Route 66 Road Trip
Bring the Family on a Biking Adventure
Make it a weekend to remember with a family bike outing in southwest Illinois. More than 150 miles of trails are waiting. Are you ready?
Day 1
Stop 1: Hop on a Bike
Want to experience the scenic beauty and fun of the famed Madison County Trails but don’t have a bicycle? Head to Covered Bridge Bike Rentals in Glen Carbon and take your pick from traditional pedal bikes or an e-bike.
Stop 2: Little Explorers
Visit the Edwardsville Children’s Museum by bike. Travel along the MCT Nature Trail to the intersection of the MCT Nickel Plate Trail to this interactive museum that’s a perfect play date for kids and parents.
Stop 3: History on the Trail
Travel along the MCT Nickel Plate Trail to the historic 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House and stop off for a step back in time. Tour the historic brick home, one of the first built in Edwardsville, and discover Edwardsville place in Illinois history.
Stop 4: Downtown Dining
Stay on the Nickel Plate Trail and head in to Downtown Edwardsville for great dining options. Take your pick of Cleveland Heath, Ed’s Delicatessen, Taqueria Z, Chava’s Mexican Restaurant, Sacred Grounds or Source Juicery just for a few options.
Stop 5: Natural Wonders
Just south of downtown, pick up the MCT Watershed Trail and journey to the Watershed Nature Center. Enjoy more than 40 acres of prairie, forest and wetland habitats.
Stop 6: Park Life
Explore the famed MCT Trails as you travel to Edwardsville’s Township Park. Take the Watershed Trail to the Goshen Trail and then hop back on the Nickel Plate Trail. Stop off at Edwardsville’s Township Park – a favorite among local and visitors.
Stop 7: Overnight Options
When it comes to overnight accommodations, Edwardsville has a variety of options. Choose from an eclectic boutique hotel or take your pick of national hotel options.
Day 2
Meet the Critters!
There’s more than a dozen colorful, adorable artistic critters to discover during a ride along the MCT Trails! Here are two different trail ride options where you can’t miss the critters and the fun. New friends await!
Trail Ride #1
Ride approximately 15 miles on this loop which includes the MCT Nature Trail/West and the MCT Nickel Plate Trail Loop. This look takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete including time to play!
Trail ride directions:
- MCT Nature Trail West (3.7 miles) to Sandy
- Continue on MCT Nature Trail to MCT Nickel Plate Trail (7.1 Miles) to Cole (at Heritage Trail Junction)
- Continue north on MCT Nickel Plate Trail to Library and Miner Park (Stop to play)
- Take MCT Nickel Plate Trail to Township Park (3.1 miles) (Stop to play)
- Continue north on MCT Nickel Plate Trail to Newt
- Turn left and go down hill, turning right onto MCT Nature Trail to return to starting point.
Critters you’ll meet: Newt the Cat, Cole the Canary and Sandy the Lizard.
Lunch Stop #1: Chow down in Glen Carbon at the Wooden Nickel Pub & Grill. Located on historic Main Street in Glen Carbon, this old town pub is a great place to enjoy fried pickles, burgers, pulled pork and more.
Trail Ride #2
Spend an afternoon riding along this 26.1 mile loop using the MCT Nature Trail/MCT Schoolhouse Trail and MCT Goshen Trail loop. This ride takes about 3 hours to complete but longer if you factor in breaks.
Trail ride directions:
- MCT Nature Trail West out of hotel to Horseshoe Junction
- Horseshoe Junction to MCT Schoolhouse Trail
- MCT Schoolhouse trail east to Troy Junction
- Troy Junction to MCT Goshen Trail
- MCT Goshen Trail north to MCT Nature Trail
- Turn left and go down hill, turning right onto MCT Nature Trail back to starting point.
Critters you’ll meet: Newt the Cat, Sandy the Lizard, Radish the Horse, Mary the Cardinal and Jarvis the Bear.
Dinner Stop #2: After your ride, take a break at Brick+Bramble in Edwardsville and enjoy upscale small plates, curated cocktails and great entrees including filets, rib eye steaks, lamb, sea bass and more
Travel Tips
Plan ahead for your bike rides and be sure to bring:
- Helmets for every rider in the family
- Bicycle lights in case you would rather ride to dinner
- Bring a blanket to enjoy the outdoors at local parks
- Bring bicycle locks
- Bring water bottles for every rider in the family
For more bike itinerary ideas, download cycling inspiration here.
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