lake michigan circle tour motorcycle route

At any point along the tour, if youd like to stay the night and spend more time at a city or harbor town, there are plenty of lake resorts,campsites,cabinsandhotelsfor your choosing. I highly recommend Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat Park, the wineries on Traverse Bay, and the trip back in time on Mackinaw Island! Nick said yes, and very little else. There are not many motorcycle tours that take riders through a 4-state journey and are accompanied by almost endless views of one of the bigger lakes in America. It was now mid-October, and we had just four free days. Answer 1 of 12: Hello, I am planning a Lake Superior circle tour to be taken in mid-July for myself, my husband, and my in-laws (66 y/o). Today, youll leave the Lower Peninsula and cross over the Mackinac Bridge to Michigans Upper Peninsula. Lake Michigan circle road trip itinerary Day 1: Indiana Dunes, Holland, & Grand Haven From Chicago, drive 45 minutes over the state line to the Indiana Dunes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. In fact, no matter where you are in Wisconsin, this happens every single Friday. The trip through Michigan and into Wisconsin includes the ride across the Mackinac Bridge, often referred to as the Mighty Mac. As the name implies, the route is a circle and weaves through four states Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and, of course, Wisconsin. If I had to pick one stop to get rid of, it would be the Leelenau Peninsula theres not as much to do and the kids would probably find the wineries/breweries boring. Fresh pavement and empty roads were the perfect excuse to do so. Our rain gear held strong and confidence grew. Catch the sunset at the Grand Haven State Park Lighthouse, then head over to the Musical Fountain in town (it plays nightly at dusk). where you can tour a restored 1844 military outpost and one of the first lighthouses on Lake Superior. Most will budget a 4-day long weekend to allow plenty of time to explore and stop at the almost endless stream of small towns and scenic over looks. So, I called up an old pal in Chicago and asked if he was up for a little motorcycle ride. Field Mag's benevolent overlord, Graham Hiemstra is a writer & photographer with over a decade experience covering style, design, and outdoor lifestyle. Mackinac Island is the best place in the Midwest to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! Scenic Routes; Motorcycle Rides; Events & Festivals; Circle Michigan Foundation. Youve earned it after all that driving! Four or five cups of coffee help too. But I didn't, so we didn't. Eight miles. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Get West Michigan Travel News, Events and Specials delivered to your inbox. There are a couple of primitive campgrounds that are only $10 a night both right on Lake Michigan! On the east side of South Haven, where BL I-196 ends at I-196/US-31 Exit 20, the route continues north into Allegan Co on I-196/US-31. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. A few more fun, winding roads too. Also in downtown Manitowoc, a rather unique Lake Michigan Circle Tour spur route begins: travelling straight across the lake via Lake Michigan Carferrys S.S. Badger carferry! Therefore, the new de facto route for the circle tour continues northerly past Holland via the US-31 bypass. Start planning as far in advance as possible six months if you're planning to camp over weekends in Michigan beach parks, 11 months in Wisconsin parks. Motorcycle route United States Cook lake michigan circle tour. Explore Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, the five local lighthouses (I have a thing for lighthouses! Note: Hotels on Mackinac Island are notoriously expensive. Youll find beaches, forests, dunes, and plenty of local breweries and wineries during your 24-hour drive. This will be the first in a series concerning an excellent ride (mostly) around Lake Michigan. You can print off your own map by downloading it or send a request and they will mail one to you. I love the city, but its probably not the best place to visit on this driving tour. On the north side of Manitowoc, the tour continues northerly via STH-42 through the communities of Two Rivers, Kewaunee and Algoma into Door Co and the Door Peninsula. Back on US-31, the circle tour continues northerly toward Ludington, leaving US-31 twice: once to follow the route of BUS US-31 through the downtowns of Whitehall and Montague in northern Muskegon Co; and again to follow the route of BUS US-31 through downtown Pentwater in Oceana Co. At the end of the US-31 freeway near Ludington, the Lake Michigan Circle Tourturns east following US-10/US-31 toward Scottville. Our original post about the Lake Michigan Circle Tour is one of the first long distance motorcycle trips we covered back in 2014. Lower Michigans fall foliage, warmer temps and coastal sunsets welcomed