Bike Rentals Traverse City: Best Shops, Trails, and Scenic Routes

Traverse City is genuinely bike friendly and as a local one of my favorite ways to get around. Paved trails, bay views, wineries, breweries, and mostly flat, rolling terrain. If you’re looking for bike rentals, Traverse City has a solid handful of options and renting is easy.

Here’s what you need to know about where to rent a bike in Traverse City, what kind of bike to get, and some routes worth your time.

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Do You Need a Regular Bike or an E-Bike?

Both are available in TC, but not every shop carries both, so it’s worth thinking about before you book.

Regular bikes are great if you’re reasonably fit, the ride is shorter, or you just enjoy the workout. E-bikes make longer rides accessible to basically everyone, which is why they’ve gotten so popular here. If you’re planning to do the full Leelanau Trail out to Suttons Bay and back (17 miles one way), an e-bike can make a lot of sense, especially if you’re not used to biking a lot.

💡 Quick tip: A few shops are e-bike only. If you want a regular bike, go to Brick Wheels or Suttons Bay Bikes.

Best Places to Rent a Bike in Traverse City

Brick Wheels 

736 E 8th St, Traverse City.

A well-known shop in town. They rent mountain bikes, road bikes, townies and e-bikes. The big advantage here is location: they are in town, and right off the TART Trail. You can pick up your bike and roll out from the parking lot.

Riding Electric 

10381 E Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City.

E-bikes only. A perfect 5.0 rating on Google for good reason. This shop is right at the trailhead for the Leelanau Trail, which makes it a no-brainer if the Suttons Bay ride is your goal. They also offer guided tours. This is my recommend shop if you want to ride the Leelanau Trail towards Sutton’s Bay.

Suttons Bay Bikes 

318 N St Joseph St, Suttons Bay.

This one’s at the north end of the Leelanau Trail rather than the south. So a good option if you’re staying closer to Sutton’s Bay Area or want to ride south from there. But they also offer free delivery to downtown Traverse City. They offer standard bikes, e-bikes and mountain bikes.

Paddle TC 

199 E Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City.

Paddle TC is primarily a kayak and paddleboard rental spot right on the bayfront at Clinch Park, but they also rent cruiser bikes. Good option if you’re already at the beach and want to ride either direction along the TART trail from there.

City Bike Shop

747 E Eighth St, Traverse City.

A great bike shop in the same area as brick wheels. They offer e-bike rentals.

Traverse City Bike Rental Shops, Mapped

The map below shows all the main bike rental spots in Traverse City.

Routes Worth Riding

The Leelanau Trail: TC to Suttons Bay

This section of the TART trail is my favorite. The Leelanau Trail is 17 miles (depending exactly where you start) between Traverse City and Suttons Bay, fully paved, and follows a former railroad corridor. You’ll pass orchards, hay fields, vineyards, and some genuinely great scenery. I wrote a whole post about it if you want the full breakdown: Riding the TART Trail from Traverse City to Suttons Bay: What to Expect.

Suttons Bay itself is a great payoff. Grab lunch or a beer, walk around the little town, and then either ride back to Traverse City if you’re feeling up to it or take the BATA Bike-N-Ride bus back to TC. The bus is just $3 per person and bikes ride free BATA. That one-way option is huge because ~34 miles round trip can be a lot if you’re not used to riding.

🚌 Heads up on the bus: BATA’s Bike-N-Ride fits up to 11 bikes (May-October). The bus can either be paid with cash or with the app (BATA Link). Debit/credit cards are not accepted on the bus.

Boardman Lake Loop

The Boardman Lake Loop is a 4-mile trail around Boardman Lake with pavement, boardwalks, wooded areas, bridges over the Boardman River, lookout piers, and kayak launches. It’s an easy and fairly quick ride. You can stop at Right Brain Brewery, TC Whiskey, Filling Station or Silver Spruce Brewing along the way. Keep in mind it is very popular with walkers and runners and can get quite busy on a nice day.

One thing to know: Skip the east side boardwalk section after rain or any wet conditions. It gets genuinely slippery and people go down. Give it a day to dry out.

East Out of Town: Breweries + Pirate’s Cove

This route is less scenic, but is great for heading to a specific place such as Pirates Cove for some mini golf. Head east from downtown on the TART Trail toward Pirates Cove, play a round of mini golf then stop at Hopscotch for some food and/or drinks.

Just Start From Where You’re Staying

One of the best things about TC is that the trail system is fairly well integrated into the city. The main TART Trail runs east-west through Traverse City, connecting to Boardman Lake, downtown, and the Leelanau Trail. Depending on where you’re staying, there’s a decent chance you can access a trail without driving anywhere and via sidewalk.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

Rent + ride early in the day or later in the day, especially in peak summer. Book your bike rental online for best availability.

Have a water bottle with you and stay hydrated.

Helmets are typically included with rentals, please wear one!

If you’re doing the TC to Suttons Bay ride and using the bus back, check the Bike-N-Ride schedule on the BATA website before you go. Times vary and you don’t want to miss the last bus.

Bike Routes by Vibe

Not every ride is the same, and “just go find a trail” isn’t super helpful when you’re visiting for the first time. Here’s a quick way to think about it.

Most scenic ride — The Leelanau Trail from TC toward Suttons Bay. Flat, paved, and genuinely pretty the whole way. You don’t have to do the full 17 miles. Ride out an hour, turn around, done.

Family-friendly — Boardman Lake Loop. It’s short (about 4 miles), easy, and interesting enough to keep kids engaged with the bridges and water views. Just avoid the east side boardwalk when it’s wet.

Winery biking — The Leelanau Trail is your best bet here too. There are several wineries accessible a little ways off the trail. Stay hydrated and keep in mind your fitness for biking.

Lake views — Ride along the bayfront through Clinch Park and the open space. It’s not a super long stretch but it’s lovely along the water and you can ride further up toward Grelickville Harbor Park if you want a little extra. Paddle TC rents cruisers right there if you want to keep it simple.

Fitness ride — Full Leelanau Trail out and back, or if you enjoy mountain biking, explore the endless options at the VASA single track.

FAQ