Lone Star Rally lodging, a ferry ride from Galveston

Every November, the Lone Star Rally takes over Galveston: bikes, bands, vendors and a whole lot of chrome. It's the biggest motorcycle rally in Texas, and the island fills up fast. Our place is on the other side of the ferry in Crystal Beach. It's close enough to ride in for the action and far enough to actually sleep.

Lone Star Rally dates

• 2026: Thursday, November 5 to Sunday, November 8. Those dates are confirmed by the rally and by Visit Galveston.
• 2027: the City of Galveston's event agreement with the rally lists Thursday, November 4 to Sunday, November 7, 2027. The rally hasn't posted next year's dates on its own site yet, so double-check before you lock in travel.

Where the rally happens

The action is spread across three main areas of Galveston Island: The Strand in the historic downtown, Pier 21 on the harbor, and Beach Central Park on Seawall Boulevard. General admission is free. The Strand opens at 10 a.m. each day of the event, and you need a parking pass to park on or enter The Strand. Passes are sold online and at the official parking locations. Concert passes and VIP packages are sold on the official rally site.

Getting from our house to the rally

1. Ride or drive about 13 miles (around 20 minutes) down Highway 87 to the Port Bolivar ferry landing.
2. Take the free TxDOT ferry. The crossing is about 18–20 minutes, and the ferry runs 24 hours a day.
3. You come off at the Galveston landing on Ferry Road, a short ride from The Strand and Pier 21.

A big event weekend means a busy ferry. Check live wait times on Houston TranStar before you head out, and give yourself a cushion. Our ferry guide covers the details, including the no-ferry route through High Island.

Why stay on Bolivar for rally weekend

• Room for the group: 4 bedrooms and 2 baths, sleeping up to 14. Split it between a few couples or a riding club and the math gets friendly fast.
• Parking: a private driveway that fits at least 2 vehicles.
• Hot tub under the covered patio. After a full day on the bike, you'll want it.
• A real kitchen, a waffle bar for slow mornings, and a grill and tiki bar for when you get back.
• Quiet nights: the rally stays on the island, and you come back to the beach.
• The beach is a 4-minute walk if anyone wants a sunrise before kickstands up.

Rally weekend tips

• Book early. Places to stay fill up fast on rally weekend, on the island and around it.
• Ride over early in the day, before the ferry line builds.
• Pick a designated rider or driver for the trip back. Ferry lines and night roads are no place to push it.
• Pack layers. Early-November evenings on the water can turn cool.
• Staying a few extra days? See things to do in Crystal Beach.

Make it a long weekend

The rally runs Thursday through Sunday, so plenty of groups come in Wednesday night or stay through Monday. On the quiet days, ride the ferry just for the view, take the bikes up Highway 87 toward High Island, or do nothing at all on the deck. The Big Store is just around the corner for groceries and supplies, and the beach is right there when you need to reset.

Book direct and save

Same house, same live calendar. Booking direct skips the platform service fees, and you deal with the owner instead of a support queue. Check the rally dates in the calendar below and grab them before someone else does.