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2026 Grand Illinois Bike Tour

Join Ride Illinois from June 7-12, 2026 for the 23rd annual Grand Illinois Bike Tour (GIBT) – the nonprofit organization’s largest annual fundraiser and one heck of a good time! Our 2026 route will explore Metro East area in SW Illinois – including scenic views along the mighty Mississippi River.

2026 GIBT will begin and end in Litchfield with overnights in pre-reserved hotels in O’Fallon (June 7), Edwardsville (June 8-9), and Alton (June 10-11).

We’ll roll out from Litchfield, make our way to O’Fallon (June7), spend two nights in Edwardsville (June 8-9), then two nights in Alton (June 10-11) before riding back to Litchfield.

Can’t join us for all six days? Three-day options for Sun-Tue and Wed-Fri will be available on a limited basis. Ride Illinois will also be offering a Day Ride option for the first time ever for those who to experience a bit of GIBT.

⇒⇒ Registration will open on November 1

Proceeds from 2026 GIBT support Ride Illinois – a grassroots, nonprofit organization with a mission to make Illinois better through biking.

What to Expect During GIBT

This fully supported bike tour includes:

  • Overnight stays at hotels arranged by Ride Illinois. 
  • Four travel day routes with varying distances.
  • RideWithGPS audio cues and printed cue sheets for navigation.
  • SAG (pickup) support, refreshment and water stops, and t-shirt are included. Local bike shops will be providing expert bike repair.
  • Luggage transportation, hotel breakfasts, and evening activities.

Some additional reasons to register for 2026 GIBT:

  • 137 miles on scenic trails and separated bike infrastructure
  • Epic SW Illinois hill climbs
  • Ice cream and BBQ worth the ride
  • An outdoor movie theater just for bicyclists (tentative)
  • The camaraderie and community only a week-long tour can bring

Reasons to Register for 2026 GIBT

In our 2025 post-GIBT survey, participants rated GIBT 3.74 (out of 4) overall and 3.6 for value. The following comments were also shared:

  • “GIBT is incredibly well run and the volunteers are absolutely the best”
  • “The staff and volunteers all work very hard to make sure our ride goes as smoothly as possible”
  • “This is my fourth GIBT. It’s a very nice bike tour for my age/ability. The distances are just right, the camaraderie is excellent. The staff does a great job of organizing the ride and then reacting to issues that pop up along the way.”

Not convinced? Check out the photos from our 2025 Grand Illinois Bike Tour to get a better sense of the vibe of this bike-tastic annual fundraiser.

The Grand Illinois Bike Tour: Biking Across Illinois

Charlie Saxe, a longtime Ride Illinois member and repeat Grand Illinois Bike Tour rider, presented to the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago about his many years participating in the GIBT. Charlie hopes this virtual tour will inspire you to hop on your bike to explore the Land of Lincoln.

Contact Ride Illinois

Registration for 2026 GIBT opens on November 1. Contact Ben Harris, Tour Director, at gibt@rideillinois.org with questions and suggestions.

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