Sturgis Rally Traffic Down Nearly 8% Through First Six Days, SDDOT Reports

Northeast Radio SD News – Sturgis, SD - Vehicle traffic entering Sturgis for the 86th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is trailing historical averages by nearly 8% through the first six days of the event, according to data released by the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT).

Between Friday, Aug. 7, and Wednesday, Aug. 12, a total of 318,414 vehicles entered the city across nine monitored locations. That represents a 7.8% decrease compared to the previous five-year average (2021–2025) of 345,226 vehicles over the same six-day period.

Daily Vehicle Counts: Strong Weekend Start, Midweek Decline

The rally kicked off with above-average turnout over opening weekend, but traffic dropped noticeably as the week progressed—culminating in a 23.6% decline on Wednesday relative to 5-year averages.

Date	Day	Vehicle Count	Comparison to 5-Year Average
Aug. 7, 2026	Friday	54,515	Up 2.9%
Aug. 8, 2026	Saturday	58,519	Up 2.5%
Aug. 9, 2026	Sunday	55,448	Down 7.5%
Aug. 10, 2026	Monday	55,226	Down 8.4%
Aug. 11, 2026	Tuesday	51,742	Down 11.8%
Aug. 12, 2026	Wednesday	42,964	Down 23.6%
6-Day Total	Combined	318,414	Down 7.8%

Full Regional Report Coming Late August

SDDOT continuously tracks vehicle entries throughout the 10-day rally, which runs through Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.

A comprehensive final report—including broader traffic counts across the entire Black Hills region—will be compiled and posted on the SDDOT Traffic Data Page during the week of Aug. 24, 2026.

Rally Travel Information:

Motorists and riders navigating the area can find real-time updates on reduced speed zones, temporary traffic signals, and travel FAQs at the official SDDOT Sturgis Rally Information Portal.

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