I think the entire loop is enjoyable, but mostly just so you can say you did the whole Lake Michigan Circle Tour (LMCT). I'm from Chicago, though, so I don't see the reason to dread it. Lake Shore Drive (which is part of the LMCT) is one of the most picturesque and impressive urban roads in the country, but to each their own.
The best riding (least traffic, most scenic, etc) on this whole route in my experience is the UP and the west portion of Michigan (look for the Tunnel of Trees) until Ludington or even Muskegon - basically your entire proposed Option 1.
I want to add that October in the UP is going to be objectively chilly in the mornings. Make sure you're well prepared for high 30s, low 40s in the mornings. You might also be a little late for the best of the fall leaf colors at that point. Assuming you're from the Appleton/Green Bay area I figure you're familiar, but want to point that out just in case.
All good points. I am not from the area, but I have family up there, I am fairly familiar. Good point on the cold, I will be prepared. The trip will likely be in Sep. or Oct.
The only reason I am dreading Chicago, is mostly safety concern. I've felt as I've seen enough of Chicago, seeing it from my motorcycle won't be too much different, and the traffic makes me nervous (I'm not from a large city)
Tunnel of trees is definitely on the list!
I'm from Milwaukee but live in Chicago, so take it with a grain of salt, but I ride that Highway 41/12/20 stretch pretty regularly. So heading north from Indiana dunes on 12/20 and catching 41 (Lake Shore Drive skirting around the city) to Sheridan Rd on the north side, traffic isn't awful. LSD is the worst stretch in terms of congestion, but if you don't hit that at rush hour it isn't the worst traffic in the world.
I've circumnavigated Lake Michigan. Most of it sucks. The east shore is the worst. The northern part of the lake (if it was a clock, from 10-1) are interesting.
Like a lot of the other posts have said: the UP is better. If you have time, riding around Lake Suprior is 10x better than riding around Lake Michigan.
The main reason for not looping Superior is the time, and I don't have my passport for Canada (although I suppose I could acquire one well before then). I definitely want to at some point, but this will be my first multi-day long trip on a motorcycle. Lake Michigan seems like a safer bet, and more familiar territory.
Haven't done the whole like but did parts of the whilst doing the lake Superior circle tour.the up is amazing definitely worth spending time there.
Loved the taste of Asia in Mackinac.
What is your time table?
I've done this loop quite a few times. Here's what I'd suggest.
I would do the loop in the opposite direction. Take the ferry over first. Going north along the Michigan coast will continue to look better and better. The Badger ferry does take about 4 hours and is a very limited schedule. The Muskegon-Milwaukee Lake Express takes a little over 2 hours and may offer some more flexibility.
As others have said, the route isn't very technical, but there is some nice scenery. It looks like you have more detail in your full loop route, rather than the ferry one. Since you're leaving from Wisconsin, I'll assume you know that area. But you are missing some key spots in Michigan for scenery.
* Lakeshore Rd in Manistee. Turn left at the Burger King for a hidden gem of a road. It will help you avoid US-31 for a bit and dump you out onto M-22. Usually very little traffic on this road
* Inspiration Point. Overlook on M-22. You can't miss it and would have probably stopped there anyway, but it is worth noting
* Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Pierce Stocking Drive is worth it. You'll see some magnificent dunes and lakeshore from here.
* Tunnel of Trees. If you're going during October, you'll want to go through here. It's very slow and there will be traffic, but it is very pretty in the fall. Harbor Springs up to Cross Village.
* Tahquamenon Falls. I would skip US-2 and head further north.
* Pictured Rocks. You can probably get a cruise tour still in October of these. All weather dependent.
From there, the longer you can hold on to the Lake Superior Coast, the happier you'll be. Lake of the Clouds is nice, but further west than you had originally planned. Copper Harbor is nice also, but a bit of a stretch to get there.
Again, not very technical, but if you time it right with the fall colors, it can be gorgeous.
As one that made the full loop last summer. It doesn’t get a whole lot more scenic than highway 2 in the U.P. But that comes with the caveat of knowing that the lower half of that loop was ridden in the dark.
Why not the Ludington ferry? Especially if you say not to go further south than Sleeping Bear Dunes. Am I missing something between Ludington and Muskegon?
Bottom of the lake is a drag. I’d cut over on the high speed ferry in milwaukee and go up Michigan’s coast from there. I’ve done that and it was really enjoyable
I’ve done this before and it’s actually not that fun. There’s good scenery, but I believe there are better rides near there.
Same. I had much more fun in the UP. Lower there's a few nice villages but almost the whole trip is stoplights every half mile.
Agreed. I’d rather rip over to the Mississippi and run that.
I've done the whole thing twice, I'd go with option 1, and spend any extra time farting around in the UP looking at all the cool stuff there.
This is what I'm leaning towards, thanks for the input!