us with open arms. Route: Buckle up for your nearly five-hour ride to what many call The North Coast (tacking on an hour for Eastern Standard Time), following I-90 E all the way. JavaScript is required for this feature, but it is either disabled or not supported by your browser. The 7 Best Motorcycle Rides in Arizona - BikeWeek.com Your scenic trip along M-22 will bring you intoLeelanau Countyand the small village ofEmpire, headquarters for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,named the most beautiful place in the United States by the viewers of Good Morning America. There are several camping options in the area, including Duck Creek RV Resort, which is across the street from Michigans Adventure. Use our Scenic Drive Finder and Road Trip Planner to easily create custom road trips. At any rate, we survived, literally limping into St. Ignace with puddles of water squishing out our boots with each step. Nick being Nick, owned zero rain gear until eight miles prior. Now I know what youre thinkingand the answer is yes, hitting triple digit speeds in a hailstorm is super stupid. Old Mans Graveyard Road read the sign. The Lake Michigan Circle Tour enters Wisconsin from Illinois via STH-32 and proceeds northerly through the downtowns of Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee, all the while following STH-32 religiously. In Wisconsin, the mainline of the Lake Michigan Circle Tourfollows signed state highway routes in its entirety, although in some places the nearest state highway to the Lake Michigan may be several miles away. Many lighthouse keepers inhabited these structures, or lived nearby and walked the dangerous catwalks out to the light. 2) Northern Latitudes Distillery in Leland Thats all we covered before having to pull over under an overpass and toss on our rain gear. Their historical significance, as well as their various shapes and colors, makes a lighthouse run a fascinating destination. The link above is from a Google search. (Side note: It was right about here when I realized by bike in fact came equipped with heated gripsa feature that would have been REALLY nice to know of just 20 hours earlier.). Depending on what theyre interested in, Id recommend checking out Lincoln Park Zoo, the Childrens Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, and the Museum of Science and Industry! By the time we returned to Chicago via a Lake Michigan ferry (we opted to skip Indiana, cus duh), the tally of how many times we each cheated death was well beyond double digits. If weather permits, stretch your legs along the sandy shoreline, or hike the West Beach Dune Succession Trail and boardwalk. At Green Bay, the circle tour transitions to the final seven miles of I-43 northwesterly to that highways northern terminus at US-41/US-141. Just a raw bike marketed at people who love to ride. Lake Michigan Circle Route, on Ride with GPS. A ferry between Manitowoc, WI and Ludington, MI make it easy to bisect the huge body of water. Lake Michigan Circle Itinerary: A 7-Day Road Trip Through 4 States, Planning your Lake Michigan circle road trip, Day 1: Indiana Dunes, Holland, & Grand Haven, Day 3: Traverse City & the Leelanau Peninsula, If you have more time on your Lake Michigan circle tour, The Ultimate 3-Week South Island New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary, USA Bucket List Destinations: 150+ of the Best Places to Visit in All 50 States, 19 Stunning New Zealand Lakes That Will Blow Your Mind. plenty of places to park your RV for a night or extended stay. Please enable JavaScript or upgrade your browser. In downtown Manitowoc, the route continues northerly via US-10 to STH-42. http://www.historyillinois.org/HistoricalMarkers.aspx Break it into two separate tripsthe north loop and the south loop. The Indiana Dunes National Park takes up 15 miles of shoreline around Lake Michigan and features a unique ecosystem with lots of native birds and plants. Head south down I-43 Sheboygan and into Milwaukee. This pair welcomes charter fishing and leisure boats, guiding them into the busy harbor. Upgrade now. You can get around best without a car, and parking is really expensive. Like, really bad. South Read More . The other? Its daily cruise takes about 4 hours shore to shore and effectively separates the Circle Tour into North and South sections. Photo: Elyse Clark. I had to admit, my dad gear perfectly matched my dad bike, and his matched his. As a Chicago area motorcycle rider we are always looking for new routes & tours that will give us the most bang for the buckor as we like to say; the most smiles for the miles. It makes you look funny, and even though literally no oneNO ONEcares what you look like when youre hurtling down a remote highway at a mile-a-minute in pissing rain, its still funny. At the jct of US-31 & I-96, the Lake Michigan Circle Tourleaves US-31 and follows BUS US-31 through downtown Muskegon. Now he was head to toe in