Originally Posted by
tarwheel
My wife and vacationed in northern Michigan a couple of years ago and I’ve been wanting to go back for a cycling trip. …
I’m curious about the typical weather in northern Michigan in September as well as the availability of campsites and lodging then
Originally Posted by
Doug64
Michigan is a great place to cycle. The state has 2500 miles of bike trails, and some nice quiet roads in the rural areas. It is pretty easy to "roll your own" tour. My wife and I did two tours there, and both where very good. The first was a little over 900 mile loop around the Lower Peninsula.
The second was a finish to a longer tour where we hit Michigan at the ferry terminal in Ludington, and rode across the state to Detroit. The people were friendly, the drivers courteous, and the rides were good experiences for us..
Hi @tarwheel,
Nice to see a post by you. You may recall we tried to meet up in North Carolina a couple of years ago on my visit there. I recall you retired after active cycle-commuting. And, nice write-up about Michigan cycling, @Doug64. I have posted on a couple of threads about cycling there, including to this recent one,“Suggestions for Fourth of July trip in Midwest.” .
Originally Posted by
alan s
…I’ll be in Indiana around the Fourth of July… Was thinking Michigan, but don’t know much about that area. Mackinac Island looks interesting for a day trip. I’d most likely ride for about a week, and would prefer to camp if possible. Also would prefer not driving much further west or too far north, since I ultimately need to drive back to the DC area
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
…FWIW, after decades I still have fond memories of my earliest cycle touring in my home state of Michigan. Tourism is, I believe Michigan’s second largest industry, and it’s largely a rural / forested state with a lengthy shoreline, an extensive road system, and numerous towns and facilities, including campgrounds, spaced at convenient cycling distances.
IMO, an excellent, though perhaps mundane getaway. Just sayin’…FWIW (even as a cross-country cyclist
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
A lot of my early touring was in the Metro Detroit / Ann Arbor area, still rural enough, on summer weekends (back in the 1970's), and we always found sites. "Up North" are the real tourist destinations, probably north of about Midland, MI, and North of Bad Axe on the Thumb, as I recall back then.)
Originally Posted by
jefnvk
You'd be surprised today, even the Detroit area campgrounds are getting overrun. I've gone overnight bike camping at Pinckney Rec Area, just west of Ann Arbor and a nice 30ish mile ride from home, even that on nicer non-holiday weekends can be hard to get a spot.
Last time I went, I pulled in to the sight of someone else setting up in my spot at 730, They figured it would be OK since no one was there yet and the rest of the campground was full
I know a few people that will spend a week in Holly, south of Flint as well.
But yeah, in general places like Petoskey and Mackinaw are harder to get into. Lots of locals have no problem staying close to home, but there aren't many coming to the Detroit area for camping.
BTW, I'll be in Michigan around the third week in September, in Metro Detroit for family / social events, and bringing my bike. 
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-03-18 at 07:03 AM.