STURGIS, S.D. (KBHB) – State officials say final vehicle traffic counts from the South Dakota Department of Transportation for vehicles entering Sturgis for this year’s rally show a slight decrease over 2018.

The State DOT says the 10 day total was 499,654. That is down from 2018’s 505,969 – a 1.2-percent decrease.

The biggest down day occurred on Thursday, Aug. 8. 51,450 vehicles entered Sturgis that day – and while that sounds like a lot, it is down from 8.5-percent from 2018. Other days seeing a decrease over the previous year were Saturday, Aug. 3, Tuesday, Aug. 6, Wednesday, Aug. 7; Friday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Aug. 10.

The DOT used nine traffic counters placed around the Sturgis area to compile their data.