size way-too-big camo. Wisconsin is well known for many things; among them cheese, the Green Bay Packers and great roads for riding! Motorcycle Type : Cruiser. A 45-minute drive from Inspiration Point will bring you the main attraction of the day, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Lake Michigan Circle Tour | Travel Wisconsin I spend half an hour to read this websites articles or reviews all the time along with a cup of coffee , Thanks so very much for your great website. Holland (you can probably guess by the name) is a former Dutch settlement in Michigan. For those riders living near Chicago, few tours offer the variety and unsurpassed scenic riding opportunities as the Circle Lake Tour around Lake Michigan. Is that available? How to make the most of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour Try a classic IPA or a seasonal offering atThird Space Brewingwest of downtown, or head to the Deer District forGood City Brewing Co. Before jumping on Interstate Highway 43 to continue the tour, grab lunch and shop for goods at the up-and-coming Deer District across from the Fiserv Forum where the Milwaukee Bucks play. Made it as far as Mackinaw Island, but not the upper peninsula, It was the hottest two weeks MI had experienced all summer. Waterfall & Scenic Lookouts ; Nor'Wester; Ride the Giant; Social. A Tale of Two Lakes: Riding the Great Lakes Circle Tour Or maybe it was indifference. I am also going to suggest a side trip to Beaver Island, Michigan which is the largest inhabited island in Lake Michigan, with a year round population. We knew it too. An hastily conceived and ill-advised motorcycle trip pits two old friends against frigid fall weather to see just what the Midwest is really made of. Its proximity to Canada, heavily forested hills, and lack of decent cell service make it feel like youre at the ends of the earth. Yeah, sure, in hindsight its easy to find a few holes in that logic, but when screaming T. Swift into your helmet is the only thing keeping your mind off how absolutely horrible the current conditions areand even that's not cutting itdancing with death is only a step away. Nothing is off-limits on the circle tour. There are two ways to tackle this 900-mile, 14.5-hour drive. Next we arrive in Door County, the Cape Cod of the Midwest, for a classic Wisconsin fish . Any recommendations for best roads / sights along way? Town . Pere Marquette beach there is indeed beautiful. ), and explore many great restaurants. Next up is Milwaukee. The Lake Michigan Circle Tour (LMCT) enters Illinois at Winthrop Harbor in northeastern Lake County and continues south through Zion, Waukegan, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Winnetka and Evanston. Lake Michigan Circle Tour - Michigan Highways 1) Horizons bookstore in Traverse City- one of Americas great bookstores Windy City Harley-Davidson Authorized Rentals. I loved the info. Try this feature for free with a RouteYou Premium trial subscription. Just a topple. After exploring Holland, drive thirty minutes to Grand Haven. This site uses cookies to provide you with the best onsite experience. It may sound macabre, but well take these memories to our grave, whether we wind up there tomorrow or fifty years from now. Tunnel Of Trees, Mackinac Bridge & The U.P. Nick approached with caution and a shit-eating grin. Running down sand dunes, exploring Mackinac Island, and camping/biking/hiking around Door Peninsula would be my must-dos with kids. These tours were originally conceived as an aid for travelers who wished to stick close to the shorelines of the lakes in their journeys. Itinerary: Leg 1 - Chicago to Green bay Leg 2 - Green Bay to St. Ignace Leg 3 - Century ride around Mackinac Island Leg 4 - 24+hour ride home Map sources: https://www.adventurecycling.o. In any case, put the Circle Tour of Lake Michigan on your list of must do rides and plan to do it on Harley-Davidson. Diabolic Technologic: Do Rider Aids Actually Help? Read our, Everyone Can Experience the Unforgettable in Wisconsin, 21 Lively Outdoor Summer Music Festivals in Wisconsin, 10 Family Festivals You Can't Miss This Summer, 5 Tasty Cideries Making Their Name in Wisconsin, Star Wars: The Force Awakens Film with Orchestra. I dont recommend trying to do this in less than 5 days, however, as that would be too much driving at once to be enjoyable. Tomahawk Wisconsin A tour through Northern Wisconsin. While the Lake Michigan Circle Tourremains on I-196/US-31 at Saugatuck/Douglas, a locally-designated Lake Michigan Circle TourHarbor Tour loop route is signed concurrently with A-2/Blue Star Hwy between Exits 36 and 41. Kayaking and canoeing are also great ways to explore the lake. If you already have such an account, then log in now. Kick off your trip in Ludington, Michigan, heading north toward Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and Traverse City. All rights reserved. All efforts to plan were met with obnoxious