Question to anyone driving from Il/Wi/Mn

[Minnie824]

Ok, I'm so confused now! I always looked at mapquest, etc, from Chicago, go thru Indianapolis, get on 65, then eventually get on I-75. So I ordered the I-75 book (which I just got, and looks great), but now looking at that map in more detail, I realize there are multiple places to pick up I-75, and I don't know which we should do. Maps on us, says its faster, by a whole hour to take 65 down thru Nashville then I-24 to I-75. By looking at the map, it looks quicker to take I-65 to Indianapolis, then I-74 to Cincinnati to I-75. Which have you taken, and is one better and/or faster than another? Thanks!

 

[ckckc2000]

We go down South every year to NC-and believe me it is much quicker to go thru Nashville-Construction/city traffic is better-The other way is steeper and can get darn right dangerous in winter- and like I said we have done both and this really is the best way-it may look better on paper-but it truely isn't-Good Luck

 

[kneemeister]

Living in Indianpolis, I have taken both routes and the the Route thru Nashville over to Chattanooga is much quicker, the drive thru KY and Tenn, has far less traffic generally thru Nashville. Both routes go out of your way so its a wash there, on 75 you go way east to Knoxville before driving southwest to Chattanooga, and 65 angles southwest thru KY.

Having worked tech support at hospitals in KY for my last job, I learned that if you go 10 miles east of Cave City, US231 takes you straight south putting you on I-24 way east of Nashville; But this is a two lane so you save more miles than time, though u do save about 1/2 hr. But i only go that way during daylight.

 

[grimley1968]

If it were me, I'd take I-74 from Indy over to Cincy, then take I-75 from there down. I-65 just goes so much farther west than I-75, that the slight southwestern tack 75 takes from Knoxville to Chattanooga doesn't compare to it, time-wise. Taking I-74 to Cincy from Indy, at least has you on a generally southeastern track during that leg, so you're not going out of your way to get to I-75 there. I-24 is a very nice road, I'll admit, but this will take more time to get you over to I-75 than taking I-74 would in Indiana. The only reason that one map may have mentioned I-24 as being faster than I-74 is that the speed limit in Tennessee is 70, rather than 65. However, I can't imagine that would make that much difference.

I'm unfortunately VERY experienced with I-75 in Kentucky. About the only really crowded spots in Kentucky are just south of Cincy, and in some areas near Lexington. After that it doesn't really get too bad until Knoxville, which, no offense to Tennesseans on here, seems to have ENDLESS construction going on on I-75. The traffic isn't terrible, but the endless concrete barriers start to wear on you a little, after a while.

Do NOT take the bypass around Atlanta. Go straight through, and if you have more than 2 in your vehicle, get in the HOV lane there. Likewise in Macon, avoid the "bypass" there.

Have fun planning!

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

We went through Nashville in May and it cost us an extra hour and a half. The highway was closed - entirely closed - for two or three exits in downtown Nashville.

It all worked out okay - I mean, we made it there and it just so happened that there was a downtown Nashville Starbucks, so it wasn't a TOTAL bust - but if you can avoid major cities and their downtown areas, do so.

 

[kneemeister]

UM, the bypass of Macon is actually several miles LESS than going thru town, look at the mile markers at both ends, the number changes by more than the miles on the bypass. I was shocked the first time i realized that too, as im also a firm beliver in avoiding bypasses.

As to miles the route VIA I-74 is longer, Its 980 miles from My house to Ft. Wilderness via, I-65. and 998 via knoxville. I just checked on Microsoft Streets and Trips. And just so you know, i actually live just north of 74, 9 miles east of Indy, so coming from north of indy the distance for 74 would increase by 9 miles and 65 decreese by 9 miles so the dif. is almost 30 miles

So for a difference of 18-30 miles, its all up to personal choice. For me i find the trip thur western KY more enjoyable, and easier esp. as i usually leave here around 5 PM and stop at Macon around 1AM for a few hrs of sleep.

 

[mickeymousemom]

Living north of Indy and driving to Fl several times, I have to say either way(thru Nashville, OR Cincinnati) works ABOUT the same. We normally take the Nashville route, but went thru Cincy in December just for a change of pace.
I will echo what Grimley says about Atlanta.....NEVER...NEVER take the bypass...even if you somehow got stuck during rush hour, you'll get thru MUCH faster if you drive straight thru...if traffic is low, then its a straight easy shot thru the city, IMO. I do DISAGREE with Grimley and totally agree with kneemeister on the Macon Bypass....Taking the bypass is easier and MUCH faster than going thru Macon...its more of a straight shot south....as a matter of fact, its not much of a bypass at all, IMO. Have a safe trip!