Best route to Michigan City?

A few friends and I are planning on heading out to Michigan City, IN on Friday afternoon.  None of us have ever led a ride out that direction.. Can anyone offer any suggested routes/advice for the ride?  We hope to leave Chicago around 2ish in order to make it there by dusk.

 

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by JeffB on August 21, 2013 at 8:00am

use the Tour de Shore route: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=206659279600321314647.0004b751...

You can shave miles off by skipping some of the trails and taking the Dunes Hwy (US12), but the shoulders can get pretty narrow in some spots and traffic is occasionally heavy.  Its doable though.

I'd suggest an earlier start too

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 21, 2013 at 8:11am

You guys must be really fast riders to leave at 2 and get there by dusk!

Here is a fairly recent thread that might help:  http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/does-anyone-have-a-safe-ro...

Permalink Reply by Jared on August 21, 2013 at 8:19am

Last time I rode to Michigan city I left a lot earlier than 2 and didn't get there until dusk. 

Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi said:

You guys must be really fast riders to leave at 2 and get there by dusk!

Here is a fairly recent thread that might help:  http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/does-anyone-have-a-safe-ro...

Permalink Reply by JeffB on August 21, 2013 at 8:23am

Using the trail system, its close to 65 miles from downtown.  So you're looking at 6-7 hours at least (assuming a moderate pace and time for rest stops), plus add time for route confusion since none of you have done it before.  Some of the connections between trails can be a little confusing. 

If you start at 2pm, you'll be finishing after dark probably, and that last stretch will be on US12.

Permalink Reply by Maggie Holly on August 21, 2013 at 9:24am

Thank you all for the links and maps!  I think we will have to shatter our high hopes for leaving Friday and plan for an early Saturday ride instead. 

Permalink Reply by Maggie Holly on August 21, 2013 at 10:38am

We have camp site reserved just for the weekend so we will be coming back on Sunday.  If you want to push up your ride a day though, let me know! We would love some additional companions

Permalink Reply by Larry Mysz on August 21, 2013 at 11:31am

Here is another thought that shaves a few miles off trail riding, has a nice (to me) transition from Erie-Lackawanna Trail to the Prairie Duneland Trail and completely avoids riding the 2 lane parts Rte 12.

 

Use the Tour De Shore route suggested by JeffB to get to the Erie Lackawanna Trail.  Then, try this to get from the Erie Lackawanna to the Oak Savannah Trail and on to Chesterton.  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2935106

 

Does anyone else ever check out the 1950's era Lockheed F-94 Starfire collecting weeds along the Oak Savannah trail just west of Hobart? http://goo.gl/maps/8d77e

 

Consider something like this from Chesterton to Mich City.http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2837881

My wife and especially enjoy the ride along the Lake from Kemil Beach and thru Beverly Shores and generally hang out on one of the Nat'l Lake Shore beaches for a while.

 

Permalink Reply by bobweiser on August 22, 2013 at 5:54am

@Sergei just led a ride there recently, Shoreline Hunter. there's maps and discussion there. i agree with @Bruce, the section that's 2 lanes with no shoulders isn't exactly bike-friendly. it's rideable (we rode it), but i wouldn't do it at dusk.

have fun and be safe!

Permalink Reply by JeffB on August 22, 2013 at 9:31am

Yeah, I noticed it from the trail through the bushes.  I stopped and took some pictures.  I'll try to find them

Larry Mysz said:

Does anyone else ever check out the 1950's era Lockheed F-94 Starfire collecting weeds along the Oak Savannah trail just west of Hobart? http://goo.gl/maps/8d77e

 

 

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on September 1, 2014 at 6:04am

Just got back from my ride to New Buffalo, MI, using this route.

I left at 7:30 yesterday morning; the trails through Indiana were great until the Calumet Trail (the trail that takes you almost to Michigan City), which was washed out. I was trying to walk my bike in the weeds until a woman passed me riding through the (deep-looking!) water so I followed her lead and had no problems with stability, but it was such slow-going that I ditched that awfulness and got on the Dunes Highway. Which, as others have noted, is not the worst ride in the world. The shoulder could be wider and the cars go fast but it isn't terrible.

Spent the night in Michigan City and had pizza at Albano's Villa. Delicious!

It took less than an hour this morning from Michigan City to New Buffalo, MI, where I caught the Amtrak home. (I believe the 10:24am train--Eastern Time, note--is the only train of the day that allows bikes?) Recommend David's Delicatessen for breakfast in New Buffalo. Riding east from Michigan City you can get some really nice views of the water if you take "Lake Shore Drive" instead of the Dunes Highway.

All in all a fun trip, and a pretty easy/accessible "overnight" bike trip. For those in good biking shape, the 75 miles to NB is obviously doable in a day. I am out of shape and thus was feeling it after 50 and glad to be done for the night at mile 65. :)

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