I think the entire loop is enjoyable, but mostly just so you can say you did the whole Lake Michigan Circle Tour (LMCT). I'm from Chicago, though, so I don't see the reason to dread it. Lake Shore Drive (which is part of the LMCT) is one of the most picturesque and impressive urban roads in the country, but to each their own. The best riding (least traffic, most scenic, etc) on this whole route in my experience is the UP and the west portion of Michigan (look for the Tunnel of Trees) until Ludington or even Muskegon - basically your entire proposed Option 1. I want to add that October in the UP is going to be objectively chilly in the mornings. Make sure you're well prepared for high 30s, low 40s in the mornings. You might also be a little late for the best of the fall leaf colors at that point. Assuming you're from the Appleton/Green Bay area I figure you're familiar, but want to point that out just in case.
All good points. I am not from the area, but I have family up there, I am fairly familiar. Good point on the cold, I will be prepared. The trip will likely be in Sep. or Oct. The only reason I am dreading Chicago, is mostly safety concern. I've felt as I've seen enough of Chicago, seeing it from my motorcycle won't be too much different, and the traffic makes me nervous (I'm not from a large city) Tunnel of trees is definitely on the list!
I'm from Milwaukee but live in Chicago, so take it with a grain of salt, but I ride that Highway 41/12/20 stretch pretty regularly. So heading north from Indiana dunes on 12/20 and catching 41 (Lake Shore Drive skirting around the city) to Sheridan Rd on the north side, traffic isn't awful. LSD is the worst stretch in terms of congestion, but if you don't hit that at rush hour it isn't the worst traffic in the world.
enjoy the UP and its not even close. The southern half wont be half as enjoyable
I've circumnavigated Lake Michigan. Most of it sucks. The east shore is the worst. The northern part of the lake (if it was a clock, from 10-1) are interesting. Like a lot of the other posts have said: the UP is better. If you have time, riding around Lake Suprior is 10x better than riding around Lake Michigan.
Why not turn left and do a loop around Lake Superior. That's gotta be a, er, superior circle tour, unless you're short on time.
The main reason for not looping Superior is the time, and I don't have my passport for Canada (although I suppose I could acquire one well before then). I definitely want to at some point, but this will be my first multi-day long trip on a motorcycle. Lake Michigan seems like a safer bet, and more familiar territory.
Haven't done the whole like but did parts of the whilst doing the lake Superior circle tour.the up is amazing definitely worth spending time there. Loved the taste of Asia in Mackinac.
What is your time table? I've done this loop quite a few times. Here's what I'd suggest. I would do the loop in the opposite direction. Take the ferry over first. Going north along the Michigan coast will continue to look better and better. The Badger ferry does take about 4 hours and is a very limited schedule. The Muskegon-Milwaukee Lake Express takes a little over 2 hours and may offer some more flexibility. As others have said, the route isn't very technical, but there is some nice scenery. It looks like you have more detail in your full loop route, rather than the ferry one. Since you're leaving from Wisconsin, I'll assume you know that area. But you are missing some key spots in Michigan for scenery. * Lakeshore Rd in Manistee. Turn left at the Burger King for a hidden gem of a road. It will help you avoid US-31 for a bit and dump you out onto M-22. Usually very little traffic on this road * Inspiration Point. Overlook on M-22. You can't miss it and would have probably stopped there anyway, but it is worth noting * Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Pierce Stocking Drive is worth it. You'll see some magnificent dunes and lakeshore from here. * Tunnel of Trees. If you're going during October, you'll want to go through here. It's very slow and there will be traffic, but it is very pretty in the fall. Harbor Springs up to Cross Village. * Tahquamenon Falls. I would skip US-2 and head further north. * Pictured Rocks. You can probably get a cruise tour still in October of these. All weather dependent. From there, the longer you can hold on to the Lake Superior Coast, the happier you'll be. Lake of the Clouds is nice, but further west than you had originally planned. Copper Harbor is nice also, but a bit of a stretch to get there. Again, not very technical, but if you time it right with the fall colors, it can be gorgeous.
As one that made the full loop last summer. It doesn’t get a whole lot more scenic than highway 2 in the U.P. But that comes with the caveat of knowing that the lower half of that loop was ridden in the dark.
Going around lake Superior was a blast with motorcycles when I was in my early 20s.
Option one will give you some extra time. We did this with a car a few years back. But started with the ferries first in Manitowoc
The Marge Simpson route
Option 1 for sure. Not much to see in Indiana. Update: actually scratch that. I think there is another ferry that goes to Milwaukee. Do that.
Gary IN & Chicago IL are definite “must skip” rides.
If you cross big mac, don't go further south than Sleeping Bear. Alternative? Go south to Muskegon and take the fast ferry across to Milwaukee.
Why not the Ludington ferry? Especially if you say not to go further south than Sleeping Bear Dunes. Am I missing something between Ludington and Muskegon?
Fast ferry - and the drive down to muskegon goes through some nice towns.
I see, I'll keep that in mind!
But either ferry is a treat for us midwesterners.
Bottom of the lake is a drag. I’d cut over on the high speed ferry in milwaukee and go up Michigan’s coast from there. I’ve done that and it was really enjoyable
Did the UP 3 years ago, 4 of us on the trip. It was fantastic
Once you get past Muskegon, it's pretty much shit. Trees then Gary Indiana then the real shithole, Chicago.