MA to SD trip - A few route Questions

[NERoamer19]

Hi all,

We're set to embark on a trip from MA to SD next month. Yeah it's a whole lot of 90 but I've got a few excursions I'm thinking about on the way there and back and thought I'd see if anyone has any familiarity.

Going Out

1. Our first stop going out is in Port Byron NY and leaving there I'm thinking about hopping on Rte 5 following along Lake Erie for a bit and maybe checking out Dunkirk Lighthouse on the way to Streetsboro, OH, at some point getting back on 90 . Is 5 picturesque/interesting? or will it be a headache and slow us down more than it's worth?

2. I was reading over another post on getting around Chicago. I think I will stick with my plan of using 294 and trying to time it late morning.

Return Trip

1. Heading back we're starting in Custer and have a stop in De-Smet. I'm thinking of hopping on 14 when I can, good route? anything to know?

2. From De Smet we're heading to Waterloo, IA. First rte I see is 14 to 29 to 20. 2nd choice would be 25 to 34 to 81 to 90. Is one any more picturesque than another? or any issues with either?

Thanks for any info!

[rk911]

in case you're not aware...294 is a toll road. there are no cash stations. you'll need compatible transponder or pay online. if you don't mind...where are you entering and leaving 294?

[NERoamer19]

Originally Posted by rk911

in case you're not aware...294 is a toll road. there are no cash stations. you'll need compatible transponder or pay online. if you don't mind...where are you entering and leaving 294?

Thanks for your reply,

I have a MA EZ Pass which I checked and does work in IL. Thanks for reminding me to do so though. Looks like it works in all states except SD and IA if we choose to go that way on the ride home.

Far as where we get on, looks like we'll be going from 90 changing to 94 to 80 and then jumping on 294 from there (Tinley Park is near it on the map). Then taking 294 right up to reconnect with 90 in Schaumburg. Make sense?

[rk911]

yup, makes sense. but you'll be in metro Chicago traffic all the way on the Tri-State (294), up to the Northwest Tollway (90) and then west. I'd recommend staying on 80 (just one toll plaza) west to I-39 at LaSalle and then north to I-90. much, much less traffic once you're west of I-55.

if you want to avoid 80 then I'd suggest 294 north to I-88 (toll) (instead of 90) and then west to I-39. I-88 will be well south of O'Hare and traffic will decrease once west of Aurora.

as you approach Chicago tune your AM radio to WBBM (780khz) for traffic reports every 10-min during weekdays. FYI...those reports will generally refer to the roads by their names, not by their designated numbers. Those reports frequently include I-80 in Indiana.

294 = Tri State Tollway

90 in Illinois = Chicago Skyway (toll) between the Indiana State Line and I-94 on the south side of Chicago (Dan Ryan Expy). 90 splits off from 94 west of downtown Chgo and becomes the Kennedy Expy (free) in Chicago to I-294. west of 294, 94 becomes the Northwest Tollway.

55 = Stevenson Expy (no toll)
88 = East West Tollway
355 = North South Tollway
94 = Dan Ryan or just Ryan (free)


either way, safe travels.

[NERoamer19]

Originally Posted by rk911

yup, makes sense. but you'll be in metro Chicago traffic all the way on the Tri-State (294), up to the Northwest Tollway (90) and then west. I'd recommend staying on 80 (just one toll plaza) west to I-39 at LaSalle and then north to I-90. much, much less traffic once you're west of I-55.

if you want to avoid 80 then I'd suggest 294 north to I-88 (toll) (instead of 90) and then west to I-39. I-88 will be well south of O'Hare and traffic will decrease once west of Aurora.

as you approach Chicago tune your AM radio to WBBM (780khz) for traffic reports every 10-min during weekdays. FYI...those reports will generally refer to the roads by their names, not by their designated numbers. Those reports frequently include I-80 in Indiana.

294 = Tri State Tollway

90 in Illinois = Chicago Skyway (toll) between the Indiana State Line and I-94 on the south side of Chicago (Dan Ryan Expy). 90 splits off from 94 west of downtown Chgo and becomes the Kennedy Expy (free) in Chicago to I-294. west of 294, 94 becomes the Northwest Tollway.

55 = Stevenson Expy (no toll)
88 = East West Tollway
355 = North South Tollway
94 = Dan Ryan or just Ryan (free)


either way, safe travels.

Yeah, I was looking at that 39 option, I'll look closer. Good info, I appreciate it.

[SteveJ.]

Fuel will be more expensive but a lot less tolls, have you considered going through Canada? I'm also thinking more scenic, definitely more relaxed traffic concerns, just avoid GTA(Toronto area) and Montreal, easy enough.

[Isaac-1]

We just got home to Louisiana from the Badlands and Mount Rushmore, the return drive was I-90 all the way across SD to Sioux Falls before turning south on I-29. Along that stretch of I-90 we had nearly 60 miles of construction zones with 2 way traffic and narrow lanes, 7 to 13 miles at a time with varying length breaks with normal divided interstate highway in between.

[NERoamer19]

Originally Posted by SteveJ.

Fuel will be more expensive but a lot less tolls, have you considered going through Canada? I'm also thinking more scenic, definitely more relaxed traffic concerns, just avoid GTA(Toronto area) and Montreal, easy enough.

I did look at it out of curiosity though we've already got all of our overnight stops booked on our scheduled route. We have some things we want to see along the way, Christmas Story House in Cleveland, Spam Museum in Austin, MN (just because) etc. Keeping Canada in mind when we visit N. Dakota!

[NERoamer19]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

We just got home to Louisiana from the Badlands and Mount Rushmore, the return drive was I-90 all the way across SD to Sioux Falls before turning south on I-29. Along that stretch of I-90 we had nearly 60 miles of construction zones with 2 way traffic and narrow lanes, 7 to 13 miles at a time with varying length breaks with normal divided interstate highway in between.

Ugh, that sounds horrid. Hopefully it's improved in a month when we go out.

[twogypsies]

A nice way to return since you're heading into North Dakota is to pick up Hwy 2 at Niagra, North Dakota and taking Hwy 2 across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, crossing the Mackinac Bridge and Michigan I-75/I-69 to London, Ontario and on to Niagra Falls/Buffalo to I-90 and home.

This completely avoids the Chicago area and some busy, boring interstates.