Motorcycle Man • Rides & Rallies
Lone Star Rally 2026
Galveston traditions. Gulf Coast miles. Two great stops.
November 5–8, 2026 • Galveston, Texas
Come for the motorcycles, music and rally atmosphere. Stay a little longer for the rides.
Four days. One Texas tradition.
When Galveston Turns Up the Volume
There’s something about motorcycles and salt air that makes Galveston the perfect setting for a rally. Add historic streets, live music, custom bikes and riders from across the country, and you have a weekend worth circling on the calendar.
The Lone Star Rally returns November 5–8, 2026, bringing four days of motorcycle culture to the Texas Gulf Coast. Whether you’re a regular or planning your first visit, leave room for more than walking the vendor rows. Two wheels are a great excuse to explore beyond the rally.
This year, work two destinations into your plans: a mainland run to Murphy’s on Main in La Marque and a coastal ride to Sharkies on the Beach in Surfside.
The story behind the rally
From Humble Beginnings to a Texas Motorcycle Tradition
The Lone Star Rally’s roots stretch back to the early 2000s. A contemporary Houston Chronicle account describes its beginnings as a paid event near Richmond in 2002, drawing about 12,000 riders before moving to Galveston. Over the following decades, it grew into one of Texas’s signature motorcycle gatherings.
Galveston gives the rally a character all its own. Historic downtown buildings frame rows of motorcycles, while the Seawall adds an unmistakable Gulf Coast backdrop. Today, major rally activity centers around The Strand, Pier 21 and Beach Central Park, connecting the island’s historic district with its beachside atmosphere.
The appeal goes beyond the machines. It’s the friends you meet again each November, the conversations that start over a custom paint job and the shared understanding that getting there is part of the fun.
A Big Weekend by Any Measure
Organizers quoted by the Houston Chronicle during the 2025 Lone Star Rally reported an estimated attendance of 400,000–500,000 people. This is an organizer estimate, rather than a verified ticket count.
The newspaper described one of the strongest turnouts in recent years, helped by favorable weather. For riders planning the 2026 trip, the takeaway is simple: arrange your stay early and give yourself extra time to get around.
Take the long way back
Two Rides to Add to Your Rally Weekend
Make time for a change of scenery between the shows, music and vendor stops. These two outings give you a taste of the local biker scene and the open Gulf Coast. They are suggested self-guided rides, not official rally activities.
The mainland run
Murphy’s on Main
La Marque, Texas
A Local Stop with Plenty of Character
Sometimes a good rally ride doesn’t need to take all day. A run to Murphy’s on Main gives you a reason to cross the causeway, step away from the busiest rally streets and spend some time at a local biker hangout.
Located at 104 Main Street in La Marque, Murphy’s has the kind of atmosphere that fits a ride with friends. Pool tables, neon signs and walls filled with memorabilia set the scene for a relaxed stop and a few more riding stories.
Your Suggested Route
Leave Galveston via I-45 north across the causeway, then follow local directions into La Marque to Murphy’s on Main. Return to the island when you’re ready for more rally action.
Think of this as your shorter outing—a chance to put a few miles under the tires without committing most of the day. Allow extra time for causeway traffic and rally congestion.
Murphy’s on Main 104 Main Street, La Marque, TX
Find Murphy’s on MainThe coastal escape
Sharkies on the Beach
Surfside Beach, Texas
Open Skies and a Laid-Back Lunch Stop
If you want a longer break from the rally crowds, point the bike west and follow the coast toward Sharkies on the Beach Bar & Grill in Surfside Beach.
Your Suggested Route
Head west along Seawall Boulevard and continue onto FM 3005 through Galveston’s West End. Cross the San Luis Pass bridge, then follow Bluewater Highway toward Surfside Beach and Sharkies at 10 Surf Drive.
The scenery is the reason to take your time. Beach communities, stretches of open sky and coastal views give this ride a different feel from the packed streets around The Strand.
Make Lunch Part of the Ride
Sharkies makes a natural destination for a relaxed food stop before turning back toward Galveston. The casual beach-bar setting keeps the Gulf Coast theme going even after you’ve parked the bike.
Check the current menu and events on its website, gather your group and leave enough time to enjoy the ride home.
Make this your unhurried outing. Leave room for lunch, photo stops and the return trip while there’s still daylight. Watch for coastal crosswinds and sand near road edges and turnoffs.
Sharkies on the Beach Bar & Grill 10 Surf Drive, Surfside Beach, TX
Before you roll
Make the Most of Your Rally Weekend
- Reserve your stay early. Choose accommodations that work for both rally access and your planned rides.
- Check the official schedule. Plan outings around the music, shows and activities you want to catch.
- Confirm each stop’s hours. Check before heading out, especially when riding with a group.
- Pack layers. Be ready for changing temperatures and coastal wind.
- Keep riding and drinking separate. Save alcohol until the bikes are parked for the day.
Keep the miles coming
Come for the Rally.
Make Time for the Ride.
The Lone Star Rally brings the motorcycles, music and energy. The surrounding Gulf Coast gives you somewhere to ride when you’re ready to stretch the weekend beyond the event itself.
Make a short run to Murphy’s on Main, follow the coast to Sharkies, or fit both into your plans. Give yourself time to enjoy the roads and the people along them.
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Explore the Motorcycle Man Blawg for Texas ride inspiration, motorcycle culture and information for riders. From Hill Country curves to Gulf Coast weekends, there’s always another story waiting down the road.
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Look for the Motorcycle Man crew
Say Hello to Dean & Elissa!
Keep an eye out for Dean and Elissa throughout the Lone Star Rally—they’ll be out meeting riders and handing out Motorcycle Man swag!
One of the best parts of rally weekend is the people you meet along the way. If you spot these two, come introduce yourself, tell them where you rode in from and share a favorite road or a story from your trip.
Whether you’ve followed Motorcycle Man for years or you’re just getting to know us, we’d love for you to stop and say hello. Ask about the swag they’re handing out, grab a photo together and help us spread a little Motorcycle Man spirit around Galveston.
