Author Topic: Central-Southern IL/IN Week Long Trip Suggestions  (Read 5677 times)

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Offline Catahoula

Central-Southern IL/IN Week Long Trip Suggestions
« on: May 11, 2017, 10:20:52 am »
I'm looking for suggestions for a route easily and quickly accessible from central Illinois.  (IL, IN, eastern MO, northern KY)  I'm on the IN/IL state line near Terre Haute.  I'd like something that I can start within a 2-3 hour drive from home and would have 8 days available.  (St. Louis is ~3 hours west and Indy is ~2 hours east)  I'm an experienced touring cyclist and will be riding solo..I prefer camping over hotels and don't mind high mileage days.  An out and back or loop would be ideal so I could get back to my vehicle or pick up point.  A point to point route is ok as long as the drive to the end isn't too outrageous as my wife will have to pick me up.  I've considered a few options. 

1) Doing the Katy trail out and back. Starting point is about 2 1/2 hours from home.   Pros are no traffic, lots of camping available and plenty of places to stop.  Cons are riding close to 500 miles with no pavement, which is only a small issue to me.

2) Route 66, starting in the Bloomington, IL area and riding somewhere west of St. Louis.  I would have my wife drop me off at the start and pick me up at the end.  Pros are lots of history, restaurants and no lack of sights to see.  On the other hand, I've heard traffic and road conditions through Illinois are not optimal.  I also haven't looked much into camping options.

3) Riding through Brown County, IN.  Haven't looked into this much, but have spent some time there and it looks like it would have some great cycling opportunities. 

Thoughts and suggestions?

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: Central-Southern IL/IN Week Long Trip Suggestions
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2017, 02:15:31 pm »
Have you looked at the Underground Railroad and Northern Tier routes? Both appear to pass within that drive time south and north (respectively) of TH.

Offline Catahoula

Re: Central-Southern IL/IN Week Long Trip Suggestions
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2017, 03:39:32 pm »
Have you looked at the Underground Railroad and Northern Tier routes? Both appear to pass within that drive time south and north (respectively) of TH.

I haven't looked at those.  Thanks for the suggestion! 

Offline Iowagriz

Re: Central-Southern IL/IN Week Long Trip Suggestions
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2017, 03:42:30 pm »
Perhaps have your wife drive you to St Louis.  Then take Amtrak to a western point on the Katy trail.  Riding back towards home.  Adjust train trip to hit the length of your needed ride home.

Offline Catahoula

Re: Central-Southern IL/IN Week Long Trip Suggestions
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2017, 05:38:04 pm »
Perhaps have your wife drive you to St Louis.  Then take Amtrak to a western point on the Katy trail.  Riding back towards home.  Adjust train trip to hit the length of your needed ride home.

Thanks.  If I do the Katy, I'll probably just ride the full length in both directions.  We could spend the night in St. Louis at each end of the trip and enjoy a little bit of the city. 

Offline ggwbikemt

Re: Central-Southern IL/IN Week Long Trip Suggestions
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2017, 05:48:01 am »
There will be a total solar eclipse covering most of the Katy Trail on August 21, 2017. For details see www.eclipse2017.org