Community Forums

JakenJo · 07-23-2021, 10:52 AM

What is best way in Class A towing to make this trip.
Thanks
Jake

twogypsies · 07-23-2021, 02:04 PM

You'll want to see the countryside to avoid Chicago!

About 600 miles

I-90 south to I-39 to 24 east at ElPaso, IL

to Logansport to Wabash

224 to Ft. Wayne to Van Wert to Tiffin to Akron

rk911 · 07-23-2021, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakenJo

What is best way in Class A towing to make this trip.
Thanks
Jake

I-90/I-39/I-80

you'll skirt the southern chicago suburbs but this is the most direct route. I-80 thru indiana can be busy so i'd time it to pass thru between 10a-2p. you'll have a single toll booth on I-80 in illinois.

Talloaks · 07-23-2021, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rk911

I-90/I-39/I-80

you'll skirt the southern chicago suburbs but this is the most direct route. I-80 thru indiana can be busy so i'd time it to pass thru between 10a-2p. you'll have a single toll booth on I-80 in illinois.

I second this, but as noted above, there can be challenges on this route too. At Rockford, follow I-39 south to I-80 around LaSalle/Peru, then east. You will likely encounter heavy traffic and some backups from the point where 294 joins 80 all the way through Gary Indiana up to the split between 94 and 80/90, about 25 miles.

Also be aware of a stretch of very rough pavement on I-80 in the vicinity of Joliet IL. The area either side of the bridge crossing the Des Plaines River can be wicked, both traffic and road conditions.

BadgerRV · 07-23-2021, 04:33 PM

We travel from Madison thru the Chicago area quite regularly with a 35' class A and a tow vehicle. I agree with others on bad traffic backups and poor road conditions traveling route 80 near the 94/294 splits. We have found that it's best to take 90 straight through downtown. I think the road is in fairly good shape compared to other routes (294 will rattle your teeth out), and if you time it right the traffic is manageable. We've gone through very early and done fine, and on out last trip we got to the city around 830pm and didn't have any issues. Good luck on your travels. And on your route to Akron, remember the RV/MH museum allows overnight parking and many of the Ohio rest stops have RV dedicated spaces with 50a service for $20.

ArtJoyce · 07-23-2021, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talloaks

I second this, but as noted above, there can be challenges on this route too. At Rockford, follow I-39 south to I-80 around LaSalle/Peru, then east. You will likely encounter heavy traffic and some backups from the point where 294 joins 80 all the way through Gary Indiana up to the split between 94 and 80/90, about 25 miles.

Also be aware of a stretch of very rough pavement on I-80 in the vicinity of Joliet IL. The area either side of the bridge crossing the Des Plaines River can be wicked, both traffic and road conditions.

+3 we are planning a trip around chi the other way will do the same thing.. one toll a few dollars. But across IN an OH i-80 is all tolls. I would plan to go across 80 t0 294 to 94 exit to get on us 20 to almost southbend, exit onto us 31 south exit to us 30 east, exit onto i-71 N, exit onto i-76 east into Akron.

NXR · 07-24-2021, 06:42 PM

Quote:

But across IN an OH i-80 is all tolls. I would plan to go across 80 t0 294 to 94 exit to get on us 20 to almost southbend, exit onto us 31 south exit to us 30 east, exit onto i-71 N, exit onto i-76 east into Akron.

Be aware that the Ohio Turnpike (I-80) has very narrow toll booths so try to stick to the outside lanes. Also, there's lots of construction on the interstates and state routes around Akron, OH.

OHGO is a great web site for near real-time road conditions throughout Ohio. You even can view the state's traffic cameras. https://www.ohgo.com/

Ray

Mr Lars · 07-24-2021, 06:57 PM

Sunday mornings is best,
I-94 to Milwaukee to 894, to I-94 cross into Ill,
to US Hwy 41 south to I-94 thru the big toilet, into IN,
at Lake Station IN, to I-90.
Believe it or not, it’s only 17 miles longer going around Milwaukee.

Mr.Goodbar · 08-03-2021, 06:10 PM

I-39 south to Bloomington, IL
I-74 to Indianapolis (take I-465 bypass) check INDOT for construction
I-70 to Ohio

twogypsies · 08-03-2021, 06:14 PM

Hope the OP returns to let us know which route he took!

JakenJo · 08-16-2021, 08:00 AM

Sorry for delay in follow up. After looking at ways around CHI we decided to go the 39/80/90 route and headed to Elkhart instead of Akron as our end goal was Finger Lakes in upstate NY. Just too far out of way to go way South and then back north and mid Indiana is way short on overnight parks near major roads. It went well until we got South of CHI near 80/294 intersection then it took us 1.5 hrs to go about 10 miles. It was not yet rush hour but was Friday afternoon so I guess rush hour starts early. It was crazy busy and slow even though zero accidents all the way until 94/80 split . We were pretty frazzled so we stayed on 94 and then took US 20 to and around Elkhart. End of ride was slow but relaxing.

2cyber71 · 08-16-2021, 12:03 PM

I 80/90 from Joliet to Indiana border is pure hell for any RV.
It’s 40 miles of high anxiety.
Worse than the DC beltway with the worse road conditions and worse traffics in the USA. It’s a terrible washboard that will break your suspension.

twogypsies · 08-16-2021, 04:31 PM

You got some southern routing because your post said 'Akron, OH'. Turns out you went to Finger Lakes.

Glad it worked for you.

JakenJo · 08-18-2021, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

You got some southern routing because your post said 'Akron, OH'. Turns out you went to Finger Lakes.

Glad it worked for you.

We travel AL to Finger Lakes via Akron area often which is why i asked about route from WI to there. . Was considering going that far South to Avoid CHI. When i saw no where easy to stay in much of Central Indiana we decided to bite bullet and stay further north. We were coming East from MT. if the border was open would have stayed way north via UP. The Midwest MN WI ILL IN area foreign to us.