Last Updated on: 10th June 2022, 04:12 pm
Planning to attend the Bikes Blues and BBQ 2022 rally? If it’s your first time hitting the famous Fayetteville, Arkansas bike rally or you’re looking forward to the same fun in its new location, you undoubtedly want to know what you can look forward to!
One of the largest motorcycle rallies in the U.S., Bikes Blues and BBQ draws in more than 300,000 people with a family-friendly atmosphere, blues bands, barbecue, bike shows, and more. Here’s what you need to know before hitting the road.
Table of Contents
Bikes Blues and BBQ (BBB) – Largest Bike Rally in Arkansas for 20+ Years!
The Fayetteville Bikes Blues and BBQ rally started in 2000 with around 300 riders and now boasts annual attendance of 300,000 to 400,000 people. It’s the largest of all motorcycle events in Arkansas and bills itself as the “largest motorcycle rally for charity.”
Even though it faces criticism for its low charitable contributions (ranging from $0.15 to $0.65 per attendee), the BBB Fayetteville AR rally has generated $3 million for local non-profits over its history.
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When is Bikes Blues and BBQ?
Bikes Blues and BBQ 2021 and 2020 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The BBB motorcycle rally returns in 2022 after two years off for its 21st anniversary! The Bikes Blues and BBQ 2022 dates are October 5 to October 8, 2022.
Bikes Blues and BBQ moving to Rogers
Starting in 2022, BBB in Fayetteville, Arkansas is no more. After 20 years, the Fayetteville motorcycle rally will not be the staple on Dickson Street.
The University of Arkansas terminated its license agreement with the BBB organizers in 2021 due to rising COVID-19 hospitalizations. Unable to use the university parking lots and Baum-Walker Stadium, Bikes Blues and BBQ is moving farther north to Rogers, Arkansas.
How Many People Attend Bikes, Blues, and BBQ? – Average BBB Fayetteville AR Attendance
What started with 300 people now regularly draws in 300,000 to 400,000 attendees every fall to the premier Arkansas bike rally. The Bikes Blues and BBQ Arkansas rally is a bit smaller in size to Sturgis which usually gets around 500,000 people but peaked at 740,000 in 2015 and Daytona Bike Week, a 10-day event that gets about the same attendance.
So many people flock to the small region in northwest Arkansas that a 2014 study was done on the rally’s economic impact. The study found attendees spent $402 on average. With a conservative estimate of 300,000 attendees that year, that was $69 million injected into the region including $2 million in sales tax revenue. That’s around 65% of what Fayetteville collects during an average month in the fall – in a single weekend.
The study estimated attendance based on the best guess of BBB officials using hotel capacity numbers and the opinions of national moto-journalists and local police. The rally is free to attend, and without ticketed entry, attendance is left to estimates.
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Bikes, Blues, and BBQ Events & Activities – What to Expect
Since the December 2021 announcement about Bikes Blues and BBQ moving to Rogers, there have been no official announcements about the official venues and events for the Rogers, Arkansas bike rally. You can keep checking the Bikes, Blues, and BBQ events calendar and the rally’s Facebook page news will be posted.
Until official announcements are made, there are some things you can be sure to expect:
- The annual Arkansas State BBQ Championship hosted by the Bikes, Blues, and BBQ rally
- Miss Bikes Blues and Barbecue contest
- Car show
- Poker runs
- Bike show
- Tattoo & Art Expo
- Vendors
- Demo rides
- Raffles
- Motorcycle parade
If you have ever been to Bikes, Blues, and BBQ before, you’ll know it’s a biker rally unlike any other. Despite its size, it maintains a family-friendly atmosphere. It’s not like wild motorcycle rallies focused mostly on high-risk stunts, bikes, and motor events – there are always other events to enjoy and a focus on blues music and great barbecue.
It’s also easily one of the safest biker rallies or Arkansas biker events with very few arrests, accidents, and stolen bikes.
You can check out the gallery for Bikes Blues and BBQ pictures from past years!
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Bikes Blues and BBQ Camping & Accommodations
There are many options for accommodations around Rogers and Fayetteville including hotels and motels, official Bikes Blues and BBQ camping (site not yet announced), RV parking, and vacation rentals.
Here’s a quick overview of some popular options.
RV Camping & Campgrounds in Rogers
- Prairie Creek Campground
- Monte Ne RV Park
- Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way Campground
- Horseshoe Bend Campground
- Rocky Branch Park Campground
Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs is 34 miles from Rogers, even closer than Fayetteville 45 miles away! There are many places to stay in Eureka Springs, many offering the best rates for bikers, covered bike parking, and more.
Popular accommodations & hotels in Eureka Springs for BBB are:
- Basin Park Hotel: center of Eureka Springs Downtown entertainment area with locked, covered bike parking
- Crescent Hotel and Spa: Historic 1886 hotel with Bikers Best rates and reserved parking
- Loblolly Pines Adventure Camp Cabins: modern log cabins in the woods with a hot tub, fire pit, and more
- Oak Crest Cottages and Treehouses: Fun for the whole family with many options including budget-friendly suites, spacious cottages with fireplaces and hot tubs, and unique treehouses
Other Biker-Friendly Hotels Near Rogers AR
- Embassy Suites – Rogers (Official hotel of the 2022 BBB rally!)
