Lake Michigan Circle Tour | Travel Wisconsin 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. Stop in Petoskeys downtown, which overlooks Lake Michigan and offers terrific shopping, then continue on to Mackinaw City. Have fun on the road! Shopping in Saugatuck, swimming in Lake Michigan all along the way, seeing Dorr County, WI, Lambeau Field and New Buffalo for the first time. Circle Tour of Lake Michigan: What to see and do on a scenic drive Art lovers will adore Pentwater, which hosts arts and crafts fairs all summer long. Lake Michigan Circle Tour by motorcycle from Chicago this We 8 years ago Save Hello. From there, its on to Green Bay, home of the Packers and historic Lambeau Field. One day, roast marshmallows at a remote campsite . Old Mans Graveyard Road read the sign. A Late Season Lake Michigan Circle Tour | Motorcycle Cruiser This Lake Michigan circle itinerary can be easily extended by spending a bit more time in each destination. Many, many more old, wealthy white folks in this corner of the state. 5) Grand Traverse Winery in the Old Mission Peninsula. Just a raw bike marketed at people who love to ride. Taken mid-trip, these two are out of sync but make a perfect starting point. More than 1,000 miles long, the Lake Michigan Circle Tour would take about 14 hours without stops to complete. Waterfall & Scenic Lookouts ; Nor'Wester; Ride the Giant; Social. You can get around best without a car, and parking is really expensive. We knew it too. Along with the primary Circle Tour route, several marked Lake Michigan Circle Tour Loops have been posted using white-on-brown signs. At Manitowoc, the circle tour leaves I-43 at Exit 149 and continues into downtown via US-151. The Upper Peninsula let us out alive only because I asked nicely. A historic town with plenty to see and do including several historic LIGHTHOUSES, excellent fishing nooks and the Midwests top rated State Park. The first is to complete it all at once. These loops may follow state highways or utilize city streets and county roads running closer to the shoreline. I love the city, but its probably not the best place to visit on this driving tour. Great tip. From St. Josephs North Pier Light in southwestern Michigan all the way up to McGulpin Point Lighthouse at the Straits of Mackinac.the western coast of Michigan is home to about 35 lighthouses. I had to admit, my dad gear perfectly matched my dad bike, and his matched his. I loved the info. The route continues south on US-41 through Menominee and enters Wisconsin at Marinette. The current Apache Trail links Apache Junction at the edge of the Greater Phoenix . Upper Peninsula Travel Itineraries - Circle Michigan And hey, we even got a nice picture of us together on the ferry ride home. There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, so spend your afternoon doing whatever sounds the most fun. Weather was in our favor on day three. Can also advise re: U.P. Your email address will not be published. lake michigan circle tour - Motorcycle route | RouteYou lake michigan circle tour Motorcycle route United States Cook lake michigan circle tour RouteYou Public Account 979 mi 12349 ft 26:15 Medium View on interactive map Route information 1102 views | Public Description by the author circle around lake michigan Navigate on smartphone 7 Motorcycle Road Trips for Fall | Travel Wisconsin 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! From picturesque beaches to historic landmarks, Read More , Fathers Day is Sunday, June 18th! Do you have a map of this tour? Next up is Milwaukee. Your email address will not be published. Evolution Of A Two-Stroke Beast, Pucker Up: Unexpected Changes In Road Surface, Track Day At COTA, Circuit Of The Americas. Fall is an excellent time to visit this National Parkyoull still be able to take in its magnificence, but without all the crowds. The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) is excited to announce the release of the 2023 Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour. Ride Lake Superior Motorcycle Tour | Ride Lake Superior Chicago. The shoreline of the Upper Peninsula is a glorious piece of . Ludington, located in Central Michigan, is known as one of the best campgrounds on Lake Michigan. Or maybe it was indifference. The Great Lakes Tour: A Circle Road Trip Itinerary Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. 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. There are several camping options in the area, including Duck Creek RV Resort, which is across the street from Michigans Adventure. In northern metropolitan Milwaukee, the LMCT joins I-43/STH-32/STH-57 heading northerly into Ozaukee Co. At Grafton, the tour departs I-43 to remain on STH-32 and continues through Port Washington. Continue the tour by heading north out of LUDINGTON along US-31 and into the Victorian Port of Manistee. There are several opinions as to the best time of the year to take the Circle Tour, as well as which direction to travel; thru Michigan first and back around through Wisconsin or clockwise heading along the lakes west coast first. The south loop kicks off in Manitowoc. Road Trip Itinerary: A Trip to All the Great Lakes - Fodors Travel Guide Long before marine radios, lighthouses were the only means to safely navigate the harbors, many of which were rocky. 