Best bypass around Chicago?

[zmandunk4]

I live south of the city off of I-57. Before last year I had never towed anything in my life, let alone a thirty foot camper. We made runs to Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana last year. Trust me, it's not that bad. For those telling you to avoid it at all costs, I say try it and see. Weekend traffic is easy and generally if you avoid rush hour times the traffic is moderate as well. Don't believe those that have never done it or are just perpetuating long standing myths. Believe it or not Illinois people are really friendly......

Z

[Wolverine 1945]

Sorry I think it is the worst city I have ever driven thru !!!
And I lived in SoCal for close to 20 years !!!
Maybe I just got used to LA freeways ???
We were headed west to MN one time,,, @ the time we had a little FORD Focus,,,
We got caught in the fast lane and were driving @ 65 in a 55 to keep up with traffic,,,
I looked in the rear view mirror,,, and all I could see was PETERBILT !!!
I moved to the left as soon as I could,,, and this CowBoy flew by us and tailgated someone else !!! You will never see on LA freeways,,, trucks don't drive in the fast lains !!! people in Chicago pay no attention to the speed limits,,,
It is a Great place to go if you want to get run over !!!

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by TT233S

Your staying a little off the beaten path, that's a 25 minute ride north! Anyway we try to go at least once a year and stay at a place right in the Dells "Bonanza" but we also go Tuesday or Wed and leave by Sat morning because it gets to loud for us. The Dells is a place to visit tho - it's fun for all...check out other things in the area since your not in the Dells - like Devils head state park - you will have to pay to get in but if you like walking around it's something to see!

If you have the senior pass from the federal park service this will work at Devils Head lake state park. I was there last year with my grandkids and used my senior pass to get in free. The Park Ranger asked if I had one and if I did I could get everyone's in the car/truck for free. There is also a cave that provides tours for a fee it is private but will worth the cost and time.

[DRiveWell]

To answer Jimmy's question: If you want to avoid Minneapolis (great city but rush hour is as bad as any big city) take the I90 west from the I90/I94 split at Tomah, WI and drive across southern MN. Cross the border and take I29 north at Sioux Falls, SD to Fargo, ND to rejoin I94.

[PuppyDogMom]

We travel from the Madison, WI area to SW Michigan about 5-6 x's per year, in all seasons. Sometimes we have the camper, sometimes not. Always go I-39/90, I-90 to 294. Then 294 to 94. Reverse going back to WI. When you make the trip is important. Avoid rush hour. Around Chicago it's going to be busy, can't avoid that. BUT, patience will make a difference. I've made the trip in 4 hours and made the trip in 6 hours. Just depends. It is what it is. And it is doable. I wouldn't be afraid of it. I'd just be cautious and patient.

[Tonawanda]

Our GPS took us 90. Went right thru downtown Chicago 9 AM. Was awful. We’d travel way out of our way again just to avoid that traffic. We lost 1 1/2 hrs anyway. We learned the hard way.

[jeff64]

Sorry, my mistake. take I74 west out of Indy!Then north on I39. I should have looked at the map 1st

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by PuppyDogMom

We travel from the Madison, WI area to SW Michigan about 5-6 x's per year, in all seasons. Sometimes we have the camper, sometimes not. Always go I-39/90, I-90 to 294. Then 294 to 94. Reverse going back to WI. When you make the trip is important. Avoid rush hour. Around Chicago it's going to be busy, can't avoid that. BUT, patience will make a difference. I've made the trip in 4 hours and made the trip in 6 hours. Just depends. It is what it is. And it is doable. I wouldn't be afraid of it. I'd just be cautious and patient.

Would I80 to 131,,, then North be out of your way ???
I94 Sucks,,, from Chicago to Detroit !!!
We use I80 to Indiana 17 then North on M40 !!!

