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 the Metro East area in SW Illinois – including scenic views of 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 (June 7), 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 are available on a limited basis. Both options will start and end in Litchfield and include one catered group dinner.

  • Three-Day Tour A (Sunday June 7 – Tuesday June 9) Litchfield to O’Fallon to Edwardsville to Litchfield

  • Three-Day Tour B (Wednesday June 10 – Friday June 12) Litchfield to Alton to Litchfield

One-day options are available for those who want a taste of the GIBT experience. SAG, rest stop, and routes are included.

  • One-Day Ride A on June 9 in Edwardsville

  • One-Day Ride B on June 11 in Alton

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

Register for 2026 GIBT

Reasons to Register

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 photos from our 2025 Grand Illinois Bike Tour to get a better sense of this bike-tastic annual fundraiser.

What to Expect

This fully supported bike tour includes:

  • Overnight stays at hotels arranged by Ride Illinois. 

  • Four travel day routes with varying distances.

  • RideWithGPS navigation (with 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.

  • Two catered group dinners

Some additional reasons to register for 2026 GIBT:

  • 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

Three woman pictured in bike gear with their bikes popping out of large white statues of different letters.
Image of two men in a hotel lobby, both with their bikes. The gentlemen on the right is giving a thumbs up.
Image of single man biking on an empty winding trail with several trees along the path.
Three individuals pictured smiling on a three person tandem bike smiling at the camera.
Image of a group of gentlemen (9) gathered at a sports bar smiling at the camera

Raise Funds to Make Illinois Better Through Biking!

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 with a mission to make Illinois better through biking.

We encourage all participants to fundraise a minimum of $150 on top of the registration fee to offset the expenses of the event and amplify Ride Illinois’ mission.  This year, we’re offering riders the option to participate in Peer-to-Peer fundraising! 

To create you’re own Peer-to-Peer fundraising page click the button below. We’re extremely grateful for all of our supporters!

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

The fundraising program is optional, but is strongly encouraged. GIBT participants can also make a donation in lieu of fundraising. Contact savannah@rideillinois.org with questions. Ride Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations supporting a GIBT participant are tax deductible. All donations from personal fundraising are nonrefundable.

2026 GIBT Jersey

Purchase a colorful jersey to commemorate quality time on your bike in the Metro East area of Illinois. Jerseys are available in men’s and women’s sizes S thru XXL. Jerseys purchased in advance will be distributed at check-in at GIBT in June.

The front and back a yellow and brown bike jersey. The front pictures the Grand Illinois Bike Tour logo along with abstract brown and yellow shapes. The back features a map of the rides route along with the text "2026 Grand Illinois Bike Tour".

The Grand Illinois Bike Tour: Biking Across Illinois

Charlie Saxe, a longtime Ride Illinois member and repeat Grand Illinois Bike Tour participant, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Important Notes

    • A registration option not appearing on the registration form indicates that it has sold out or are not yet available

    • To receive discounted member rates, log-in to your membership portal before registering.

    Six-Day Tour (Sunday – Friday)

    • Single Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $1,460

    • Double Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $1,070

    Three-Day Tours

    • Single Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $765

    • Double Occupancy Hotel Rooms: $620

    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 gibt@rideillinois.org.

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

    Online registration opened on November 1, 2025. Email us to request a PDF registration form.

  • The tour begins and ends in Litchfield, with free parking for the week and post-ride showers available on Friday. Overnight stops will be in O’Fallon (one night), Edwardsville (two nights) and Alton (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.

    June 7: Litchfield to O’Fallon
    Basic Route: 57.0 miles, +804 ft climbing
    Long Route: 81.0 miles, +1,762 ft climbing

    June 8: O’Fallon to Edwardsville
    Basic Route: 37.3 miles, +749 ft climbing
    Long Route: 56.0 miles, +1,073 ft climbing

    June 9: Layover Day in Edwardsville
    Multiple routes to consider. Details TBD.

    June 10: Edwardsville to Alton
    Basic Route: 42.5 miles, +755 ft climbing
    Long Route: 65.4 miles, +1,229 ft climbing

    June 11: Layover Day in Alton
    Multiple routes to consider. Details TBD.

    June 12: Alton to Litchfield
    Basic Route: 45.9 miles, +1,311 ft climbing
    Long Route: 52.3 miles, +1,365 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 continue to help participants 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.

    • Asking riders who are already comfortable with RideWithGPS and are willing to new users. We’ll 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: The Hampton Inn O’Fallon 

    Monday & Tuesday Night: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Edwardsville IL 

    Wednesday & Thursday Night: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Alton

    This year there will be two included dinners that will be hosted for the six-day tour riders. Each of the other 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 gibt@rideillinois.org with any other questions regarding the hotel option.

  • Item description

  • Please review our 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 5, the cancellation fee is the sum of $300 and any processing fees.

    5. No refund June 6 or after.

    Each year, some that register for GIBT have to cancel. 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.

Contact Ride Illinois

Don’t delay! Register soon! Contact Ben Harris, Tour Director, at gibt@rideillinois.org with questions and suggestions.

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