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. Just Announced: Comedian Lewis Black at the Kalamazoo State Theatre, Legendary award-winning comedian Lewis Black makes his triumphant return to the Kalamazoo State Theatre on Friday, November 10, 2023, as part of hisOff The Railstour. Nick felt it was more a dentist on vacation look. Unlimited stops, edit, share, find recommended places of interest and campgrounds, manage budgets, print or export directions and more. Grand Algoma Tour; Deer Trail; St. Joseph Island; Thunder Bay. & Tm Off, Get the best new gear, dreamy cabins, and epic adventure photography delivered to your inbox each week with Field Mag newsletters. quintessential, must-do American road trips, Things to do at Indiana Dunes National Park, Things to do on Wisconsin's eastern coast, Things to know before your Lake Michigan circle trip, Chicago Summer Activities: The 21 Best Things to Eat, See, and Do, Winter in Chicago: The Best Things to Eat, See, and Do, Dune Climb: uphill sand climbs and hiking. Lake Michigan Circle Tour - No Reservations - Gregg Eldred On the north side of Port Washington, the tour rejoins I-43 and contines northerly via I-43/STH-32 toward Sheboygan. Thanks. 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. The other? 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. Although not quite as scenic as Michigans side of the lake, youll be sure to soak in some beautiful views along the way regardless. Tour the area waterfalls before crossing into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Cherries, lighthouses and winding shoreline roads are all part of a 4-day Circle Tour. Youve earned it after all that driving! Let me just say, Lake Michigan is absolutely beautiful and the beaches and clear water made for some great swimming! Its a great trip, so beautiful! Routes. From soaking up the summer sun to hitting the trails after a fresh snowfall, Wisconsin has no shortage of activities for every season. Though very pretty in the spring and summer seasons, the fall season is when you really must take this ride along the Lake Michigan shoreline. You can now navigate. 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. Many are dog and kid-friendly and also serve food. Therefore, the new de facto route for the circle tour continues northerly past Holland via the US-31 bypass. Plus, you'll get the Trendy Girl's Guide to Chicago PDF, completely free! Follow US- 95 N and US-60 to AZ-71 N in Maricopa County. Now toss in a few (read: many) logging trucks and cut visibility to a dozen feet with incredibly dense fog and youre looking at exactly what we spent another hour plus riding in. Look to ride my motorcycle around Lake Michigan this week, leaving (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? It was now mid-October, and we had just four free days. From here, you must must must take the ferry to famous Mackinac Island. What most miss (traveling by car) is the heighten sense of appreciation that only can be felt by touring this region on a motorcycle. The Dunes Highway continues on to Michigan City (which is actually in Indiana), then into the Great Lakes State. Don't want to see this ad anymore? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hi Niki! Today, youll do some sightseeing and finish off strong with some hearty Chicagoan food. Enter to win a giveaway for a free night's stay at Hotel Walloon! Hmm maybe both. As the name implies, the route is a circle and weaves through four states Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and, of course, Wisconsin. https://www.wmta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Lighthouse-Map-for-Web-2018.pdf. My personal favorites are the twin piers and lights found in South Haven. JavaScript is required for this feature, but it is either disabled or not supported by your browser. One day, roast marshmallows at a remote campsite and the next, toast to new and old friends at an iconic big-city brewery. Touristy, sure, but I adore any place where no cars are allowed (heres my travel guide to the island). State of Wisconsin Historical Markers: MatthewC65. Before leaving Door County, stop in Sturgeon Bay, a ship-building hub, and visit must-see attractions, like theDoor County Maritime Museum,Door Peninsula Wineryand Cave Point County Park. A weekend and holiday playground for Milwaukee and Chicago residents, youll find quaint shops, wineries, restaurants, pretty campgrounds and more on this peninsula. Youre in wine country now sampling some locally-produced bottles is a must today! Note: Hotels on Mackinac Island are notoriously expensive. Alternatively, you may use, Baymont by Wyndham Bridgeport/Frankenmuth. Because Nick is a fellow to follow if its adventure you want, and one to avoid at all costs if its not. Break it into two separate tripsthe north loop and the south loop. Lake Michigan Circle Tour - Michigan Highways The work impacts commuters on US-12. Simply leave your camper or RV on the mainland and head over for the day or even overnight. This site uses cookies to provide you with the best onsite experience. Motorcycle Cruiser may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The Wisconsin leg of the tour starts at the Illinois border and moves north on Wisconsin Highway 32 alongside picturesque Lake Michigan. Fifteen minutes north of Pentwater, youll be in Ludington, where you may catch the ferry back to Manitowoc. The Lake Michigan Circle tour delivers just that and with a good mix of great food and lazy winding roads its the perfect weekend ride. It still suckedmy foot took the bulk of the 550+ lbsbut at least the damning sand offered a soft landing. Fresh pavement and empty roads were the perfect excuse to do so. Chicago in particular is a really family-friendly city. Why not drive around Lake Michigan? About Lewis Black: Today, Lewis Read More , Memorial Day is just around the corner, and what better way to kick off the summer than by exploring the beautiful state of Michigan? All efforts to plan were met with obnoxious