Chicago to Green Bay

Here's my preliminary research on the Green Bay, WI route - at least 200 miles:

The route to Green Bay looks well documented and relatively safe - but I will want to tweak it a bit. I don't like anything on the Wisconsin state bike map unless the road is bright green or "best conditions for cycling". I also like local roads with no connections to highways or major urban routes or areas. Trails all the way to Oostburg in Sheboygan and then it's county roads the rest of the way.


We know the route to Milwaukee well, so we'll just follow the lakefront on the Oak Leaf to Ozaukee County....
http://www.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/User/milbtf/milbm_north_2009f...


Ozaukee Interurban Trail:
http://www.interurbantrail.us/BikeMaps/TrailMaps.pdf


Sheboygan Bike Maps:
Follow the highlighted areas - really well done according to the state maps -
http://wibikeroutes.net/County%20Maps/Sheboygan.gif

Sheboygan County Map (page 6)
http://www.co.sheboygan.wi.us/county_depts/planner/Non-Motorized_Pr...


Manitowoc bike maps:
This guy has it together - nicely done
http://wibikeroutes.net/County%20Maps/Manitowoc.gif

Head west at Manitowoc to County Road T.


Brown County bike maps:
Again, follow the highlights
http://wibikeroutes.net/County%20Maps/Brown.gif

Cut west from County Road T onto County Road V and roll into Green Bay.


Only way home from Green Bay is to crate the bike onto Greyhound. Base fare is $26 to Milwaukee and then one would get on the Amtrak Hiawatha ($22) or maybe the Megabus (not sure about the bike in a box deal).

The first night camping would clearly be Cliffside in Caledonia.


The second night would most likely be Kohler Andrae State Park south of Sheboygan.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/ka/


If we choose to camp a third night that would be Two Rivers north of Manitowoc:
http://www.seagullmarina.com/

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on June 16, 2009 at 11:04am
When are you planning on going on this trip?
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 16, 2009 at 12:46pm
Next May, hopefully. Feel free to plug it into a Google Earth "kml" file and actually go to Green Bay before my wheels even hit the pavement. Strong chance we'll do it since we've got two experienced touring people already.

I'm not going without a GPS. I'll put the trails in as well - the less time we're lost the more time we're hitting the sights, restaurants, billiards and beer.
Permalink Reply by Albert Tuskenis on June 16, 2014 at 1:17pm

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences on riding from Chicago to the Green Bay area? I will be riding to Shawano, WI, about 40 miles west of Green Bay. I'm familiar with the route to Milwaukee but not as certain beyond that, especially after the Ozaukee Interurban Trail part.

 

I will most likely take Metra UPN to Kenosha, then to Milwaukee for the first day, and continue on the Interurban Trail on the second day, tentatively ending in Manitowoc. Then I'll ride from Manitowoc to Shawano on the third day.

 

I've been looking at the Wisconisn Bike Maps and Wisconsin Bike Routes web site. I've seen the route to Green Bay posted a few years ago by Matt M. It goes west before Manitowoc, so it's somewhat different from the route I'm thinking of taking.

 

I'll be staying in hotels rather than camping.

 

I'd appreciate any input or ideas!

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 16, 2014 at 1:55pm

The western route to Lake Winnebago heads past a lot of farms, so if you decide to take it bring plenty of water.  It's really hilly and pretty boring....but a very pleasant and quiet ride.  I'd really like to know about the coastal route though. Have a good time!

Permalink Reply by Albert Tuskenis on July 26, 2014 at 1:40pm

I did this ride a few weeks ago. I started in Tinley Park where I live to downtown Chicago, then took Metra to Kenosha and rode to Brown Deer (north suburb of Milwaukee) for the first day. Second day was Brown Deer to Manitowoc, first on the Interurban Trail until it ends before Sheboygan then along Lake Michigan on Lake Shore to Manitowoc - scenic, easy riding. Third day I rode west-northwest to Green Bay following bike-friendly county roads as indicated on the Wisconsin bike map and then the Fox River Trail into Green Bay. Finished by taking the Mountain Bay State Trail to Shawano, which was my destination to visit family who live there. Returned to Chicago via Greyhound bus (didn't bring the bike with me).

 

Nice ride overall - scenic, with safe rding, excellent road conditions. I did make the mistake of riding too far per day - this was my first "tour" so that was an important lesson learned. If I do this trip again, I would take four or even five days to get to Green Bay and would try to camp instead of staying in motels (I passed a nice-looking camp site along the Lake near Sheboygan). 

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on July 26, 2014 at 2:06pm

AWESOME! Glad I could help 4 years after our latest Green Bay tour.  It's too bad we have to stay up to date with new routes, unless they're new trails! 

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on July 27, 2014 at 3:20am

Did you take Menasha road between Maintowoc and the trail to Green Bay?  There's a campground just North of Racine that would be easier than trying to ride up to Milwaukee on day one.  Day two could be Racine to Manitowoc and the final day could run to Green Bay.  Not sure where's there's camping around Manitowoc, though.

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