I FOUND a way around Chicago!!

[2cyber71]

I just had to avoid I 80 from Joliet to Indiana.
It’s the most dangerous road in the USA for an RV.
I was stupid enough last Friday to drive it west last Friday, I passed 4 cars with flat tires and an Rv with one.
so I did a route around the crazies.
Here it is , it takes about 1 hour longer but the roads are mostly excellent, going thru Kankakee was easy.
I strongly recommend this route
No anxiety, no traffic, just an easy ride thru the farms of Illinois
It’s
47 to 17 to 2 to I 65

[Sparky19053]

Avoiding damage to your rig or flat tire even at today's high fuel prices it still worth the time and expense. We'll be using your route in July on way home from a west coast trip. I can handle an hour driving farm lands.
Thank you for posting.

[JJColorado]

My wife and I are heading out that way from Pueblo, CO to South East PA in the beginning of June so I will consider that route but is that the only section that needs to be avoided? I just put new Michelline tires on my truck and new Goodyear tires on my 22' trailer. I'll be heading east on I-80 but taking most of I-70 back west so are both directions of I-80 terrible or just one way? I've been trying to plan my travel time to hit that area on a Sunday so I'll praying for smooth sailing.......

[2cyber71]

Originally Posted by JJColorado

My wife and I are heading out that way from Pueblo, CO to South East PA in the beginning of June so I will consider that route but is that the only section that needs to be avoided? I just put new Michelline tires on my truck and new Goodyear tires on my 22' trailer. I'll be heading east on I-80 but taking most of I-70 back west so are both directions of I-80 terrible or just one way? I've been trying to plan my travel time to hit that area on a Sunday so I'll praying for smooth sailing.......

It’s possible that you can ruin your suspension.
It’s absolutely terrible
Also, the 18 wheelers in that area are the worse of the worse, they will tailgate, squeeze you and everything else.
Oh, the car drivers are manics.
The bridge in Joliet can can do only 30 mph over it, it’s absolutely dangerous
If you listen to RV Miles podcast when he got his brand new 5th wheel, he drove thru that area, he said the same, it’s the most dangerous interstate in the USA. 40 miles between Joliet and the Indiana border

[JJColorado]

Thank you for your helpful information. I will enjoy the scenic alternate route and save some potential headaches.

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by JJColorado

My wife and I are heading out that way from Pueblo, CO to South East PA in the beginning of June so I will consider that route but is that the only section that needs to be avoided? I just put new Michelline tires on my truck and new Goodyear tires on my 22' trailer. I'll be heading east on I-80 but taking most of I-70 back west so are both directions of I-80 terrible or just one way? I've been trying to plan my travel time to hit that area on a Sunday so I'll praying for smooth sailing.......

Check I-70 in Indy, last year it was gone. They were ripping it out all the way down to the bed and redoing it out near the airport area. You had to detour around and could not go thru on I-70. I would think they are not done with it either.

[drdit92]

They are not done. They are completely redoing the interchange for I70 and I65 downtown. But you can just take 465 around it. Not a big deal.

[JJColorado]

Originally Posted by drdit92

They are not done. They are completely redoing the interchange for I70 and I65 downtown. But you can just take 465 around it. Not a big deal.

They were working on that area two years ago if I remember correctly because I took 465 around Indianapolis then in my short lived stint with a Class A. But thanks for the warning however, we will be picking up I-70 somewhere west of St. Louis coming through Lexington, KY, maybe even taking Hwy 50 back. Haven't made up my mind which route I'll be taking yet. Trying to avoid St. Louis without getting too far off track.

[scubadude62]

I go even further around Chicago, when heading to NY. In Davenport, IA, I start dropping down to Champaign/Urbana, IL, across on I-70 to Indy, the up through Columbus to Cleveland and on to Erie, then onto I-86. Maps out at about an hour longer than 80/90 direct, and ZERO tolls.

[Mr.Goodbar]

Going around Chicago, depending on your destination. Take I-74 west to Bloomington, IL up I-39 up into Wisconsin. or catch I-80 west from there.

The big multi-year I-39/I-90 project should be winding down, but I'll find out in July.