retorts akin to, just grab a backpack, get a bike, and stop worrying. So I did. Summer and fall are both wonderful times to take this trip since many of the activities are outdoors. The eastern coast of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin boasts about the same number, including a wonderful cluster in Door County. Certainly one of times that the motorcyclists saying .If I have to explain you wouldnt understand comes to mind. A ferry between Manitowoc, WI and Ludington, MI make it easy to bisect the huge body of water. At Escanaba, the circle tour continues southwesterly via M-35 along the Green Bay shoreline to Menominee. Dont forget to make a stop at the famousMackinac Island, where no cars are allowed. Lake Superior Circle Tour; Algoma. Your email address will not be published. The 7 Best Motorcycle Rides in Arizona - BikeWeek.com Take theLittle Traverse Wheelway, which connects Petoskey to Charlevoix andHarbor Springs. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Nick approached with caution and a shit-eating grin. Eight miles. But we found lunch at some funny named town next to another funny named town, between two more towns with funny names. Spend a day or a week exploring this lakeside road. For getting to Tortilla Flat from Yuma, follow W 19 th St and S 4 th Ave to the US- 95N/W 16 th St. 4 Days & 1,000 Miles Touring Lake Michigan on a Motorcycle Drive 2 hours from Traverse City over to Mackinaw City. Nick said yes, and very little else. It is just before the Shell station up on a hill. Lake Michigan Circle Tour (Maps, Photos And More) ~ TRO Please wait, the navigation is being prepared. Marie back to my home near St. Paul. Any recommendations for best roads / sights along way? We were wet. Youre not likely walking away from a spill at 50, so who cares what happens at double that? Credit: Ken Lund ( CC BY-SA 2.0) Difficulty: Intermediate (Endurance ride) Length: 203 miles, 4 hours total. Thanks! Continue throughPetoskey, one of the most beautiful regions in the state. 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. The link above is from a Google search. We weret likely to hit the storm for an hour or so, so we tossed the newly acquired gear in our dry bag packs and put rubber to road. Happy travels , Your email address will not be published. With 142 miles to go before the designated lunch spot, we posed for a few last second photos and Adventure Dad and Cool Guy set off. Please wait, your print is being prepared. It was really rainy too. The route through the U.P. If you already have such an account, then log in now. It sucked. Most Lake Michigan lighthouses were built in the 1800s when ship traffic was at its heaviestespecially during the lumbering era. US Highway 2 runs between the Hiawatha National Forest and the Sault Ste. 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. Youll find the Lake Michigan Circle Tour route below. Motorcycle Touring Around Lake Michigan | Motorcycle Cruiser Motorcycle Rides & Roads Northern Lake Michigan Circle Tour Ride Rating: 0 Vote it Up Vote it Down Ride Stats: Distance: 477.84 miles / 769.0 km Ride Time: 1 week (5-7 days) Approximate Fuel Costs: $36.32 States Visited: Wisconsin, Michigan Submitted by: GrayFox pro Turn by Turn Directions Download for GPS (GPX file) Download KML file where you can tour a restored 1844 military outpost and one of the first lighthouses on Lake Superior. And dont miss one of the famous fish boils, a Door County specialty! Spend a day or a week exploring this lakeside road. At Scottville, the circle tour turns northerly again to follow US-31 toward Manistee, although a locally-designated Lake Michigan Circle TourLoop Route formerly continued east on US-10 into downtown, then northerly via Old US-31 back to US-31 and the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. Shifted to sixth gear and hit the ton. From Grand Haven, drive 55 minutes north to Petite Pointe Au Sable Lighthouse (Little Sable Point Lighthouse) in Mears, Michigan. 4 Days 1,000 Miles and All the Blueberries you can eat! We'll be riding our Harley touring bikes on this trip. The Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour is a free publication available from the West Michigan Tourist Association to accompany the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. Lower Michigans fall foliage, warmer temps and coastal sunsets welcomed us with open arms. Wisconsin offers the best of Lake Michigans beauty and commercial appeal. Wisconsin is well known for many things; among them cheese, the Green Bay Packers and great roads for riding! Experience the highlights of a 4 state tour exploring the shoreline beach towns & backroads most which lead to an amazing view of Lake Michigan. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. If youre going now, check out some of the many craft breweries along the way Greenbush (Sawyer, MI), New Holland (Holland, MI), Founders (Grand Rapids, MI), Right Brain, Workshop, & North Peak (Traverse City, MI), Shorts (Bellaire, MI), 3 Floyds (Munster, IN) and tour the not-so-small Miller brewery in Milwaukee! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Looking for some incredible yet underrated parks to visit this summer? Yeah it feels just as silly now as it did then. 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. Mackinac Island was founded in 1780 and occasionally, it seems like time has stopped completely. Michigan Road Trip on M-25: Riding A Ribbon Around the Thumb - Thumbwind After passing through Traverse City, you will continue north along the Traverse Bay and on toCharlevoix. In fact, no matter where you are in Wisconsin, this happens every single Friday.
