First Time Campers at a Motorcycle Rally

If you have never attended a Motorcycle Rally or camped at one, you may want to conduct a bit of research before you go. I would also very highly recommend that you go "with" a group or club instead of traveling by yourself.

Transporting a tent
Unless you are towing a trailer behind your bike that you can transport your tent in, I would suggest you strap a tent to your handlebars, (if you don't have a faring) or carry it standing upright on your passenger seat if you have a sissy bar to strap it to. My reason behind these suggestions is because it is almost impossible to find a tent short enough to fit crossways behind you, without blocking the view through your mirrors unless you can position it where it will ride above or below the view from your mirrors.

While a blocked rear view may not seem important going a short distance down a two lane highway, if you go through any towns that have four lane roads, you will quickly discover the danger involved with not being able to have a clear view of the vehicles behind you.

Finding a good campsite
Most club members have an advantage when it comes to finding campsites because several of their more experienced members should have already been to whatever rally you are heading for and will know where to find the good spots.For anyone that does not belong to a club and is planning on camping out at a rally, below is some information that will help you.

Your definition of a "good campsite" might be different then mine, but there are numerous things I look for in a campsite.

Shade or Sun?
During the summertime, I want a site that offers shade on the southwest side, so it will help cool the campsite in the afternoon and early evening. In the early spring or fall, I want a site that offers a clear view to the southeast, in order to get the early morning sunshine and help warm the tent.

Dirt Roads?
Before setting up a tent at a new rally, I always try to find out if the roads and paths inside the campground are paved, gravel, dirt or grass. The answer to that question will help determine what part of the campgrounds I want to stay in. Keep in mind that grass trails will become slick if it rains or whenever there is a morning dew. Dirt roads will get muddy if it rains and will kick up ALOT of dust when it is dry. Gravel roads will also kick up dust when it is dry, so if I have to pitch my tent around a gravel or dirt road, I want my tent and bike far enough from the road to escape the dust. Paved roads are always best, but keep in mind that at some rallies there are bikers that will use the paved roads for "burnouts" or cruising, which can keep you up all night long, therefore when I am at a rally that condones cruising during the late night hours, I try to avoid camping near the "busy" stretches of road.

Weather Forcasts
I always check the national weather forecast prior to heading to a rally, in order to find out what the chances are of rain are and how much is expected. If they are predicting a lot of accumulation, I will try to find a campsite located on high ground so that I don't have to sleep underwater or ride through a small lake in order to get to my tent.

Opening Day
The camping policies for every rally are different, so I would recommend that you contact the officials in charge of the camping BEFORE you leave home. One thing you need to find out is if the campsites are open, assigned or reserved. If the sites are "open" as in, "first come, first serve", find out what day and time they open the gates, in order to allow the campers to set up their tents. Then I would suggest you consider getting there as early as possible, as in, at least 4 to 8 hours before the gates open, if you want a good spot for your tent.

Generators
There is one other aspect of camping that you should be made aware of. Having another camper pull in and set up a generator 5 or 10 feet from your tent, can ruin an otherwise great camping experience, especially if it runs all night long. Some rallies, especially ones with reserved or assigned campsites for RV units or campers with support vehicles, may try to keep the RV units and other vehicles separate from tent campers, but there is never a guaranty, so the best solution I have found is to assign several brothers the responsibility of getting to the rally early enough to stake out a corner area just for your group. If the rally policy allows "colors" it is even possible to "fly your club flag" or other signs, somewhere within your area, to let other campers know your group prefers their privacy.

Bathrooms & Music
Most rallies have a "map" available on their websites that will show you where the stages, restrooms, showers and food venders are located. Many older bikers may want to be relatively close to a porta-potty, but be careful about getting to close, or else you will hear the doors slamming shut ALL NIGHT LONG. The distance from your campsite to the showers, food venders and stages are a personal choice, based on how much you want to walk, if you plan on riding your bike to and from the showers, food and entertainment, etc. as well as how much noise you are willing to put up with.

Remember, a rally is a large party and people are there to have fun, so expect it to be loud, very loud at times. Also keep in mind there will be many people drinking and using other substances, so act accordingly and safeguard your property as well as yourself so that you can have an enjoyable time.

Easy Access
This is my final suggestion. When picking a campsite, keep in mind that most campers will be leaving the grounds in order to find restaurants, alcohol, stores or just to go for a ride. So look at your maps and find the entrance and exits so that you can plan accordingly. I personally don't like to be on the main exit or entrance route because of all the traffic but on the other hand I don't want to have to ride through a house of mirrors or a maze of campsites to find the exit.

Good luck and have fun.