STURGIS RALLY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I've heard that Black Hills State University rents rooms for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Is this true?

Yes, it certainly is true – we rent rooms for the Rally every year! For details, please see our Sturgis Rally pages.

What does a room cost for the Rally? What’s included in the price?

The cost depends on which date-specific block you choose.

• Information about our blocks and their associated rates. The cost of the room includes the linen for both beds in the room.

• Information about our accommodations and amenities.

• Access information about our amenities.

Is the cost per person or per room?

The cost is per room. If your party is two people, you can divide the cost by two to determine the expense to each person.

How many people are allowed in the room? Can we put down an air mattress for our friend?

We are limited to two people in our rooms. No, we can’t allow you to put an air mattress on the floor for an extra friend. If your party consists of an odd number of guests, please contact our Rally Coordinator (605-642-6908 or Nancy.Shuck@BHSU.edu) for options and assistance.

Where are you located? How far are you from Sturgis?

We are located in the beautiful Northern Black Hills, about 18 miles northwest of Sturgis along Interstate 90. For specific directions to Black Hills State University, visit the BHSU Campus Map.

When can I check into my room? When do I have to check out?

Our halls are staffed 24 hours a day during Rally, so you can generally check in or check out whenever is convenient for you. The earliest you can check in is after 3 p.m. on the first day of your selected block, the latest you can check out is 10 a.m. on the last day of your chosen block.

How do I make a reservation? When can I make a reservation? Do you have a deadline for reservations?

Review our Reservations Information for the downloadable reservation form and reservation information. We generally begin accepting reservations for the next Rally after January 1. We operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you make your reservations, the more likely you are to get a room you desire. As long as we have rooms available, we continue accepting reservations – sometimes right through the Rally itself. Contact our Rally Coordinator to inquire about availability at (605)642-6464 or email Nancy.Shuck@BHSU.edu.

What happens if I have to cancel? Do I get my money back?

If your plans change once you’ve submitted payment, we will refund your money in full if we have received written notice of your cancellation in our office by July 15.* We are unable to issue refunds past that date, regardless of circumstances. No Exceptions.

**Written notice is accepted when sent by US Postal Service or by fax and requires an original signature. Currently, email is not considered sufficient written notice.**

Can I access the Internet and/or my email from my room?

All the halls have wireless access to the internet; we will provide you with a username and password to access our networks as a guest. Each room also has one Ethernet connection. To access the internet in your room or hall, you must supply your own computer; computers are not available in the halls. Computers are available during business hours in several locations on campus, please ask us for directions.

Can I drink or smoke in my room? Can I bring my dog with me?

We are a dry campus, alcohol is not allowed. Please enjoy the spirited beverages off-campus. We are a non-smoking campus, buildings are smoke-free and smoking is allowed only in the parking lots. And even if your dog is a Harley-riding Cool Dude, we cannot accommodate him or her. Pets are not allowed in our residence halls.

I don’t have much room to haul things on my Harley. Can I mail a package of personal items ahead of my arrival? How will I get the package when I arrive?

You certainly may ship a package ahead of you, we only ask that you make arrangements and pay for the return shipping. If we receive the package before you arrive, we will hold it for you and have it waiting in your room when you do arrive. If we don’t receive it until after you arrive and check in, we’ll deliver it to your hall and your room as soon as we do receive it. (Shipments are usually received in the afternoon in our Central Receiving Office; Central Receiving delivers them to our office, and we deliver them to you.)

To ship items, please use this address: Rally Office, Black Hills State University, 1200 University Street Unit 9100, Spearfish SD 57799-9100. Please include your name and your assigned hall/room number at the beginning of the address

I know your rooms are not air-conditioned. May I bring an air conditioner with me and use it in the room?

We are not able to secure air conditioners in the windows, therefore, they create a safety hazard and we cannot allow them. The Black Hills do cool off very comfortably at night – we recommend opening your window and leaving your door open for a short while when you return to the hall at night. The resulting draft usually cools the room off nicely. We also place a fan in every room to aid you in cooling the room for sleeping.

If you have a genuine medical need (you’ve suffered sunstroke previously, for example), please let our Rally Coordinator know this (on your reservation form or by personal contact – (605)642-6908 or Nancy.Shuck@BHSU.edu) – she’ll work with you to place you in the best room for your situation.

I have extra room in my trailer. May I bring in a small refrigerator and/or microwave to use?

Certainly, you may bring in your own refrigerator and/or microwave – they just have to conform to the same standard sizes as our college students are allowed. Review Housing Standards.

I'm bringing a self-contained camper to camp along the way. May I camp in it in your parking lot?

Spearfish city statute prohibits camping in any parking lot within the city limits; therefore, we cannot allow you to stay in your camper in our parking lot(s). You are welcome to park your camper in our parking lot while you stay in our residence hall. We’d also be happy to refer you to any of the local campgrounds.

Can I walk to restaurants and/or bars? Where can I find good food in Spearfish?

Our Dining Services on campus does offer breakfast in our Hive dining hall from 7 to 10 a.m. every day and Einsteins Bagels, in our Library, offers coffee, tea, jet teas, soups, sandwiches, and salads from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every weekday. Learn more about the amenities at BHSU

There are several restaurants, bars, and fast food establishments throughout Spearfish, some within walking distance (7-10 blocks) along either Jackson Blvd. or Main Street/North Avenue. We provide maps in our lobbies of both Spearfish and the Black Hills so you can easily find these establishments.

Where can I find a gas station in Spearfish? Where do I go to shop?

Gas stations are available at two of the exits into Spearfish off Interstate 90, Exit 12 and Exit 14. Additional gas stations are available along Jackson Blvd., Main Street, and Colorado Blvd.

The heart of downtown with all its shops extends south of Jackson Blvd. along Main Street and for a couple of blocks east and west of Main Street. There are two shopping centers off Exit 14, one north and one south of the freeway, both with a major discount department store. Two grocery stores serve the town, one a major chain on North Avenue, the other a local store two blocks east of Main Street and one block south of Jackson Blvd.

Check out more information at Visit Spearfish and Spearfish Chamber of Commerce.

What is there to do in Spearfish?

Don’t miss the DC Booth Historic Fish Hatchery, the Matthews Opera House, and the High Plains Heritage Center. Spearfish Creek (an excellent fishing stream) runs through Spearfish Canyon, through Spearfish City Park, and continues through town. There is a hiking/biking trail (no motorized vehicles please) along the Creek through town. BHSU’s Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center offers a fitness room, a gymnasium, a field house with an indoor track, two pools, and a rock-climbing wall – inquire at the Young Center’s front desk for rates and availability. Shopping and eateries are described above.

Spearfish Canyon, one of the oldest and most scenic canyons in the west, is a beautiful ride to our south; several gravel Forest Service roads through the Northern Black Hills link to Highway 14A through the Canyon. We are 10 miles from the Wyoming border, 45 miles from Rapid City, 18 miles from Sturgis, 65 miles from Mount Rushmore, 101 miles from Wall Drug, and within a one- or two-hour ride/drive of the South Dakota Badlands, Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, Crazy Horse Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument (the second-longest cave in the world), and Custer State Park. (Please do not approach the buffalo; over the years the buffalo have never lost a dispute with a tourist. They are determined not to spoil their record now.) The geographic Center of the Nation is just 10 miles north of us in historic Belle Fourche (pronounced Bell Foosh). Hiking trails are available throughout the Black Hills; rock climbing is possible in Spearfish Canyon and in Custer State Park (contact the Forest Service or the Custer State Park office for permits).

We promise, you can always find something interesting and fun to do in the beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota!