Colorado Springs to Sturgis Road Trip Guide
Introduction
Located at the base of the world-renowned Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is one of the most scenic cities in the country and a must-visit for RV lovers. Located in the middle of Colorado and at over 6,000 feet in altitude, the city is a wonderful destination no matter what time of the year that you choose to visit.
Since it is the second-largest city in Colorado and founded back in the late 1800s, there are plenty of interesting cultural and historic attractions to check out during your visit. On the museum side of things you can pay a visit to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, and the Peterson Air and Space Museum which is located on the Peterson Air Force Base. For some outdoor adventures, you can head to the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center or even Pikes Peak, which is the tallest mountain within the Rocky Mountains southern front range.
Heading west through the deserts of Utah and Nevada to southern California is always a great trip, but if you are looking for a getaway that is over in a handful of days you can't beat heading north. A trip from Colorado Springs means that you will be able to combine city sights with some stunning mountain, grasslands, and forests while still being able to enjoy the luxury of being not too far off the beaten trail.
Sturgis is one of the most recognizable motorcycle destinations in the world thanks to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but did you know it is also a great RV destination? Featuring rugged mountains, interesting museums and great camping opportunities, finishing your trip in Sturgis is perfect.
Point of Interest
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
You really are spoilt for choice with outdoor activities in Colorado Springs so it can be hard to decide where to spend the day during your visit.
One of the most interesting activities is to visit the Cave of the Winds Mountain Park and experience life in this mesmerizing underground cave. Located within the Pikes Peak area, the cave is thought to be 500 million years old and has attracted thousands of visitors over the years who want to see this unique rock formation.
During your visit to Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, there are many experiences available to enjoy, including cave tours and taking a zipline through the incredible scenery near the cave. It will take you a few hours to see everything at the attraction, so plan to spend most of your day here if you are interested in checking it out.
Pawnee National Grassland
Although the Pawnee National Grassland is only a few hours away from Colorado Springs you will truly feel like you have been transported into another world. Gone are the massive mountains and snowcapped peaks. Instead, they have been replaced with wide-open fields that are completely untouched.
On the surface, it might look like there isn't much to do at the Pawnee National Grassland. However, there are plenty of great recreational activities that you can experience during your visit. The area is known for being a birding hotspot and the Crow Valley Recreation Area is a must-visit if you want to explore some of the trails within the massive grassland. You can also make use of the many picnic tables or make some friends at the recreation fields where ball games are common.
Another benefit of visiting Pawnee National Grassland is that you can stay the night. Within the Crow Valley Recreation Area there are camping spots suitable for vans where you can rest your head after a day full of fun in Northern Colorado.
Chadron State Park
To complete the trifecta of unique outdoor adventures on your RV road trip from Colorado Springs to Sturgis you can spend some time in the massive Nebraska National Forest.
Comprising of over 140,000 acres, the forest features a diverse landscape that includes the largest human planted forest in the country and the breathtaking Sandhills that are within the Hasley section of the forest.
Since your trip is only a few days it makes sense to stick to the western section that includes the picturesque Chadron State Park. There are plenty of recreational activities to keep you occupied in Chadron State Park, including a disc golf course, archery range, and an outdoor pool with two diving boards. During the winter sledding is also a popular activity, so if you are a winter lover this is also a great destination during those cold months.
Camping is in abundance within the Nebraska National Forest and at the Chadron State Park Campground, there are 70 sites equipped with electric hookups for you to choose from or 18 sites that are primitive.
Summary
After a few days traveling through some of the most beautiful parts of the country, you may not be ready to end the trip, but since it does have to finish, Sturgis is a fantastic place to do so. Famous for being heaven for motorcycle riders due to the massive Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, there are plenty of things to do in the Meade County city.
Originally called Scooptown as a reference to employees of Fort Meade scooping their pay to build houses in the area, history buffs visiting the city will have to pay a visit to the Old Fort Meade Museum that is on the grounds of where the original was built way back in 1878. The museum contains plenty of great exhibits and information about the fort which has some interesting history. It was the longest active post in the Upper Missouri West region and it is also claimed that the Star-Spangled Banner was played here during retreat ceremonies long before it became the official anthem of the country.
It wouldn't be a visit to Sturgis without paying a visit to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Opened to celebrate all things motorcycles, the museum has plenty of awesome old school motorbikes and collectibles to gawk at during your visit.
The final night of an RV road trip can be sad, but at least you can spend it in style at the Sturgis Downtown RV Park. With full hookup sites available, a stay at this RV park will be the perfect way to end an epic road trip.
