STURGIS — State Department of Transportation figures show that traffic coming into Sturgis for the 83 rd City of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was down
about 8% this year.
Tallies show 458,161 entered Sturgis during the 2023 Rally dates as compared with 497,835 in 2022.
For longtime rallygoers, this year will long be remembered as the Rainy and Cool Rally. Beginning on Thursday, Aug. 3 and continuing through
Sunday morning, Aug. 6, Sturgis and the surrounding areas received about 3 inches of rain. And preliminary statistics from the National Weather Service in Rapid City show that since 1938 (the first year of the Rally) this year had the secondcoldest high temperatures at 79.1 degrees, behind 1999 with 78.4 degrees. For average temperatures (averaging both daily highs and lows), it was the 10th coolest at 69.0 degrees. Officials say it ranked lower because the cloud cover overnight kept temperatures warmer than with clear skies.
“It was one of the coolest rallies I can remember,” said Rapid City NWS Meteorologist Susan Sanders, who has worked at the NWS for nearly 28
years.
The high temperature Saturday, Aug. 5, was 64 degrees and that came just after midnight. The high on Monday was 66 degrees, well below the average high for that day in August. The forecast for the coming week shows Saturday’s high could reach 96 degrees and Monday’s high is predicted to be 95. What a difference two weeks can make.
“We appreciate all those who braved the rain and cold temperatures at this year’s Rally,” said Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen. “The sun did come out and many were able to take in the beautiful rides around the Black Hills. We hope that your stay was memorable, and you will return for the 84 th Rally next year.”
Counts of vehicles entering Sturgis from its official opening on Friday, Aug. 4 through Saturday, Aug. 12, show a decrease of about 8% over last year.
The tallies are compiled by the South Dakota Department of Transportation. The City of Sturgis determines an estimated attendance using a number of variables. They include the Department of Transportation traffic counts based on sensors that count vehicles as they enter Sturgis, the number of vendor licenses issued in Sturgis, tons of garbage hauled in Sturgis, Mount Rushmore traffic counts, and South Dakota Department of Revenues sales tax calculations.
The traffic counts at nine locations entering Sturgis for the 2023 Rally are as follows:
Friday, Aug. 4: 45,652 vehicles entered
- Down 13.4% from the previous five-year average
Saturday, Aug. 5: 38,126 vehicles entered
- Down 37.3% from the previous five-year average
Sunday, Aug. 6: 60,586 vehicles entered
- Up 4.4% from the previous five-year average
Monday, Aug. 7: 50,487 vehicles entered
- Down 16.9% from the previous five-year average
Tuesday, Aug. 8: 55,848 vehicles entered
- Down 4.2% from the previous five-year average
Wednesday, Aug. 9: 56,444 vehicles entered
- Up 1.4% from the previous five-year average
Thursday, Aug. 10: 52,195 vehicles entered
- Up 3.7% from the previous five-year average
Friday, Aug. 11: 45,661 vehicles entered
- Up 0.4% from the previous five-year average
Saturday, Aug. 12: 33,278 vehicles entered
- Down 4.5% from the previous five-year average
Sunday, Aug. 13: 19,884 vehicles entered
- Down 6.5% from the previous five-year average
2023 – 10 Day Total: 458,161 Vehicles
- Down 8.1% from the previous five-year average 10 day total
Previous Five-Year Average – 10 Day Total: 498,282 Vehicles
Tons of garbage collected by the Sturgis Public Works Department, actually shows an 11% increase over last year. The city crews hauled 226.97 tons this year as compared with 203.82 during last year’s Rally, Sturgis Public Works Director Rick Bush said Monday.
Sturgis Police Department statistics calls for service at this year’s Rally were up about 131, going from 1,476 last year to 1,607 this year. Parking violations, a perennial issue at the Rally, were actually down 40 from 159 last year to 119 this year, Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater said.
Misdemeanor and felony drug arrests were about even with a year ago with 77 this year as compared with 71 last year. Driving while intoxicated arrests were also about even with 66 this year as compared with 63 a year ago.
The 84 th City of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is scheduled from Aug. 2 to Aug. 11, 2024.
