Sturgis Buffalo Chip Music Festival Reviews

Terrible toilets, regular paid shower, not much offer in terms of food! The most redeemable cost even though it is not cheap!

First year at Sturgis and wanted to check out The Buffalo Chip. We purchased 2 day passes. Went Sunday to see the flat track races, which were very good. However the facilities were sub par. The porta johns were unattended and with that many people bringing that much money, it was beyond unacceptable.
After the races there was an hour and a half of commercials on stage before the band Shinedown srarted. I like a lot of their music and was really looking forward to seeing them. We left after the 4th song. The PA was so bad and distorted it made listening impossible.
We ran into a friend while we were there that had rented a cabin at Buffalo Chip. He has arrived after a long ride fro Maryland that the office closed at 7:30. He had missed them by 15 minutes. With no where else to go, he slept on the asphalt. A security guard felt bad for him and brought him a blanket. He still had to pay for the night.
And finally, we had tickets to see Lynard Skynard, of course they cancelled. This was not Buffalo Chip fault, however they advertise themselves as the largest music venue in the world for motorcycling. I have never heard of a major venue not refunding the ticket if the headliner cancels. Buffalo Chip announced there would be no refunds.
We plan on being back to Sturgis many times in the future, the rest of the week was a blast. Buffalo Chip will never see another dollar from us no matter how many times we return to Sturgis.

Massive campground that houses the sturgis masses during the rally. They host legendary rock concerts here during rally season. Theres plenty of food vendors and bars to serve everyone. The big engine bar is a great meeting place to hang out with friends who dont have a camping spot, as it is accesible to the public.

Great experience two years in a row! Cool venue, awesome entertainment, you will pay though! If you're looking for an old school biker group, this one may not be for you, lots of trailers, RVs and daytrippers there for a concert. Will definitely come back but might take a break for a couple of years and try something different.

We went to the Buffalo Chip and saw Foreigner and they were the bomb!! Buffalo Chip is one party place:-) :-)

Would be five stars but the "biker friendly" gravel roads full of bumps and potholes is hell on a chopper . Buffalo Chip is the place to be and is worth the work to ride.

I'd like to give more stars but couldn't get in to see anything so we couldn't get out of this place fast enough. First time here so difficult to maneuver. Terrible directional signage and a parking attendant went off on us for not seeing him 150 yards away flagging us. I mean this was difficult to know where to turn or go, based on what seemed to me as a charlie foxtrot for organization. Bikers weren't listening to staff giving directions so it's like taking a chance going there. Seemed way too congested and lacked organization. We went a bit farther out to full throttle saloon and that was better controlled so enjoyed ourselves there instead.

93-octane E10 available! I only stopped by for the premium gas

First time to the rally. The staff was all good. All helpful whenever we asked for information. We were surprised at the RV parking. It makes no sense how they park everyone. It is easy to get blocked in and hard to let out your awning and slide out they are so close. They need to cut the field before the rally. Next time we will bring a weed eater! Security at the concerts was good. If you don t bring your own golf cart or atv, rent it early . We tried every day to rent one and there were none available until the last day. The laundry mat was good. We went to several great concerts. Get there early if you want to be up close. We went to the Top Shelf one night and paid 25.00 each to watch a concert from the top . When we inquired about a ticket to watch Keith Urban...it was $288.00 each!!!!! When we asked why so much, the girl said well it is Keith Urban.
Yea I know. Highway Robbery!!!
So glad we didn t get those as we just went early and were literally 4 rows back from the stage. It is a great area to get out and ride. Beautiful country!
If you aren t interested in the concerts I would stay somewhere else. The company that pumps out the septic on the Rv s do not do a good job. Our tank would show 1/3 full after both times they pumped it.

4th stay at the Chip. Absolutely no other place to stay in my opinion. 3rd time VIP in Fenske Park. Best home base in Sturgis. Ride all day and party at night the the best entertainment in Sturgis without having to get on the road after a few cold ones. Question/Concern, call Shirley or Bonnie if your Fenske Park and you will get prompt response. Definitely a brotherhood/sisterhood. Have made lifelong friends camping at the Chip.

Our first time there. Loved the beers were $2 but could barely get waited on as only two bartenders working the whole bar. One was rude when my husband tried to get a glass of ice for me as I drink my beer on ice. Then we went to the kid rock concert and Lita ford was a disappointment as she stated she was having issues with her voice but the only two songs anyone truly wants to hear she didn't sing at all thru...... Kid Rock was awesome but when we went to leave a few.bikes blocked the only exit we could get our bikes out on and leaving the parking lot all the way down the road was a shitshow. We won't be back. We visited many other bars and never had an issue .

The best ever. It is safe, clean and very friendly

Everything you need....great concerts, food vendors, bars, activities, full hook up sites, clean facilities, etc.

