How Many Miles Around Lake Michigan?

[alleydude]

Anyone have a rought guess? I'm planning a ride from Traverse City to Traverse City. Anyone circumnavigated Lake Michigan?

[Markcuda]

www.MapQuest.com

I would guess a 1,000 at least.

[alleydude]

Originally Posted by Markcuda

www.MapQuest.com

Haha! I get it, I really do. Sure, type in TC as the starting point and TC as the ending point, it'll figure the most indirect route, right...?

I used the string on the map method, and I came up with about 800 miles. With a little detour outside of Chicago, and some extra miles in the U.P., We could make a fine Iron Butt of it, ya think...?

[HiWay]

Ken, The IBA has a ride called the "Lake Michigan 1000". Check out http://www.ironbutt.com/ridecerts/ge...t.cfm?DocID=25

[Buzz]

We, the Bride & I, had 925ish miles when we went with Mark & his wife around da lake. Although we didn't ride the shore line in Michigan. We took I75, hwy32 to hwy131, I'm sure you'd pick up those extra 75 miles riding along the shore of da lake in Michigan.

As a word of warning. Try to come through Chicago/Gary either pretty early or late. We came through there on a Sunday afternoon (3pm ish) and I couldn't believe the traffic. The bike went into heat management during 2 of the 3 backups. I ended getting of the interstate just north of Chicago. Because I didn't want to see what the toll lines were going to be like.

I think this weekend would be absolutely the best to go around too. The trees here are about 50%. Have fun.....

Buzz

[Markcuda]

Let me know when you do this and the wife and I can come up twords Chicago and meet you for a hand shake
Hell, we could even ride with you for a day I will ride any where and any time

[eprenzlow]

We did Milwaukee to Muskegon via the U.P. and it was 641 miles from my place (just north of Milwaukee) to the Lake Express ferry terminal in Muskegon.

No $hitty Illinois trafffic or Chi-Town cagers, and 2-1/2 hours to cross the lake.

Anybody who has MS Map Point 2004 and wants the route we planned e-mail me and I'll send you the file.

[Markcuda]

Ok Ken, I did some leg work for you
Map quest says it is 914 miles from your town to your town
But, to avoid Chicago,(Chicago traffic) you can add another 50 miles.

[berserker]

Don't be a Wuss. Go around Lake Superior.
I thought the ferry was a bit pricey. Over a hundred bucks to cross if I remember. But to skip Chicago, might be worth it.

[breeliz]

Shortest route is less than 1000. You have to swing wide to make 1000. I came up the west side to Rapid River and cut northwest on 41 to 28 near Marquette and then shot across the UP to 75 and down to Lansing then across to Battle Creek and then took 94 to Chicago. We measured it at 1,039. Iron Butt measured it at 1,016. They must have trimmed some of the leg out to 28 from 41 because we had no receipt for that deviation from the shortest way to 28.

[stonesrock]

I've done different parts of the tour, never all the way around in one trip (live between Milwaukee and Chicago) just portions on different trips in Wisconsin and Michigan. Chicago is the worst part of the f*cking trip, but I don't want to spend the coin to take a ferry either. I've been going around Chicago (out near Rockford), south, then head east. It's a bit more scenic (you can pick a lot more back roads then Chicaog toll roads) and enjoyable. If you're in a hurry, then go through Chicago, not much different than any other big city, just have the swivel on your head working overtime. I think next summer we're going to try Lake Michigan and Superior to swing around, should be a great ride.

Have a great ride!

[breeliz]

Originally Posted by stonesrock

I've done different parts of the tour, never all the way around in one trip (live between Milwaukee and Chicago) just portions on different trips in Wisconsin and Michigan. Chicago is the worst part of the f*cking trip, but I don't want to spend the coin to take a ferry either. I've been going around Chicago (out near Rockford), south, then head east. It's a bit more scenic (you can pick a lot more back roads then Chicaog toll roads) and enjoyable. If you're in a hurry, then go through Chicago, not much different than any other big city, just have the swivel on your head working overtime. I think next summer we're going to try Lake Michigan and Superior to swing around, should be a great ride.

Have a great ride!

If you're running the trip as an Iron Butt run, the worst parts are the UP because you lose time due to the many slow downs through towns and The Frank Borman Expressway between 65 and the State Line because it's a lunatic asylum.

[stonesrock]

Originally Posted by breeliz

If you're running the trip as an Iron Butt run, the worst parts are the UP because you lose time due to the many slow downs through towns and The Frank Borman Expressway between 65 and the State Line because it's a lunatic asylum.

yeah, if you're doing the Iron Butt, then Interstate as much as possible. At least you can get through Wisconsin side pretty fast by staying on 43 through Green Bay, then you start to slow down a little once heading to UP.

[breeliz]

Originally Posted by alleydude

Anyone have a rought guess? I'm planning a ride from Traverse City to Traverse City. Anyone circumnavigated Lake Michigan?

882 miles shortest. 909 miles quickest.

[DrumScum]

Anybody that rides through the U.P. should make a point to stop at Big Spring outside of Escanaba. The DNR has a self guided observation raft that you can float across the spring. You can see HUGE trout and many of the springs on the bottom bubbling up gravel. Truly a cool place.