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Permalink Reply by Anne B. on June 27, 2013 at 6:06am

Agree about Illinois State Beach, here's a couple really useful write-ups on doing that (not by me). Not sure if there is enough to do there to justify staying 2 nights...? Also be careful because I think only a few Metra trains stop in Zion a day- many more stop in Waukegan which is about 7 miles south. 

http://votewithyourfeetchicago.blogspot.com/2008/06/car-free-exodus...

http://crimsoncatstudios.blogspot.com/2011/06/bikamping.html

Lake Geneva via Metra is another option and you could camp at Chain O'Lakes: 

http://reallyboring.net/?p=28

Indiana Dunes, although it sounds as though there is no train bailout option for this destination: http://votewithyourfeetchicago.blogspot.com/search?q=indiana+dunes

Le Tour de Shore goes down this way and whatever route we took was awesome and about 80% on bike trails! I definitely felt like there'd be enough down this way to see/do to make it worthwhile to stay for a couple nights. The main campsite has been all booked up for every summer weekend I've looked at though. 

Lastly, I don't know who made this (someone on CL) but it's a great map and gives you lots of other Metra- assisted options: 

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msi...

This is my first summer getting into touring and it's been a lot of fun and I learned so much on my first ride so it's good to try things out like you're describing. 

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on June 27, 2013 at 6:10am

Also agree on Illinois State Beach.  It's a great one!  If you aren't aware too, there is a bike camping group on here called pitching a tent

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

Illinois State Beach in Zion is a good overnight. The ride is fairly flat and mostly on trails. As an added bonus, most of the route parallels the UP North Line so if something goes wrong you have an easy out. With the Metra safety net it makes a great first tour or gear shakedown ride.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 27, 2013 at 6:12am

re Illinois State Beach, is the drive-in theatre still operating near there? Could be fun on bikes? Anyone tried it?

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Permalink Reply by Anne B. on June 27, 2013 at 6:13am

I passed it recently and it appeared to be operational! Oh actually yeah I'm sure it is because when I went by it was a double feature of WWZ and Man of Steel. I've been dying to go ever since! 

http://www.yelp.com/biz/keno-outdoor-theatre-pleasant-pr

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Permalink Reply by Renee Patten on June 27, 2013 at 6:37am

Wow, this is perfect! Thank you all!

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on June 27, 2013 at 9:43am

Illinois Beach sounds good but my only experience has been up to Cliffside Park near Racine.  It's roughly 65 miles measured from Willmette so maybe 75 from my place around Loyola and about the same from Andersonville.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Valent on June 28, 2013 at 4:00am

The Keno drive in is in Kenosha WI, a bit north, and, you'd need good lights for the ride back. But, it's still in business ! http://www.kenodrivein.net/

Tony Adams 7 mi (dirtbag hipstr) said:

re Illinois State Beach, is the drive-in theatre still operating near there? Could be fun on bikes? Anyone tried it?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Buchtel on July 1, 2013 at 5:13am

Hi, Renee. Our bite sized bike camping ride, GITy UP!, is July 20-21. It's perfect for folks trying bike camping for the first time, or for grizzled vets who don't have a whole week/month/months to do a proper bike tour. Great place to try out gear--the route is Illinois Prairie Path & Fox River Trail triangle, with camping in Delnore Woods in St. Charles. We have quarry swimming, kayaking, breweries, telescopes for star gazing, s'mores. No Metra bike bans that weekend, and we carry any extra gear you want to bring in the truck. More here: http://trailsforillinois.org/gityup.

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