Community Forums

Normy · 07-19-2018, 07:02 PM

Planning a trip from Mass to South Dakota, I'm trying to avoid Chicago Metro area, if you can see the map I uploaded, is this far enough to make sense?

Id rather keep moving than being stuck in gridlock, but don't want to add too many hours and miles either.

any thoughts from you folks that travel a lot?

Thanks
Normy

Dale & Mark Bruss · 07-19-2018, 07:04 PM

We skip Chicago by going thu Michigan over the Mackinac bridge, across the Upper Peninsula. We really hate Chicago.

FlatsixV2 · 07-19-2018, 07:19 PM

I would suggest...

94 W
80 W
335N
88W
39N

I get thru there fairly regular driving Charter Bus and this works great!

Good Luck!

Randm Musing · 07-19-2018, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale & Mark Bruss

We skip Chicago by going thu Michigan over the Mackinac bridge, across the Upper Peninsula. We really hate Chicago.

Second that. I used to have to go through that area every couple of months, and it was always a nightmare. Actually, the problems begin in Indiana, well before the Chicago area. Perpetual road construction. It is less that 50 miles across the top of Indiana, and I think that the state must generate about half of its annual revenue from that stretch of highway with traffic tickets. They are very strict about the speed limit, and they generate a lot of revenue thereby.

High Octane · 07-20-2018, 07:43 AM

Might be cherry season in Michigan.....

JPeterson · 07-20-2018, 10:10 AM

I live about 50 miles south of this area and have driven my motorhome and toad through there many times. Your map shows probably the quickest route but it will involve a lot of traffic, semi trucks, tolls and crazies. If you go this way, plan on up to 3 hours from I65 to I90. Unfortunately, I94 W often starts to back up in Indiana near the intersection of I65 (depending on time of day). I294 is a toll road and is also usually congested. I355 used to be quicker but now it's about the same as I294.

Depending on much you want to avoid the traffic, going south of Chicago through Indianapolis may be an option for you - I70/I74/I39

Mr.Goodbar · 07-23-2018, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlatsixV2

I would suggest...

94 W
80 W
335N
88W
39N

I get thru there fairly regular driving Charter Bus and this works great!

Good Luck!

We have made several trips north to & from Northern MN. Just recently came back from SD, ND area thru MN and WI. We always take I-90 then I-39. I would just stay on I-80 W then take, I-39 North. The toll for the short part of I-90 in Illinois is $4.65 for 4 axles. (2 on MH and 2 for toad).
On our way to Black Hills area of SD we took:

I-80 west to Iowa City, IA
I-380 north to Waterloo, IA
US-218 and US-18 to I-35 North
I-35 North to I-90
I-90 west to Rapid City, SD (Black Hills/Mount Rushmore area)

Normy · 07-24-2018, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Goodbar

We have made several trips north to & from Northern MN. Just recently came back from SD, ND area thru MN and WI. We always take I-90 then I-39. I would just stay on I-80 W then take, I-39 North. The toll for the short part of I-90 in Illinois is $4.65 for 4 axles. (2 on MH and 2 for toad).
On our way to Black Hills area of SD we took:

I-80 west to Iowa City, IA
I-380 north to Waterloo, IA
US-218 and US-18 to I-35 North
I-35 North to I-90
I-90 west to Rapid City, SD (Black Hills/Mount Rushmore area)

Hi,

Does I39 get congested during the rush hours like I would assume I90 does?

Also, may I ask if there is a particular reason you go back a different route?

Thanks
Normy

Mr.Goodbar · 07-25-2018, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Normy

Hi,

Does I39 get congested during the rush hours like I would assume I90 does?

Also, may I ask if there is a particular reason you go back a different route?

Thanks
Normy

This trip was to see Black Hills/Mount Rushmore area in SD before going to a family reunion near Grand Forks, ND so we returned on our usual route I-94 to I-90 to I-39 and on down thru Illinois.

I-39 isn’t bad during rush hour, we’ve been through there in the late afternoon. We have a favorite place to stay outside of Stoughton,WI just SE of Madison. I-39/I-90 has been under reconstruction for the past couple of years, but no serious delay and it’s about half or more done. Most traffic goes off east toward Chicago.

sajohnson · 07-26-2018, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPeterson

I live about 50 miles south of this area and have driven my motorhome and toad through there many times. Your map shows probably the quickest route but it will involve a lot of traffic, semi trucks, tolls and crazies. If you go this way, plan on up to 3 hours from I65 to I90. Unfortunately, I94 W often starts to back up in Indiana near the intersection of I65 (depending on time of day). I294 is a toll road and is also usually congested. I355 used to be quicker but now it's about the same as I294.

Depending on much you want to avoid the traffic, going south of Chicago through Indianapolis may be an option for you - I70/I74/I39

That's what we do, but we live in MD close to I-70 and have relatives west of Chicago near I-39 (Sycamore, IL).

It is longer than the "northern route" but the drive is generally a lot more pleasant, and we avoid all of the tolls. Last time I checked the tolls from here to Sycamore were over $40 -- for a CAR. I haven't even bothered to add up the tolls for an RV.

Interestingly, while I-70 and I-80 go through similar terrain, I-70 can be maintained with just fuel taxes, while I-80 needs fuel taxes plus exorbitant tolls. Go figure.

Mr.Goodbar · 07-27-2018, 04:34 PM

The only toll part that we pay for I-39/I-90 is from the IL/WI border to just south of Rockford, IL and it is only $4.65 for our 2 axle MH plus towed Honda CR-V. I-90 splits off toward Chicago just south of Rockford and then we are on I-39 to Bloomington, IL, then I-74 to Champaign and then I-57 south thru most of IL until I-24 east to home.

sajohnson · 07-28-2018, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Goodbar

The only toll part that we pay for I-39/I-90 is from the IL/WI border to just south of Rockford, IL and it is only $4.65 for our 2 axle MH plus towed Honda CR-V. I-90 splits off toward Chicago just south of Rockford and then we are on I-39 to Bloomington, IL, then I-74 to Champaign and then I-57 south thru most of IL until I-24 east to home.

That sounds good.

So the $4.65 toll is for the section of I-90 in IL, from the WI/IL border to where you jump off onto I-39, correct?

I can't see any reasonable alternative.

I try to avoid tolls, more as a matter of principle than for financial reasons -- although they can really add up. I-66 inside the D.C. Beltway has a variable toll that goes as high as $44 -- for a 10 mile stretch of road, one-way. And that's for a car, I have no idea what an RV with a toad would cost.

I'm not rigid about it. Sometimes it just makes sense to take a toll road. That stretch of I-90 is a good example.

Arch Hoagland · 07-28-2018, 12:59 AM

I've found that going through large cities on a Sunday morning has worked pretty good but I haven't gone through the Chicago area for many years.

All I remember about the last trip through that area was stopping to pay tolls.

Mr.Goodbar · 07-31-2018, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sajohnson

That sounds good.

So the $4.65 toll is for the section of I-90 in IL, from the WI/IL border to where you jump off onto I-39, correct?

I can't see any reasonable alternative.

Yes. I-39 & I-90 are on the same stretch of road from north of Madison, WI to just southeast of Rockford,IL at which point I-90 turns generally east toward Chicago and I-39 goes south to Bloomington. The only tollbooth is just south of exit 3 for both directions.

I agree, I didn’t see any great alternative route, so I just pay the toll.