| Sturgis Rally 2009: how much you can expect to spend |
 Sturgis Rally 2009: how much you can expect to spend
According to the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, the club that helped begin the Sturgis Rally in 1938, the average biker spent "at least" $50 in 1976. Based on information gathered from long-time attendants of the Rally, one can expect to spend well over $1000 for the event. This is certainly a great deal more than what was required over thirty years ago. Obviously, dollar amounts spent by each individual will be different as some will choose to drink water or soda rather than alcohol. Some will choose to camp rather than stay at a hotel. And the amount of food eaten and the number of t-shirts purchased will be different from one individual to another. The informant gave a very helpful breakdown that gives us a pretty good idea as to what one might expect to spend on their trip to the Rally in Sturgis. With the informant having attended the Sturgis Bike Rally every year for more than a decade, we can assume that the following information is quite reliable.
Hotels in the area, on average, charge roughly $300 a night for a double room during the week of the Rally. If you plan to stay for the entire six nights of the event, you can expect to spend over $1500 on hotel rooms alone. Now, if you plan on going with a buddy or two that are willing to split this cost with you, the price will obviously be cut down quite a bit. Another suggestion would be to attend the event for the second half. Arrive in the vicinity and check into your hotel room on August 6th, this year for example, and check out on the morning of August 8th. This would just be $900 or less on rooms (some places charge around $300 for the first night and then less for the following nights). Based on this information, we can estimate the cost of hotel rooms for the event to be anywhere from $1800 to $900. Again, splitting the cost with a biker bud would be a good way to go.
The informant also stated that one can expect to spend about $100 dollars a day, which would include food and beverages. Again, some will eat and drink less than others, and of course, some will eat and drink more. For that reason, we should estimate daily spending to be anywhere from $50 to $150.
Since a great number of people choose to stay right in the area, many of the attractions are relatively close to Sturgis, and because motorcycles get great gas mileage, the expense on fuel for the event would be minimal. For that reason, we will estimate a fuel cost of about $100 for the week. Of course, this does not include the trip out to the Rally.
Very few people travel to the Sturgis Rally without buying a t-shirt or two for friends and family. It would be safe to say that the average biker spends about $100 on souvenirs over the course of the event.
To conclude, we simply need to add the high and low ends of expenses. After calculations, it is found that the average biker could spend anywhere from $1,700, which would cover the expense of a shared hotel room for the week and the other expenses listed, to $4,500, which would be at the very high end staying for the entire week with one's own hotel room.
Again, if you were to stay for only three nights of the Rally, a great deal of money would be saved. Choosing a campground over a hotel is another effective money-saving strategy. If one were to really watch the amount of money they spent over the course of this event, it is safe to say that $1,000 could cover it. Just give a little thought and figure out some ways that you are willing to save and it will be a memorable event. Take a look at my previous post for more Sturgis information.
If you are going to be attending the Sturgis Rally, please come back and leave a comment on this page telling all of us how it was. Just 8 hours, 22 minutes before the event officially kicks off for 2009!
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If it's the VF, then I'd say a pass, mate.
Cheers mack, I'm sure I will 
