Cycling day trip from Lincolnwood to Chicago

Here’s a fun city-to-suburb ride! Starting in Lincolnwood—a small, green suburb just north of Chicago, known for its leafy neighborhoods and the quirky, triangle-shaped Lincolnwood Towers—you’ll roll south straight into the heart of Chicago. The route covers a bit over 33 km, winding through mostly paved roads and a generous stretch of dedicated cycleways (about two-thirds of your ride). You’ll pedal past a mix of quiet residential streets and some buzzier urban miles as you approach downtown.

With around 150 meters of ascent and descent, it’s a mostly gentle ride—nothing too hilly but enough to keep it interesting. Much of the ride is smooth asphalt, and while you’ll hit a few missing pavement patches, the majority is well-maintained. You finish up in bustling Chicago, famous for its architecture, lakefront views, and food (deep-dish pizza, anyone?). It’s a great way to connect suburbia and the city—enjoy the changing scenery along the way!