Driving from Michigan to Minneapolis

[jack'smom]

Ok, I am driving from South Central Michigan to the Minneapolis area and will be travleing with 2 kids--so I need to stop overnight. I want to stop after Chicago, and hopefully somewhere around 4 hours left in my drive. Anyone have any suggestions on either towns or hotels?

 

[abdmom]

How about the Wisconsin Dells?

I've done that drive - starting/ending a little farther east than MI. We stopped in Chicago or in MI.

 

[mnrose]

The Dells is almost exactly 4 hours from Minneapolis. Lots of hotels, etc. However, it's all about the waterparks there. If that would be too much of a distraction and make it hard to get your kids back in the car the next day, then look for the next largest town that is past the Dells, which would be Mauston. There's a County Inn there, and it's maybe 20 minutes or so past the Dells.

 

[hercamore]

Mnrose means country inn and suites at mauston wi. The dells area proper is going to be spendy for motels.

Herc

 

[Big Kid]

I would give Madison a look. We stopped there the first night on our trip from SE Michigan to Yellowstone. It's the state capitol and a college town, not too big, not too small, and on I-94 to Minneapolis.

If at all possible, I would schedule your drive to miss Chicago's rush hours. We left home around 5:00 PM and arrived in Madison around 11:00 PM and were able to drive at highway speed for the most part. The few times we've tried Chicago in daylight, we've always hit massive construction/accident/too many cars traffic jams.

Safe travels!

 

[jack'smom]

Thanks for the replies.

I had thought about the Dells, but it's a little more than I want to spend. I was also thinking about Madison--anyone have a good suggestion for a hotel there. I would like a pool and a continental breakfast, if possible...

I am, unfortunately, going to leave during the daylight so will hit Chicago around 2:00. I'm definitely dreading it, but can't really think of a different option. I don't really want to stop at midnight with two little ones.

 

[golfgal]

Can't you take a ferry across Lake Michigan to avoid Chicago?

 

[jack'smom]

There is one--but it leaves from Muskegon, so that would take me out of my way (kind of), plus it's expensive and on the day that I want to leave, the only available time is 11:00 pm.