It's easy to get to have amazing concerts good food friendly staff plenty of free parking

Had a great time there we bought tickets for the Kid Rock concert so we could spend the day there they had events running throughout the whole day was able to come and go as we pleased returned at night for the concert had dinner there had a great time.

The world famous Buffalo chip... Great times lots of fun. Bring a friend

--- During the Rally ---
Great concerts, great food - buts it's expensive.
Most Vendors only pay their staff through tips.
But The Big Engine Bar at the Crossroads has cheap beer.
Showers will probably be cold no matter when you go.
The concerts in the amphitheatre only last till midnight. So that noise doesn't last long. But if your by the Bikini Beach stage, they go to 2am. And bikers will be revving their engines into the wee hours of the night.
It's a great party, but not a place to get well rested.

Concerning staying at the Chip for 2020. My question is, are you allowed to park your bike by the amphitheater or do you need to keep your bike by your site?

The Chip is an American Icon! If you make it out to Sturgis and not make it to the Buffalo Chip youvey missed out.

Best Campground and concerts in Sturgis I been to them all. Will be back for the 7th year straight as its the 40th Anniversary for the Buffalo Chip, its the Best Party Anywhere! Its going to be extra great in 2021 with alot of the bands who couldn't make it in 2020.

Awesome place, very patriotic. The best is yet to come

Great place to camp. And enjoy top name bands. George thorogood was fantastic!

Called to ask a few questions about an event today at the chip, which however had no listing on their website. The lady was very rude and short with me and said I don't know their schedule. She never offered to say let me check for you and get some information. I understand this a big campground but as part of customer service that is your job. Not to be rude to customer who has been attending the rally for 20 years. We are paying customers and wouldn't even mind the charge for the event. I'm very shocked at the rudeness of someone who answers your company phone.

Enjoy the chip. Have been going there off and on for 5 years. Great music, good times, staff has always been real nice and helpful. Now the vendors... That would be another review.

BEST place ever! GREAT fun, GREAT music, GREAT people. What more could you ask for?

We stayed here for the week of Sturgis 2015. The concerts were AMAZING! However, the food vendors were terrible (much like a carnival and worse than a County Fair), there were no bathrooms in the actual campground (not sure where all the campers that were 300 yards away from the entertainment area went to the bathroom if they were in a tent.) It was advertized that there were bathrooms in the campground which wasn't true. The bathrooms were inside the entertainment parts of the campground which were gated off. The port o potties that were just inside the venue may have been cleaned 1 time per day. There were nowhere near enough of them as there were thousands of people. They were disgusting and overflowing and covered in urine and poop. I'm not even joking.
It is my understanding that there is always a good thunder shower at least once during the rally. SO you would think it would be easy for the campground to prepare for. You know, have some gravel roads, or maybe even some wood chips to put down so peoples cars and bikes dont get stuck in the mud as they go through the campground to and from their campsites. Well that assumption would be wrong. It rained 3 times. It was an absolute muddy mess. I had heard that the Buffalo Chip owners were slated to make $28 million this rally. With that kind of cash, they certainly could have made the campground a bit more than a grass field where everyone gets stuck in the mud if it rains. Nice work Buffalo Chip. We will never come back to your camp.

It is apparent that you're catering to the money. You have managed to push out the real biker spirit. When I going to a rally I shouldn't have to be dodging little children with my motorcycle. I will never return to the chip again.

Down with the billionaire boys club
Power goes back to the people . I love you all so damn much
Thank you

Great place to be you, have fun and not a care in the world

I love the concerts and the nightlife, but Woody needs to invest in some REAL bathrooms. Those Porto John's are like saunas

Very very busy place too much to do too much to absorb in the few days I was there would love to go back on an extended stay

Disney Land prices, without anywhere close to the amenities! 3 bucks for coffee: The steak house resturant wasn't open for breakfast even though advertised, and don't get me started on its 20 dollar steak.

The people came out of the office and got us hooked up with Keith Urban!

Definitely a party here. Had lots of fun and little sleep. As it goes at Sturgis.

Had fun here and it was close to everything. It was a motorcycle rally....too many golf carts and atvs.

Very disorganized and no assigned camping spots. Hard to tell if some are reserved or if their open.

The best place to stay during the rally! I would like to think of it as a mini Woodstock lol. So many different people from so many walks of life all having a good time! Live concerts every night! Who could ask for more! We tent camped for More

Great concerts every night. Staff and volunteers are very helpful and friendly. Location is a short ride out of town. There are lots of quiet areas and lots of party areas. Food is average for the rally. Venders are on par with others. The concerts are what puts it over the top - a great way to wind down after a day of riding.

Got gas (93 octane) at the Chip. I get gas there whenever I am in the area.

Great venue for live concerts and drinking beer. Wife and I had a blast.

