Important Notes

• A registration option not appearing on the registration form indicates that it has sold out
• To receive discounted member rates, log-in to your membership portal
  • Not sure if your membership is current? You can log on to check! (Any questions, email us at [email protected])

Rates:

Six-Day Tour, Sunday – Friday

• Higher Tier Hotel Option
  • Single Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $1,440 (Member rate: $1,405)
  • Double Occupancy Hotel Rooms:$1,050 per person (Member rate: $1,015 per person)
• Lower Tier Hotel Option
  • Single Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $1,225 (Member rate: $1,190)
  • Double Occupancy Hotel Rooms:$940 per person (Member rate: $905 per person)

Three-Day Tour Option (Sunday -Tuesday):

• Higher Tier Option
  • Single Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $765 (Member rate: $730)
  • Double Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $605 per person (Member rate: $570 per person)
• Lower Tier Option
  • Single Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $640 (Member rate: $605)
  • Double Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $540 per person (Member rate: $505 per person)

Three-Day Tour Option (Wednesday -Friday):

• Higher Tier Option
  • Single Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $735 (Member rate: $700)
  • Double Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $590 per person (Member rate: $555 per person)
• Lower Tier Option
  • Single Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $670 (Member rate: $635)
  • Double Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $555 per person (Member rate: $520 per person)

If you wish to have a double occupancy room, and do not have a roommate, you must register for the single occupancy option and indicate you desire us to help you find a roommate. If we are able to find a roommate for you – which happens maybe half the time – we will refund the incremental fee.

*Please note that our online registration system allows for credit card users to donate the amount of credit card processing fees to Ride Illinois. PayPal does not have an option to donate processing fees.

Questions? Email [email protected].

Please read our cancellation and refund policy below. Be sure to get trip insurance!

Registration is expected to open online November 1, 2024 or email us to request a PDF registration form.

The tour begins and ends in Rochelle, with free parking for the week and post-ride showers available on Friday. Overnight stops will be in Ottawa (two nights), DeKalb (one night) and Rockford (two nights).

On each of the four days when we move to a new town, we offer a basic route, plus a longer option. Ride at your own pace. Enjoy plenty of time each day to explore the small towns and attractions along the route and in our overnight host towns.

Two days will be layover days, during which you can explore sites and other local attractions, choose between the route options we provide, or just enjoy the days however you wish.

Preliminary Route Mileages (subject to change)

The entire route (roads and trails) is paved/hard-surfaced.

Day 1: Rochelle to Ottawa
Basic Route – 50.0 miles, +700 ft climbing
Long option – 76.7 miles, +1,541 ft climbing

Day 2:
Starved Rock – Lower Traffic Loop – 30.4 miles, +860 ft climbing
Starved Rock – River Loop – 28.0 miles, +799 ft climbing
Marseilles-Seneca-Morris Route – 58.3 miles, +1,148 ft climbing
Bike to Canoeing option – 18.3 miles, +499 ft climbing

Day 3: Ottawa to DeKalb
Basic Route – 50.7 miles, +857 ft climbing
Long Route – 74.0 miles, +1,223 ft climbing

Day 4: DeKalb to Rockford
Basic Route – 48.6 miles, +1,154 ft climbing
Long option – 66.1 miles, +1,606 ft climbing

Day 5:
Rockford Loop – 40.0 miles, +1,459 ft climbing

Day 6: Rockford to Rochelle
Basic Route – 46.8 miles, +1,330 ft climbing
Long option – 57.9 miles, +1,639 ft climbing

Navigation 

Since 2022, we have successfully switched our primary navigation method from paint-marks to RideWithGPS – supplemented with printed cue sheets and overall segment maps. Smartphone-based RideWithGPS provides audio instructions for navigation with the ability to add other cues about rest stops, points of interest, etc. Because it uses GPS signals, which are everywhere, it will work for you in places of poor cell phone coverage, too.

We will continue to help our riders make the switch to RideWithGPS, with steps including:

• Editing RideWithGPS’ default audio cues for better user-friendliness, and adding key info on services and sites along the route.
• Providing in our pre-ride Rider Info Letter tips on using RideWithGPS’ audio cues and maps effectively on your phone.
• Offering a directory of RideWithGPS practice routes for several sample routes throughout Illinois – and elsewhere on request – so you can get used to using this method before you get to GIBT.
• Asking riders who are already comfortable with RideWithGPS and are willing to have newbies ride with them to let us know, so we can give them a different-colored name tag on the back of their bike.
• Adjusting our printed cue sheets to be more user-friendly.

Sunday night
Higher tier: Ottawa Fairfield
Lower tier: Ottawa Super 8

Monday night
Higher tier: Ottawa Fairfield
Lower tier: Ottawa Super 8

Tuesday night
Higher tier: DeKalb Home2Suites
Lower tier: DeKalb Hampton Inn

Wednesday night
Higher tier: Rockford Radisson
Lower tier: Rockford Fairfield

Thursday night
Higher tier: Rockford Radisson
Lower tier: Rockford Fairfield

On Tuesday, an included dinner will be hosted for the six-day tour riders. Each of the other four dinners will be “on-your-own” dinners at nearby restaurants. All hotels will provide breakfast in the morning. We will have evening receptions for hotelers on some nights.

Bikes will be kept in hotel rooms. One 40-pound bag per registrant will be accepted. Please, no oversized luggage!

Each year, a few riders want to sign up for double occupancy without already having a roommate in mind. Please register for the single occupancy option and email us that you are interested in us helping you find a roommate. If we are able to find you a roommate, we will refund the difference in registration fees.

Contact [email protected] with any other questions regarding the hotel option.

The Grand Illinois Bike Tour is the only multi-day ride in Illinois that specifically raises money to support the goal of a more bike-friendly Illinois. Proceeds benefit Ride Illinois, a nonprofit advocacy organization working to make bicycling better in Illinois.

We encourage all participants to fundraise a minimum of $150 on top of the registration fee to better support the costs of the ride and help propel Ride Illinois’ mission to make Illinois better through biking.

The fundraising program is optional but is strongly encouraged. Riders can also make a donation in lieu of fundraising. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

Ride Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations supporting a rider are tax deductible. All donations from personal fundraising will be distributed to Ride Illinois and are nonrefundable.

Please review our revised 2025 Cancellation and Refund Policy – which applies for ALL situations including personal or family medical emergencies:  

1. At any time, for no cancellation fee, you may transfer your registration to someone else having the same lodging arrangement. Same thing, if there is someone on our waiting list able to take your spot (this is uncommon).
2. Between registration and March 31, the cancellation fee is the sum of $100 and any processing fees if you paid that way.
3. Between April 1 and April 30, the cancellation fee is the sum of $200 and any processing fees.
4. Between May 1 and June 6, the cancellation fee is the sum of $300 and any processing fees.
5. No refund June 7 or after.

Each year, many riders (>10%) have to cancel, usually due to their or loved ones’ medical conditions. We HIGHLY recommend that YOU get trip insurance! Third-party trip insurance is quite affordable for many medical and other unexpected situations leading to cancellation. Historically in almost every case, it cost less than the cancellation fee. Travelex is one provider option.

Finally, no refund will be given for:

• Participant’s late arrival
• If a participant chooses to leave the tour for any reason after the first day
• Food, lodging, side trips or other services for which a participant paid but did not use

Please note that the Grand Illinois Bike Tour is Ride Illinois’ largest annual fundraiser. The funds raised from the Grand Illinois Bike Tour helps us to continue our advocacy work to make Illinois a land of safe and enjoyable bicycling for all; and to promote bicycle access, education and safety.