and ready to head out on your Journey, or your adventure if you will, now all you have to figure out is, how to proceed? While it is true that all roads lead to Sturgis, the last week of July, you do have several choices. Let me tell you about one of my favorite rides to Sturgis if you are leaving from the Northeast.

If you have the time, US highway 6 across PA is a slow, winding road through the Appalachian and Allegheny mountain ranges of Northern PA. It will take all of a day and then some to cross PA on US 6, but if you have the time it is worth it. (There are several places to hop onto the interstate if you lose patience.)  Also worth a stop is the Grand Canyon of PA, just outside of Stokesdale, where you can kill several hours.

Buffalo have the right of way...

If you stay on US 6 you will cross into Ohio just east of Cleveland, and if traffic isn’t too bad, US 6 takes you on a nice tour of the Lake front of Lake Erie. It is a very nice ride around the Lake, with lots of places to stop for photos and even some nice cafes to grab a bite to eat. If you stay on the Lakefront for a while longer, you can pick up I80/90 just south of Toledo.

If you want to make up some time, I80/90 is a great way to do it. Less than 50 miles west of Toledo you will cross into Indiana, I80/90 transverses Indiana just a few miles south of Michigan. The interstate makes short work of Indiana, and if you need a break there is a nice Harley dealer just off the interstate in Elkhart. When you see Gary, Indiana Interstate 80/90 will split, be sure to stay on I80, otherwise you will end up in Chicago.
 

Wall Drug, Wall, S.D.

You will enter Iowa on I80 in Davenport. Depending on the amount of time you have, Interstate 80 is the quickest way across Iowa. There are some nice back roads, US6 is real close, and of course US30 is also close by. If you choose to stay on I80 be sure to take it to I680, and then north on I29. That will take you through Sioux City, and on to Sioux Fall, SD where you will pick up I90. At this point you are less than 400 miles from Sturgis, but a lot of things still to see.

After a scant hour on I90 you will pass through Mitchell, home of the famous Corn Palace - a must stop on your Journey. A whole convention center completely covered in corn and corn husks, both inside and out; and it is changed every year. Next is Murdo, just a very little town sporting one of the best old car museums I have ever seen. A lot of it is outside because nothing rusts in South Dakota. Make it a must see. Soon after you leave Murdo you will see what looks like a big Wall. That is just what it is. A wall hundreds of miles long, congrats, you just entered the Badlands. We usually stay at Wall for one night, lots of good eats and some nice saloons to enjoy. There is a great Best Western just off the interstate, nice pool and good clean rooms.

N.Y. George, Tom, George, Rich, and some nice
biker we met along the way.

Just outside of Wall is the entrance to the Badlands National Park, another must see. Plan on spending several hours touring the park and instead of heading out and back to I90, find a small town of Interior, right on the way, and pick up SD 44 and head west. State highway 44 is the most scenic highway I believe, in the state, east of Sturgis. By the way, it goes right through the town of Scenic, that sports a really cool bar called the Longhorn saloon. It’s only open seasonally but a must see if open. [When last I googled it, it was closed with no reopen date, so no guarantees it's open. -Ed]  After a short stop in Scenic you are only about 80 miles of clean smooth blacktop away, and you will be back on Interstate 90 in Rapid City. This is where your destination adventure will begin.

So, grab a good map, and make it your own adventure, and take a road less traveled. Or, let me guide you on one of my favorite adventures on my journey to Mecca. It does not really matter since this time of the year, All Roads Lead to Sturgis. 

The Longhorn Saloon, Scenic, S.D.

Take a gander at the H-D Road Planner, where we've saved a rough route based on this article.  You can adjust it as you like, find the local H-D dealers along the way, and even save it to your GPS!