Driving from Northern Illinois

[Joy4Ron]

I was just curious how many others of your drive from this area- Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota.
I have always driven I-39 to I-74 to I-57 to I-24 to I-75 to the Turnpike. I have done it often enough that I can do it in my sleep (I may have a time or two ). I've done this on several trips to the parks and half a dozen trips to West Palm Beach, but I'm considering alternate routes. I would like a change of scenery.. Illinois gets to be a very long state with nothing but cornfields to look at, and I tire of all of the girly billboards in GA on I-75. So I was thinking of driving through Indiana and then down I-65 through Alabama. Google tells me that this route is actually a little shorter than my traditional route.
Does anyone have any advice?

 

[FINFAN]

no advice as we take 57/24/75 as well to dodge the I-65 trucks/traffic...but all the new construction projects have me thinking about an alternate route AND I am always stressed at the Nashville spaghetti bowl....so I will be watching this thread to see what others offer!

 

[Joy4Ron]

I wasn't aware of I-65 truck traffic. Is that a bad route for trucks?

 

[Funwith4kids]

We do the trip from central IL a couple times a year and have tried different routes. The route you have been taking is the fastest route. However, may not be the most majestic views.

 

[Joy4Ron]

The worst of it is, that most of the time we leave around noon, so most of the good views are all in the dark. We go through the mountains at night, and get the flatlands of Illinois an GA in the day!

 

[backyardponder]

Whatever you do, you want to avoid where I-65 intersects with I-90/94/80 in the Gary IN area. Every truck heading east out of the Chicago area is on 90/94/80 due to Lake Michigan.

If you want to take I-65, take I-57 south to the Kankakee IL area then back road it east to I-65.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

We took that back way thru Alabama once and it was a mistake, added about 3 hours to our trip.

And as one that lives in Kankakee County, seems like any saved time taking that route would be lost going down 17, thru Momence and to 65..

What we did one time that didn't take extra time was take 41/63 down thru Terre Haute and Evansville to the Pennyrile Parkway to I-24... 41/63/Pennyrile is a 4 lane divided highway with only a few stop lights or signs in the 300 or so miles and very little traffic..

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The I-57/I-24/I-75 routing is the quickest route for you. Taking the I-65 route may give you different scenery, but it also gets you city traffic in Indianapolis and Louisville. Indy to Nashville does have much heavier truck traffic than I-57 ever has, except through Effingham where I-70 is concurrent with I-57 for a few miles.

You can try I-65 south from Nashville via Birmingham and Montgomery and then US 231 from Montgomery to Cottondale via Dothan. The route is longer overall but you do arrive in Florida earlier in the day. US 231 has a lower speed limit and some traffic lights and Dothan can be a real bear. But if it's the variety you seek, it is a pretty drive because of the mountains south through Birmingham.

BobK/Orlando

 

[cruisingkat]

We drive to Florida from Northern IL several times a year. We have tried the both the I57 to I24 to I75 route and the I65 to I24 to I75 route. We prefer the I57 though IL - even though it is quite boring until you get down around the Shawnee National Forest. We avoid I65 through Indiana - the truck traffic is about 3 to 4 times more than you see in Illinois on I57. It actually takes longer going I65 than going I57 through IL.

 

[marlaine]

Whatever you do, you want to avoid where I-65 intersects with I-90/94/80 in the Gary IN area. Every truck heading east out of the Chicago area is on 90/94/80 due to Lake Michigan.

If you want to take I-65, take I-57 south to the Kankakee IL area then back road it east to I-65.

So funny you said this. We live in the Gary area, and my DH takes the route everyday. I used to take it to college. What you say is so true. There is truly more truck traffic right there than anywhere in the world!

 

[bcarson]

I am from the Kankakee area as well. We were going to go through Indy. Only because we have family there. Get a couple hours on the rode then night before and take off early the next morn. But I was telling my dh I think now we should go down 57 and try to get even further. So the next day we make into Fl hopefully. How far is it down that route before you hit Effingham or Kentucky.

I guess my question is where would stop for the night assuming your not leaving until around 5 pm. We wouldn't probably stop until around 11-12 pm. I wanted to try to book a place so it would be cheaper thanks.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

I am from the Kankakee area as well. We were going to go through Indy. Only because we have family there. Get a couple hours on the rode then night before and take off early the next morn. But I was telling my dh I think now we should go down 57 and try to get even further. So the next day we make into Fl hopefully. How far is it down that route before you hit Effingham or Kentucky.

I guess my question is where would stop for the night assuming your not leaving until around 5 pm. We wouldn't probably stop until around 11-12 pm. I wanted to try to book a place so it would be cheaper thanks.

If you leave at that time and don't need to stop for dinner, just one gas/snack break, should get to Paducah by 9:30ish and Nashville by midnight. Nashville to Orlando the next day is easy..

 

[hurdlertwin]

I would agree.. the way you take now is the fastest.... I'm from Northern Illinois as well and I know the drive is horrible and when I went we went through the mountains at night as well and had the "boring" parts in the day. We did it a little different on the way back though and stopped at some places along the way to break up the ride a little bit. In the end it's the choice of time or pleasure.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I've posted this before but I'll repeat it. The I-57/I-24 routing seems longer as a matter of perception when you go southbound. Illinois is a LONG state and five hours out of Chicago and you're still in Illinois! It seems like no progress is being made. But when you head north that routing give you the perception that you're making great time because you're already back in Illinois so early in the journey.

BobK/Orlando

 

[smidgy]

actually, the I57 route IS longer. we have driven from 40 miles NW of chicago. OTS of times. we have taken both 57 and 65. we prefer 65. the speed limit is higher in Indian, so the route is not only shorter, but quicker. we crive straight thru Indianapolis, and loiusville, take the 155 Briley Parkway around the east sid eo fnashville.
(we take I90 to 53 to 290 to 294 to 80 (we don't go thru Chgo.)
2 yeatrs ago, I convince hubby to stay on 65 into alabam (rather than grab 24 in Nashville, and go through cahtanooga, than 75 south. (I wanted to avoid Atlanta, and never had been in Alabama)
thate state route from 65 to 10 (infla) took FOREVER!!!!!
low speed limits, lots of lights .
besides, the INterstes are safer than state routs. on state routs the oncoming traffic is RIGHT next to you. much more chance of someone veering into you.
sldo, we now drive straight thru ATlanta instead of using the bypass (all the trucks use the bypass). we time it so we are not there during rush hour. actualy, we like to leave early sat. Am, (like 3 am) and get through atlanta, and stay in Macon, or perry GA.
safe driving!!!

 

[HHSTigerFan]

I have always thought taking 57 is the better choice, avoid the NW Indiana mess, Indy and to a lesser extent Louisville.. On 57, once past I-80 there will be no traffic except possibly Nashville until you hit Atlanta. We have taken both routes, they always take the same time, so we go with the more 57 because of less traffic..

 

[smidgy]

well, besides, 57 being a longer route, and besides the speed limit being higher in Indiana, 57 is not in the best shape.
(I, too, prefer the avoid the cities. byut I love the time we save. Indianapolis is nothing, lousiville, too)

 

[HHSTigerFan]

If you live in the SW suburbs and can easily get to 57, to me its worth the 30 extra miles of traffic free drive to avoid NW Indiana..