- Candlewood Suites – Rogers
- The Bike Inn Bentonville
- Hyatt Place Rogers/Bentonville with hose connections for bike washing stations
- Courtyard Marriott – Fayetteville
- Hilton Garden Inn – Bentonville
- Tanglewood Lodge – Rogers
Things to Do in Rogers AR, Eureka Springs & the Ozarks
Outside of the biker events, contests, live music, amazing food, and famous Arkansas motorcycle rides, you’ll find plenty to see and do in the area. Explore the Arkansas Mountains and find tons of things to do in the Ozarks from outdoor recreation and wildlife sightings to hot springs, historic sites, and bustling downtown districts! Here are some ideas to keep you busy while you’re visiting the area for Bikes Blues and BBQ.
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Find Entertainment, Shopping & Outdoor Recreation in Rogers
Planning to stay close to the action? There’s plenty to explore with several massive sports parks, two lakes, shopping centers, historic landmarks, museums, and the largest cavern system in the state. It’s definitely worth a trip to War Eagle Cavern, halfway between Rogers and Eureka Springs. Take a guided tour of this pristine cavern and enjoy a short hike through beautiful forest paths along waterfalls.
Families love Lake Atalanta, a reservoir with a newly built boardwalk around and over the water complete with fishing areas. Explore serenity gardens, miles of hiking trails, new playground areas, and take a dip in the refreshing stream.
Explore Downtown Eureka Springs
There are plenty of things to do in Eureka Springs for the whole family if you decide to stay in the area or during an afternoon if you’re embarking on one of the popular Eureka Springs motorcycle rides.
Walk through historic Downtown Eureka Springs with preserved Victorian hotels and bath houses built around the springs for which it’s named. The Eureka Springs Downtown area also offers fun shops and boutiques, galleries, interesting restaurants, busy taverns, and the popular Basin Spring Park.
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Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
The 900-acre Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is one of the most intact Civil War battlefields in the country and marks the site of the Battle of Prairie Grove, the last major engagement of the war in the region. History buffs can take a walking or driving tour and visit the museum with displayed artifacts from the battle.
Soak in Thermal Waters in Hot Springs, AR
Looking for the famous hot springs in Arkansas? You’ll find them in the aptly named city of Hot Springs which has 47 hot springs. Eureka Springs has cold springs, many of which are walkable.
Hot Springs, Arkansas is definitely worth a stop if you’re riding into Bikes, Blues, and BBQ from the Memphis area or down south, but be aware that it’s not close to the big rally – it’s 202 miles southwest closer to Little Rock.
Half of the small city is part of the Hot Springs National Park. Be sure to visit the Historic Bathhouse Row and take a soak in the rejuvenating thermal waters at one of the two bathhouses still open.
Hot Springs has another reason to visit the area – it has its own much smaller bike rally. Hot Springs AR hosts the annual Hot Springs BikeFest in June. The Hot Springs motorcycle rally 2022 dates are June 9-12, 2022.
Bikes, Blues, & BBQ Arkansas Motorcycle Rides
What’s a bike rally without the thrilling rides and the opportunity to explore the terrain? Take your pick of rides to historic downtowns, along sparking rivers, and through the scenic Ozark mountains. Here are a few of the best Bikes, Blues, & BBQ rides that should be on your list.
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Pig Trail Ride
The Pig Trail Ride is frequently ranked one of the top 10 motorcycle routes in America that takes you past or through Withrow Springs State Park, Mystic Caverns, and the Wild and Scenic Mulberry River. It’s among the best Ozark Mountain motorcycle rides, especially during the fall when the foliage is stunning.
The complete Pig Trail covers 125 miles, a challenging ride that will take at least 5 hours, but many bikers just take the short ride up to Eureka Springs. It’s a great hub for other rides of varying lengths and difficulties.
Hub Ride Through Jasper
The full Hub Ride is a moderately difficult 195-mile ride through Jasper where you can spot elk herds if you arrive later or earlier in the day. This ride starts in Fayetteville but you can also take the ride from Eureka Springs.
Twisty Roaring River Ride
This Arkansas motorcycle ride takes you to the Roaring River State Park in Missouri. It’s a scenic 30-mile ride from Rogers to the park where you can spend the afternoon fishing.
Ride the Ozarks Rally
Want to maximize your time in the area and experience the best motorcycle rides in Arkansas before heading home? If you cut your stay in Rogers short, you can catch the Ride the Ozarks Rally in Harrison, AR about 77 miles away. If you haven’t already, take the opportunity to take US-62 E out of town to stop in Eureka Springs along the way!
The Ride the Ozarks motorcycle rally offers live music, entertainment, a beer garden, bike show, and free guided motorcycle rides! Ride the Ozarks Rally 2022 dates are set for October 7 and 8, 2022.
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Planning Your Trip to Bikes Blues and BBQ
Now that you know what to expect, how do you plan to get to Bikes Blues and BBQ 2022? Depending on your location, planning a motorcycle trip to the rally may involve a long cross-country ride. There are also alternatives to riding to/from the rally.
One option is to rent a bike for the rally. Pig Trail Harley-Davidson of Rogers offers Harley rentals during the rally. Contact them directly to learn more.
Not up for a long ride to the rally? Concerned about the ride home after a fun but exhausting weekend? Motorcycle shipping is another option. Motorcycle shipping to Bikes Blues and BBQ – or motorcycle transport to get your bike home from the rally – is a reliable solution to get the most out of your rally experience.
Federal Motorcycle Transport offers dependable motorcycle transportation one-way or roundtrip to Bikes, Blues & BBQ with a warehouse location in Independence, MO – pick up your bike in perfect condition and ready to hit the road!
We recommend contacting us at least 30 days before the rally for motorcycle transport services. Give us a call today or get started with a quick, free motorcycle shipping quote online!
