Chicago People??

[golfgal]

We are heading to Indiana this week and was hoping for some tips for the best way to drive around Chicago, the best route to avoid traffic that is. We will be coming from MN on 94/90. The trip is long enough, I don't want to have to sit in traffic for an extra hour or so . We will probably be in the Chicago area around 7:00 PM.

 

[daughtersrus]

Where in IN will you be going?

 

[luvavacation]

Which part of Indiana are you traveling to? The route I will give you is one we take when we are traveling to the South, and we live far west of Chicago, so driving into Chicago often takes us out of the way of where we want to go anyway! Plus, we have sat in traffic at the 80/94/294 etc. mess for over 3 hours before, so avoiding Chicago is what we strive for, too! However, you will end up in central Indiana, so if you want northern Indiana, this won't work.

Take 90 to 39 (Rockford). Go south until you get to 74 (Bloomington). Go east into Indiana. Traffic really moves, so be prepared to NOT travel under the speed limit. My DH drives only 5 miles over, and is constantly tailgated on these highways, so I tend to drive them, and go about 15 over. Just a caution!

Whichever way you choose, hope you have a safe trip!

 

[LuvOrlando]

AAA will make a Triptick for members that avoids construction and high traffic areas, door to door.

 

[golfgal]

We are doing a college visit at Notre Dame, so South Bend

 

[SaraJayne]

Which part of Indiana are you traveling to? The route I will give you is one we take when we are traveling to the South, and we live far west of Chicago, so driving into Chicago often takes us out of the way of where we want to go anyway! Plus, we have sat in traffic at the 80/94/294 etc. mess for over 3 hours before, so avoiding Chicago is what we strive for, too! However, you will end up in central Indiana, so if you want northern Indiana, this won't work.

Take 90 to 39 (Rockford). Go south until you get to 74 (Bloomington). Go east into Indiana. Traffic really moves, so be prepared to NOT travel under the speed limit. My DH drives only 5 miles over, and is constantly tailgated on these highways, so I tend to drive them, and go about 15 over. Just a caution!

Whichever way you choose, hope you have a safe trip!

This is the route we take to my sisters in Champaign from around the Green Bay area. MUCH faster than driving through Chicago!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Are you able to hit Chicago a bit later, after the main rush time, about 8:30 or 9? Will you be coming on weekday/weekend?

Maybe head north, then east, and then south, through UP Mich and then LP Mich to northern IN.

 

[golfgal]

Are you able to hit Chicago a bit later, after the main rush time, about 8:30 or 9? Will you be coming on weekday/weekend?

Maybe head north, then east, and then south, through UP Mich and then LP Mich to northern IN.

I would rather not be there too late. We will be driving through this Thursday, visiting Notre Dame on Friday, heading to the St. Louis area after that, going over to Evansville, IN on Saturday and back to St. Louis Sat. night, then back to MN on Sunday .

Would taking 290 to 355 down to 80/90/294 avoid most of the traffic or is that just as bad?

 

[Dan Murphy]

....Would taking 290 to 355 down to 80/90/294 avoid most of the traffic or is that just as bad?

I do not think that any better. Puts you further out west. 290 (53) can be a real rush hour headache. And 294 has recently added an additional lane in each direction, so generally better than in the past. Really, 80/94 is probably your worst point. And even that, just out of Chicago, has had lanes added in recent two years. Your timeframe coming into Chicago shouldn't be all that terrible, but certainly not as uncongested as MN

A good website to put on your Droid...

http://www.sigalert.com/Map.asp?region=Chicago#lat=41.87296&lon=-88.08588&z=2

I always use a real time traffic enabled Garmin GPS to get me through.

 

[golfgal]

I do not think that any better. Puts you further out west. 290 (53) can be a real rush hour headache. And 294 has recently added an additional lane in each direction, so generally better than in the past. Really, 80/94 is probably your worst point. And even that, just out of Chicago, has had lanes added in recent two years. Your timeframe coming into Chicago shouldn't be all that terrible, but certainly not as uncongested as MN

A good website to put on your Droid...

http://www.sigalert.com/Map.asp?region=Chicago#lat=41.87296&lon=-88.08588&z=2

I always use a real time traffic enabled Garmin GPS to get me through.

Great, THANKS!! Done

Ok, so 294 is the "easiest" route. Google has me going right through Chicago and I don't want to do that. People around here complain about our rush hour that runs from about 7:15-7:45 in the morning and from about 5:00-6:00 in the evening. I just laugh.

Also--about the tolls--how much are they??

 

[SpecialK]

We vacation in Bemidji and drive from the south suburbs of Chicago. We always take the 355 to 80 route. It's an easier drive IMO. There will be construction whichever route you choose, but I think anytime you can avoid driving through downtown the better off you are.

Here's a link to the tollway website that will give you toll and construction info:

http://www.illinoistollway.com/portal/page?_pageid=133,1397397&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

 

[Dan Murphy]

294 does not go through Chicago, it is entirely west of the city. 290 is somewhat further west. 90 and 94 are in the city.

 

[SpecialK]

294 does not go through Chicago, it is entirely west of the city. 290 is somewhat further west. 90 and 94 are in the city.

I think she was referring to the original directions that had her taking 90/94.

 

[golfgal]

I think she was referring to the original directions that had her taking 90/94.

Yes, I was, sorry for the confusion.

 

[daughtersrus]

The other suggestion that I was going to make was to take I90 through Rockford. Get on 39/51 heading south to I88. Head east on I88 to I355. Take I355 south to I80 and head east on I80.

This is the way that we go to and from our lake house just north of the Dells in Wisconsin. If you decided to go this way, watch for police on the overpass bridges on 39. The like to sit and time on the bridge and have squads sitting on the ramp to pull people over.

Keep in mind that I294 will take you right passed OHare airport so that could be busy there. There's also some construction in that area.

There's construction on I80 as well but I think that most of it is west of I355.

If you go this way, stop for gas at Exit 1. The gas there is the cheapest around. Avoid getting gas in Chicago or the suburbs if you can. Not only is it more expensive but it's oxygenated so you get less MPG than you will with gas purchased outside of the area.

Have a fun time!

Edited to add...Here's a link to the tolls. If you don't have an IPASS or one of the other transponders that IL partners with, you will have to pay the cash rate.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/portal/page?_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&_pageid=133,1495185

 

[Anne34]

This is the way I would go too -- 355 is not too crazy busy and 80 east is slower, but usually moves. It's always conjested at the state line, but once you get further in IN it will get better again.