Home >  Plan a trip >  Best Trips >  Cheap trips >  Sightseeing by bike

Other stories in "Cheap trips"

• Mom-and-pop motels of Grand Marais
  Cheapskates love 'em, but so do traditionalists and anyone who just needs a room.
• Cheap summer getaways
  No money, no problem: Here are 30 great vacations that cost $100 or less.
• Cheap spring getaways
  Here are 15 spots where a fun weekend costs $100 or less.
• Table-hopping in bluff country
  On a culinary adventure to Decorah, we tighten our belts, then let them out.
• Playground in the woods
  At Deep Portage, adults take a tip from the kids.
• Bargains for beginners
  Free or cut-rate ski and snowboard packages make it easy to learn.
• A roof in the woods
  In state parks, visitors love their camper cabins.
• Cornucopia of coupons
  Sign up for online discounts, and you'll rarely have to pay full price.
• Cheap winter getaways
  Here are 15 places where a fun weekend costs $100 or less.
• Cheap Chicago
  Here are 10 tips to make a trip to the Windy City easy to afford.
• At home in a hostel
  Feeling adventurous? The dorm-style lodgings are open to everyone, and you can't beat the price.
• Cheap fall getaways
  Here are 20 places to enjoy autumn colors without going into the red.
• Braking for jelly beans
  With the siren call of free samples, factories reel in visitors.
• Staying with Airbnb
  Like meeting people? Like a deal? An online service makes travelers guests in private homes.
• Camping out west
  Not far from the Twin Cities, county parks provide easy access to beach life.
• Swapping houses
  For budget travelers, keys to a borrowed home open a lot of doors.
• Cheap stays
  In summer, college residence halls are a boon to budget travelers.
• A cabin in Iowa
  Spectacular scenery lies at guests’ feet in a resort-like state park.
• Follow the leader?
  On a guided trip, drop a bundle or a bit — the choice is yours.
• 8 great travel tips
  Planning a summer vacation? Here are a few good things to know.
• Ponies and putters
  In the Minnesota River Valley, a state park makes golfing and horseback riding easy to afford.
• Listening for a deal
  If you belong to public radio or another arts organization, check your benefits before traveling.
• Happy deals
  For rock-bottom hotel rates, learn how to use Priceline.

Sightseeing by bike

Join a multi-day tour and see the best of the Upper Midwest on a bicycle.

As people who like to ride bikes know, an organized bicycle tour is one of the great deals of vacation travel.

Why pay big bucks to an "adventure'' outfitter when you can join a local tour for very little? You could pay Timberline Adventures of Denver $1,800 for its tour of Missouri's Katy Trail — or you could pay Missouri state parks $250 for the same thing, albeit with accommodations in tents, not hotels.

For anyone who's reasonably fit, bike tours are the best possible way to see the countryside, and sponsors do everything for participants except pedal and set up tents.

On rides that benefit good causes, you're almost guaranteed that fellow riders will be people worth knowing.

One of the best is Minnesota's TRAM; you have to raise at least $300 for the MS Society, but riding will cost you about $20 a day.

To get the lowest rates, sign up early; most tours increase fees as the tour approaches. Some tours limit riders and sell out.

Fees include a camping space, hot showers, snacks, gear shuttle and on-road support. Some rides offer a meal plan. Usually, children's fees are discounted.

Here are some of the best bicycle tours in 2012.

For one-day and weekend trips, see Tours on two wheels. 

The National Bicycle Tour Directors Association lists many other tours.

For more, see Bicycling in Minnesota, Bicycling in Wisconsin and other Bicycling stories.

Katy Trail Ride in Missouri, June 1-4. The crushed-limestone Katy Trail is the longest developed rail trail in the nation, 225 miles from Clinton to St. Charles (near St. Louis), roughly along the Missouri River.

Cost includes breakfast and dinner daily. Limited to 300 riders.

GITAP, Grand Illinois Trail and Parks ride, June 10-15. This ride, sponsored by the League of Illinois Bicyclists, is a northwest Illinois loop starting at Sauk Valley Community College between Dixon and Sterling and following the Grand Illinois Trail and the Great River Trail between the Quad Cities and Mississippi Palisades State Park.

Cyclists can ride 235 to 505 miles. Ridership is limited to 160; reserve a place early.

Habitat 500 in Minnesota, July 15-21. This 500-mile tour benefits Habitat for Humanity. In 2012, it makes a loop from the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park to Hastings, Montgomery, Hutchinson, New Ulm and Mayer.

Michigander, July 14-20: The Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance sponsors this ride with two-day, six-day and seven-day options that use the North Central and North East state trails.

The six-day route is a loop that starts in Mackinaw City and goes through Onaway, Alpena, Atlanta, Gaylord and Indian River.

MUP, Michigan's Upper Peninsula Tour, July 15-21. The League of Michigan Bicyclists sponsors this 334-mile loop tour of the eastern U.P. From St. Ignace, cyclists head to De Tour Village, Sault Ste. Marie, Paradise and Newberry, with two rest days for sightseeing.

Riders are limited to 150; reserve a place early.

RAGBRAI, The Register's Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, July 22-28: This popular ride crosses Iowa, starting at the Missouri River and ending at the Mississippi, is in its 40th year.

This year, the route starts on the Missouri in Sioux Center and passes Cedar Rapids and Anamosa, Grant Wood country, before hitting the Mississippi at Clinton.

Passes for the 8,500 weeklong riders and 1,500 daily riders are chosen by lottery; deadline is Feb. 15 for paper entries and April 1 for on-line entries. Results are posted May 1.

MS TRAM, The Ride Across Minnesota, July 22-27: This family-friendly 300-mile tour benefits the Minnesota chapter of the MS Society.

Shoreline West Bicycle Tour in west Michigan, Aug. 5-11: This ride, sponsored by the League of Michigan Bicyclists, celebrates its 26th year with a  coastline ride from Montague to Mackinaw City.

Riders can take the 388-mile, seven-day route to Mackinaw City, which includes a 41-mile day riding in Old Mission Peninsula, or the 162-mile, three-day route from Traverse City to Mackinac City. Riders are limited to 500.

Bicycling Around Minnesota, Aug. 23-26: In 2012, this tour makes a loop through the lakes country of Minnesota, from Park Rapids to Walker, Pequot Lakes and Wadena.

All meals are provided. It's limited to 275 riders, and spaces go fast.

Mickelson Trail Trek in South Dakota, Sept. 14-16: This crushed-limestone trail in South Dakota's Black Hills stretches 109 miles between Deadwood and Edgemont, over more than 100 converted railroad bridges and through four rock tunnels.

Last updated on February 3, 2012