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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!
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!
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).
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!
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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