retorts akin to, just grab a backpack, get a bike, and stop worrying. So I did. Try this on a Harley.. so much more fun. The trip spans 4 different Midwestern states and dozens of different cities. The Lake Michigan Circle is one of the quintessential, must-do American road trips. As a lifelong Mighigander, I have a few must see places that I visit whenever I vacation on the Lake Michigan shoreline: I did this trip late last Sept in my T@b camper for 2-1/2 weeks. Youll find the Lake Michigan Circle Tour route below. & Tm Off, Get the best new gear, dreamy cabins, and epic adventure photography delivered to your inbox each week with Field Mag newsletters. Taste some fudge, bike around the island, and shop in the quaint downtown area. This Lake Michigan circle itinerary can be easily extended by spending a bit more time in each destination. Easy peasy. The Lake Michigan Circle Tourthen turns northerly via US-41/US-141 in Howard. Whatever the Upper Peninsula had in store for us, Ive faced worse. Its a trip you will appreciate for a long time, especially if you are lucky enough to ride during the Fall and catch the change of seasons and the Fall colors. When you hit Kenosha, not far from the border, we suggest visiting the harbor towns two scenic lighthouses Southport Light Station Museum featuring an 1800s lighthouse andNorth Pier Lighthouse, which houses an art studio. State of Wisconsin Historical Markers: Lake Michigan Circle Route - Ride with GPS It was named the Apache Trail after the Native American Indians who originally used this trail to migrate through the Superstition Mountains for over 1,000 years. Break it into two separate tripsthe north loop and the south loop. Hey Lauren! The other? Shopping in Saugatuck, swimming in Lake Michigan all along the way, seeing Dorr County, WI, Lambeau Field and New Buffalo for the first time. This 29-mile route from Hayward to Glidden on State Hwy. https://www.wmta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Lighthouse-Map-for-Web-2018.pdf. Copyright 2023, West Michigan Tourist Association | Email: travel@wmta.org. 2023 Edition of Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour Now 4 h 45 m. 304 mi. With its rich. This guide will help you map the perfect itinerary with suggested food, lodging, hikes, waterfalls, cruises, lighthouses, and more outdoor activities. Cool Guy, in his Mossy Oak outfitapparently the camo pattern of choice round those partsreceived less attention as at least 10% of the house had nearly identical outfits on. (least kid-friendly activities). Here's a nine-day, eight-night Circle Tour of Lake Michigan that takes in the highlights. Your email address will not be published. (File/WWMT) COLDWATER, Mich. The Michigan Department of Transportation is expected to start a $2.4 million project May 1, just west of downtown Coldwater . From Sleeping Bear Dunes, drive 45 minutes to Traverse City. Certainly one of times that the motorcyclists saying .If I have to explain you wouldnt understand comes to mind. Marie/Tahquemanon Falls/Whitefish. The Jamesport Brewing Company, downtown on James Street, is the perfect spot for a quick bite to eat and relax in an old Victorian style pub. If I take the shortest, quickest . I certainly wouldnt call myself one, nor Nick, but man, I sure left US 2 with my tail between my legs. The route continues northerly via I-43 from Sheboygan to Manitowoc. Experienced travelers or even those looking to add an additional travel element to the journey will enjoy the Ferry ride across the lake and will take advantage of the S.S. Badger Shuttle. At Exit 23, the route exits I-94 and continues northerly into downtown St Joseph via BL I-94. I liked your comment around the Lake Michigan tour that you and your husband did, that is some thing that me and my wife would like to do this coming week, do you have a map or places that you may recommend to stop by. Jamie Elvidge, Photography by Jamie Elvidge, Top Long-Distance Touring Motorcycles of 2022, Harley-Davidson Teases All-New 2023 CVO Street Glide, Harley-Davidson Screamin Eagle 135 Crate Engine Preview, 2023 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide 121 Revealed, King of the Baggers Indian Challenger Ride Review, Buell Motorcycles Modern FXR-Inspired Super Cruiser, 2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special Anniversary Review, 2023 Indian Motorcycle Sport Chief First Look Preview, First Ride: Ducatis Diavel V4 Defies Categorization, Harley-Davidson Freewheeler First Look Preview. Copyright 2023 Motorcycle Cruiser. While there is no wrong answer, few will argue that the September-October season is the most inspiring time to make the trip; providing a glimpse of the changing colors of Fall and the promise of almost perfect riding weather. Meander through the communities of Whitehall, New Era, Shelby, and Hart, as well as Silver Lake Sand Dunes.

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