Route Around Chicago

[RUSSELL5000]

My wife and older son are on the return leg of the trip west for this year. We looked at the map for quite a while and just could not identify a good route going east that did not take us close to Chicago. They are heading east on I-80 now, and they can continue that way as I-80 melds with I-90 and continue on east until they return here to northwestern Pennsylvania. The issue is the drive close to Chicago - there is just no way we are used to five lanes of traffic and folks zipping in and out and around. I suppose if you are in that area you are used to it, but we have nothing at all like that around us.

All we could see on the map was dropping way south which would add 300 to 400 miles to the trip.

Does anyone have a slick route around Chicago?

Thanks.

 

[Brian Sullivan]

I just did it on Saturday it's all about timing. One spot of construction you will have to deal with going east. Good luck and take ie easy.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Thanks, Brian. Yes, our plan is basically to try to make sure that the transit around Chicago is way out of the morning and afternoon work commute times. Doesn't seem to me there are solutions other than that.

 

[JR]

I'm not sure how comfortable your wife is with driving at night but I have been through there twice during the wee hours and it was very quiet compared to the day time hours. I've drove through there about a dozen times over the years visiting family in Wyoming, definitely don't want to hit it anywhere close to rush hour but it is typically pretty busy no matter the time of day. Especially with construction and closed lanes.

Also, I've found that splitting off on I90 is the preferred route over staying on I80, but maybe that's just personal preference.

 

[Jim W]

The best time to go thru IL and IN in the Chicago/Gray-Hammond area is to travel after 8:00 AM and before 2:30 PM. This is the time I try for when I head east. Try to stay in the far RH lanes traveling in the second of the RH Lane; as this will let the traffic enter and leave the expressway until you reach the interchange for I80/I90 on I80/90/94 going east.

Fill up some were in IL. close to the boarder such as Morris or Joliet IL. before entering IN.. The fuel stations in IN. do not allow private haulers to fill up in the truck lanes as there is no fuel road tax on the diesel at the truck pumps. You will need to fill-up in the car lanes that service diesel vehicles. Been there done that and it is not fun pulling a 35 Ft, 13Ft tall 5er the wrong way to fill-up in the car lanes.

Tell her to take her time and she will be good, your wife has pulled thru once so she knows what it takes.

Jim

 

[jeepit]

If you are in for a scenic tour you could take the Upper Peninsula of Michigan down though lower Michigan bypassing Chicago.

 

[Brian Sullivan]

75 to 23 and bypass Detroit. Or 75 to 27 to 69 rite through the center of lower peninsula

 

[RUSSELL5000]

jeepit, you have the best alternative by far! Wish that time allowed such an approach. Oh well, maybe some day in the future that will be viable for us.

JR, I like your early morning approach - kind of transit between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM. I think that is what I would do. I'll mention to my wife - she is not an early riser and so I doubt that one will fly with her. When we were dating she always wanted to take road trips - we didn't make it past the on-ramp and she was sleeping. She said road trips were so much fun when you get there and she always felt refreshed - I would too if I got all that nap time!!

Jim W. - you mentioned the fuel issue and we did fueling so that we could cross Indiana when we were going west. I'll remind her for the way back east. I'll pass on your points on timing and lane placement. As you said she made the crossing once before - and this time she knows what to expect.

This is her choice - I said it was fine with me if she wanted to loop south and avoid (or loop way north). At this point I don't think she wants to take the longer route.

I thought I'd ask and see if others have found a perfect solution - I suppose like much of life, perfect solutions remain elusive.

Thanks much!

 

[khalsey]

If possible Sunday is a good time to go through that area during the daytime. Usually a lot less truck traffic and can zip right through without backups.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

My wife and older son traversed the Chicago area today; basically the approach described by Jim W. above. My wife said all went well, apart from one car that pulled in front of her at about a foot away from her front bumper. I guess there always has to be one. My wife said that the excellent weather helped.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Just came back from Northern IN timing is EVERYTHING, Going went thru in the AM before the Commute traffic hit, leaving the same way. We were thinking about trying to hit the Chicago area and getting some of the Deep Dish Pizza but after seeing as much as we did from the Hwy WE WOULD HAVE BEEN GLAD TO HAVE JUST BOUGHT A COSTCO PIZZA and pretend it was from SXXT-cago.

We have been to some PRETTY NASTY places in LA Calif but nothing comes close to what Chicago had to offer!!

BIG

 

[Jim W]

Hi, Big
I have driven in both cities Chicago and LA Calif and to me LA Calif is far worse to drive in than Chicago. I have driven out there for business and to visit an Aunt who lived in Torrance Calif. I do not like the idea of Motorcyclists being able to ride between cars on the expressway during rush hour in stop and go traffic for one thing.

You also most remember that three major interstates I94, I90 and I80 are trying to get around Lake Michigan as they go east/west and they all come together in the Chicago, Gary-Hammond area. That's a lot of vehicles getting squeezed into 5 or 6 lanes in each direction.

Jim

 

[Shadrach]

When I drove to Columbus 2 years ago I was headed South East by I bypassed Chicago altogether. I did have to drive thru Indianapolis but it was not as bad as I expected. Then again I was a truck and camper not a trailer.

My hat off to your wife for the good job she has done on this trip. A lot braver than most women. Thanks once again for sharing your trip with us all.


David.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Hi, Big
I have driven in both cities Chicago and LA Calif and to me LA Calif is far worse to drive in than Chicago. I have driven out there for business and to visit an Aunt who lived in Torrance Calif. I do not like the idea of Motorcyclists being able to ride between cars on the expressway during rush hour in stop and go traffic for one thing.

You also most remember that three major interstates I94, I90 and I80 are trying to get around Lake Michigan as they go east/west and they all come together in the Chicago, Gary-Hammond area. That's a lot of vehicles getting squeezed into 5 or 6 lanes in each direction.

Jim

Jim not to argue which is better or worse, ONLY 3 major interstates intersecting? Gee I don't want to have nightmares thinking about LA traffic EVER AGAIN. LA is the worst of the worst if we are talking traffic. I was down there only a month ago (maybe less) I dropped of Cajon Pass and had to get some Maalox for the rest of the trip. I made several stops picking up things and ended up at the LA Harbor picking up industrial oven, mixer & flat top grill. Headed out as fast as I could possibly go, SIL had never seen the coast so with her commercial gear, 6-55 gal drums of Chevron Oil & Hyd fluid and MANY cases of oil we got to Monterey so she could at least see a better part of Calif.

Im not really downing Chicago or Gary they are old industrial cities and its to be expected same a LA.


I was referring to the cleanliness. LA isn't a sanitary surgical room by any means but from what we seen when we did exit the hwy in Chicago and as we were driving threw IT WAS FILTHY!!

Penny & I had planned on stopping to try the food, it sounded great but with no parking for my Dodge with a 28' trailer and not wanting to have something happen to the rig we decided to pass on the Deep Dish Pizza or the Italian Beef sandwich both of which were said to be Fantastic. Gary IN is another place that Im really glad that my Dodge packs 100 gal fuel cap to keep on going.