The owner is still a jerk however I do like some of the concerts but it did take everything I had just to step one foot on the property after the way the owner is treated me years ago but I did enjoy the concert

First time at the Chip, the people were nice, some employees were a little too aggressive in getting in your car to see what was in your cooler though...That's not cool at all. The campsites were great, the concerts were great. the bathrooms and showers look like and work like they were just put up a week ago.. Terrible bathrooms and showers. We went down the street each morning to the school for shower. I would go back again, if your into top class concerts this is the place...

It is absolutely the best party anywhere...hands down.

Amazing time! Unlike any adventure you've been on. Must go at least once in your life

Dirty, grimy, grungy. There's a fixed fee to get past the secondary gate to all the fun stuff, whether you plan to camp, see a concert, or watch a hooligan race. But that's why you're at the Rally anyway right? Bucket list item.

Love the chip been going there for 20 yrs. The complaint I have is I m a rider and I ride to the Chip from Texas. I haul my gear on my bike. Been staying on stage hill forever but it seems to me that Woody is more about the money from the RV sites than catering to the hard core bikers that ride in and stay in a tent. The tent area on stage hill keeps getting smaller and smaller and blocked by RV s . It be nice if we would make that area designated for tent campers only. We need a nice area that is only for us and not the rv s and generators running. Please Woody give us stage hill for hard core bikers that ride in and stay in tents. Riders is what made Sturgis not toy haulers.

Great fun to be had if you're looking for it! Awesome bikes, people, and parties! Been there many times... seen a lot of the bands way more than once, so that's why the 4 rating.

Legendary times to be had. This next year will be my 30th year.

Have stayed at a few different places when out here for bike week. Last trip out, I stayed at the Chip. Best place to camp - hands down! I will be staying out here every visit from now on. Nothing but a great time to be had!!

Awesome place for concerts
Nasty bathrooms and showers.

Staff treatment was EXCELLENT, THATS A MILLION TIMES

Was a great place to stay while doing Sturgis bike rally.Only bad part was the bathrooms around the camp sites. They were in disrepair, and were foul smelling. The porta-pottys would be a better replacement for the permanent ones in my opinion. Other than that, the place was awesome.

Stayed here for the 75th anniversary Sturgis bike rally with friends because everyone wanted to be able to say we'd been to the legendary Buffalo Chip. All I can say is I'm glad it's over. Everything I enjoyed about this trip had nothing to do with this horrible place. It's like a refugee camp. Filthy, overcrowded & disgusting are words I would use to describe it. It's all about lining their pockets & cramming as many people in there as possible. One night of rain turned it into a muddy swamp they could have easily remedied with a few truckloads of hay, but no steps were taken in that direction, despite many requests for some sort of solution to the problem. Toilet facilities in dry camping areas were a few wooden structures scattered here & there containing 4 ancient looking (and smelling) outhouses. They were so foul you couldn't stand to be in them for more than two or three seconds without vomiting. Even the portable toilets required long hikes through treacherous ground, poorly cut grass, and more mud than you can imagine to reach, and they were only slightly less disgusting.

Showers and flushing toilets were few and inadequate. Water was pretty much always cold, lukewarm when it wasn't freezing, and girls who seemed to work for tips did their best to keep them clean - even though the toilets frequently clogged, and the lines were endless. Concerts were just above average. Mostly bands who have seen better days, with very few exceptions. Food and drink are very overpriced, as is ice and water. Access in and out is severely restricted, and the lines are long. Staff is surly and rude, largely unhelpful and unconcerned. I would suggest Broken Spoke as an alternative, just down the road on the other side of Bear Butte. The ground is more level overall, and the facilities much cleaner and well maintained. It looked like the Hilton sitting next to an outhouse by comparison. Buffalo Chip seems to be riding on an over-hyped and undeserved reputation, and in my opinion, it is done. I'll never go back.

Staff very professional grass bit tall would recommend

In my opinion, the best place to stay for your bike week adventure. Everything you need in one place. I always stay along the southern fence line and love it. The showers may be a bit cold, but your at a motorcycle rally. Suck it up buttercup. Concerts are freakin' awesome and the beer has always been cold. Absolutely love this place. Thanks Woody.

We did not get the FULL experience of Buffalo Chip, however went there to see Lynyrd Skynyr, had purchased tickets a week before just so prices wouldn't go up like it warned online.
Johnny van zant had a heart attack which totally sucks and had to cancel. He was replaced by Gary Allen. I'm not personally a huge fan. He's a great artist just not what I would pay $140 to go to. Buffalo chip would not refund or exchange tickets which I was very disappointed about. Although I did sell the tickets in front of the box office and made $100 back
The lady was very nice and helped me, she did not get mad that I sold them in front. Very understanding. Hope to have more of an experience next time !

What a great place to enjoy and unwind.Awesome activities