Community Forums

HighwayRanger · 06-14-2015, 01:11 PM

I am looking at the route from Nappanee to Sacramento, as I'm hoping to drive a new DSDP that route some day. Most of the I-80 route looks good, except for the first leg, which goes right by Chicago.

Are there any expert recommendations out there for that leg? I suppose I can check with the transportation guys who deliver rigs all the time, but I figured I would check with you all first.

Thanks,

Roy

BFlinn181 · 06-14-2015, 02:44 PM

From beautiful downtown Nappanee take US 6 w to US 31. Then south to US 30. Go west on US 30 until you get past New Lenox, IL. When US 30 intersects with I-80, you'll be past a majority of the tolls and Chicago gridlock. It's the way I've made it through that region for years. Sometimes it's faster to travel I-80, but the tolls in an RV and sometimes the time in traffic/construction delays makes it much longer. I like traveling on the 'ole Lincoln Highway.'

Bill-MACV21 · 06-14-2015, 02:49 PM

Yes, last August. A nice trip. We are on the road right now and in Dallas. A 2000 mile leg from Sacto.

I used the Big Rigs Best Bet to pick the RV parks and it worked out very nicely. Tried for 300-400 miles per day. Seems that I always end up in beautiful Winnemucca, UT. on most of my east/west trips but they recently built a new park that seems to be decent. It is about 1 mile east of the OBG park that I have been using for a number of years.

Enjoy!

PDR John · 06-14-2015, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

From beautiful downtown Nappanee take US 6 w to US 31. Then south to US 30. Go west on US 30 until you get past New Lenox, IL. When US 30 intersects with I-80, you'll be past a majority of the tolls and Chicago gridlock. It's the way I've made it through that region for years. Sometimes it's faster to travel I-80, but the tolls in an RV and sometimes the time in traffic/construction delays makes it much longer. I like traveling on the 'ole Lincoln Highway.'

This is what I do to get on the I80.

jtovo · 06-14-2015, 06:42 PM

I lived in Chicago & drove a truck for 40 years, when you get west of 65 on 30 you go thru Ford then Chicago Heights. The police in both of these Chicago suburbs where all arrested by the Feds several years ago, Ford has a murder rate that is worse then Kuwait & if you did breakdown & manage to get yourself out of there alive you could count on your Motorhome being taken apart & the remains will be parked in somebody's yard!
Get on 65 go to I-80 & pay the toll.

SeattlePirat · 06-14-2015, 07:50 PM

We drove from Cleveland thru Nappanee on highway 6 to interstate 80 near Chicago. No sweat, nice drive

Rotten-Red · 06-14-2015, 07:52 PM

I would take US6 straight west from Nappanee to Lake Station, IN. You pick up I-80 there at exit 15. From there west you only have one toll on a short section of I-294/I-80. Your actually way south of Chicago.

I live in southwest lower Michigan. Whenever I'm going west using I-80 I always take I-94 to I-80, it's the fastest and nothing to be afraid of.

If you can drive the California freeways, this will be a walk in the park.

RVRon · 06-15-2015, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtovo

I lived in Chicago & drove a truck for 40 years, when you get west of 65 on 30 you go thru Ford then Chicago Heights. The police in both of these Chicago suburbs where all arrested by the Feds several years ago, Ford has a murder rate that is worse then Kuwait & if you did breakdown & manage to get yourself out of there alive you could count on your Motorhome being taken apart & the remains will be parked in somebody's yard!

Get on 65 go to I-80 & pay the toll.

So, what you're saying is to not stay in the WalMart parking lot near there?

Ron & Kathy
2015 Dutch Star 4369

jtovo · 06-16-2015, 09:28 PM

If your looking at the Walmart in Matson, that isn't as dangerous as the area
East of Western ave Chicago Heights & Ford are the areas you really should avoid.
I'm not comfortable staying in a Walmart near a large metropolitan area, but that's MPO.

BFlinn181 · 06-16-2015, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtovo

If your looking at the Walmart in Matson, that isn't as dangerous as the area
East of Western ave Chicago Heights & Ford are the areas you really should avoid.
I'm not comfortable staying in a Walmart near a large metropolitan area, but that's MPO.

Why would you stay overnight in Matteson, IL, you're only 2 hrs, (102 miles) from Nappanee? I-80 is less than 15 miles west on US 30. From Nappanee, you can be in Iowa in about 5 hours.

That, of course, is presupposing that you avoid the pirates and highway robbers going through US 30 in Illinois!

JCAT · 06-16-2015, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighwayRanger

I am looking at the route from Nappanee to Sacramento, as I'm hoping to drive a new DSDP that route some day. Most of the I-80 route looks good, except for the first leg, which goes right by Chicago.

Are there any expert recommendations out there for that leg? I suppose I can check with the transportation guys who deliver rigs all the time, but I figured I would check with you all first.

Thanks,

Roy

Roy - you can check with us in about a week or so - we are picking up our coach at Newmar and driving home to Sacramento - leaving on Saturday the 27th and plan to take I80 all the way. Drove that way in a car last August and yes it was busy but when we leave Nappanee on Saturday in the MH at 6am we'll be a little ahead of the worst of the traffic. I'll send you the Dash Cam video..

BFlinn181 · 06-16-2015, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCAT

Roy - you can check with us in about a week or so - we are picking up our coach at Newmar and driving home to Sacramento - leaving on Saturday the 27th and plan to take I80 all the way. Drove that way in a car last August and yes it was busy but when we leave Nappanee on Saturday in the MH at 6am we'll be a little ahead of the worst of the traffic. I'll send you the Dash Cam video..

Leaving Nappanee at 6 am will put you right in the densest part of AM rush hour between Hammond, IN and Joliet, IL. Remember, as you get to the Chicago area you lose an hour as you pass west into the Central time zone.

Rotten-Red · 06-16-2015, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

Leaving Nappanee at 6 am will put you right in the densest part of AM rush hour between Hammond, IN and Joliet, IL. Remember, as you get to the Chicago area you lose an hour as you pass west into the Central time zone.

It's a Saturday so rush hour shouldn't be a problem.