Michigan Loop Tour

[Gypsea]

I'm planning a loop tour of Michigan starting in September 2026.  My route starts in Chicago, goes north then east to Plymouth near Detroit, then north again.  My biggest challenge so far, is routing from Plymouth to Alpena.  Anyone in that area have tips, routes, etc?  Thanks, all!

[John Nettles]

There is a lot of info you leave off like only paved, camping/hoteling it, how much traffic you are comfortable with, etc. Unfortunately though, I don't have a route to provide.  However, if I were researching one, I would first look at Michigan's Bike Resources website:  https://www.michigan.gov/en/mdot/Travel/safety/Road-users/Bicycling .

Then if I see one of their routes that I like, I would check out the heat map of RWGPS (may need to be a paid member) or Strava (https://www.strava.com/maps/global-heatmap?sport=Ride&style=dark&terrain=true&labels=true&poi=false&cPhotos=false&3d=false&gColor=hot&gOpacity=100#8.96/43.4651/-84.7963  ) to see if they are popular routes.  If you need a certain type of lodging, check that as you go because it doesn't really help how good the route is if there are no lodging or camping opportunities.

After that, I would confirm the traffic count was acceptable to me by looking at Michigan's traffic count map: https://mdot.public.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Mdot&mod=TCDS  and then if all that looked good, spot check the route on Google Streetview to ensure it stays good.

Sometimes, you will get halfway down the route and hit a dead-end so to speak and have to back up 10-20 miles to try to re-route.  This is where the heat maps come in handy. Keep plugging away at it until you are successful.

Tailwinds, John

[Gypsea]

Thanks, John. I've been checking some route information and I use Garmin connect and RWGPS for route checks.  Lodging - I'm mixing camping and hotels.  I don't want to stealth camp but have had good luck with churches, schools, and ballfields. Thanks for the link for the traffic count map.  Like most of us, I don't like heavy traffic or low/no shoulder but sometimes unavoidable.  I see some of my routes (using google streetview) are gravel roads which I'm usually OK with (except in Missouri where dogs and hills prevail). 

Wondering if anyone local to eastern michigan is familiar with the gravel roads?  One of my concerns is mud after heavy rain.

Thanks, all!

[ray b]

Spent some great miles over the years riding in Michigan.
You might connect with League of Michigan Bicyclists who have a long-running Sunrise Tour. A little financial support for that group might get you all the resources you need and then some.
https://lmb.org/ride-calendar/sunrise-2025/

(Is this the kind of information to which the new, digital ACA should provide links on their master mapping system?)