[jimmy54]

To answer Jimmy's question: If you want to avoid Minneapolis (great city but rush hour is as bad as any big city) take the I90 west from the I90/I94 split at Tomah, WI and drive across southern MN. Cross the border and take I29 north at Sioux Falls, SD to Fargo, ND to rejoin I94.[/QUOTE]

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DRiveWell - Thanks for the input. Was considering a routing thru Sioux Falls to avoid Minneapolis but does add some miles when headed NW. Would getting off I94 and taking I694 around the east and north sides of Minneapolis work to miss congestion? Currently expect to be going thru here on a Wednesday or Thursday mid-afternoon and stopping at St. Cloud for the night. Thanks again.

[Rick_Geneseo]

I-65 north to Indy, then I-74 west to Normal Illinois. In Normal, take I-39 north to Rockford. Stay in the right lane and follow the I-39/90 north, then get in the left lane stay there until after the flyover. You will then be on I-90 all the way to the Dells turn off. You will be on a short tollway from the flyover in Rockford to the Wisconsin state line. If you have EZPass or IPass you don’t have to stop. This way is a little longer but you don’t have to put up with that Chicago traffic, as well as the reduced speed limits.

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by Rick_Geneseo

I-65 north to Indy, then I-74 west to Normal Illinois. In Normal, take I-39 north to Rockford. Stay in the right lane and follow the I-39/90 north, then get in the left lane stay there until after the flyover. You will then be on I-90 all the way to the Dells turn off. You will be on a short tollway from the flyover in Rockford to the Wisconsin state line. If you have EZPass or IPass you don’t have to stop. This way is a little longer but you don’t have to put up with that Chicago traffic, as well as the reduced speed limits.

X2! 65- 74- 39 Been there done that. Chicago traffic sucks.

[emaruu]

Originally Posted by jimmy54

To answer Jimmy's question: If you want to avoid Minneapolis (great city but rush hour is as bad as any big city) take the I90 west from the I90/I94 split at Tomah, WI and drive across southern MN. Cross the border and take I29 north at Sioux Falls, SD to Fargo, ND to rejoin I94.

----
DRiveWell - Thanks for the input. Was considering a routing thru Sioux Falls to avoid Minneapolis but does add some miles when headed NW. Would getting off I94 and taking I694 around the east and north sides of Minneapolis work to miss congestion? Currently expect to be going thru here on a Wednesday or Thursday mid-afternoon and stopping at St. Cloud for the night. Thanks again.[/QUOTE]I don't find the 694 drive around the north side of the Twin Cities all that bad. You definitely don't want to go straight through on 94 with a larger rig. And as can be said for all big cities, rush hour is a thing. Patience and vigilance for signage is important.

[lcv800]

Frankly, I'd by pass Illinois. Roads suck, tolls are high, politicians are crooked, taxes are rediculous. Take an extra day and head north thru Michigan and go over Mackinaw. Pretty, lots to see along the way.
Rusty

[ijon]

Originally Posted by lcv800

Frankly, I'd by pass Illinois. Roads suck, tolls are high, politicians are crooked, taxes are rediculous. Take an extra day and head north thru Michigan and go over Mackinaw. Pretty, lots to see along the way.
Rusty

Amen to that brother!

[shorthorn]

We live an hour south of Chicago... Last year we went to the Dell's for Memorial day. Left Friday evening and went 294 through the city. It was fine, but lots of traffic... basically you just get in the right line and drive whatever speed that lane is moving. You will give yourself a heart attack if you try weaving in and out of traffic ( I was doing this with a dually and a 40' 5er). Chicago was ok. The worst was between Janesville Wisconsin and the dells... bumper to bumper gridlock the whole way. It was aweful. My recommendation is 74 out of Indy, then 39 straight north. Note, there are not a ton of fuel stops along 39.

Try to hit that stretch in Wisconsin into the Dell's at an off time... it was a killer!

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by shorthorn

We live an hour south of Chicago... Last year we went to the Dell's for Memorial day......snip.... The worst was between Janesville Wisconsin and the dells... bumper to bumper gridlock the whole way. It was aweful. My recommendation is 74 out of Indy, then 39 straight north. Note, there are not a ton of fuel stops along 39.

Try to hit that stretch in Wisconsin into the Dell's at an off time... it was a killer!

I can imagine going to a popular tourist destination on the opening holiday for summer vacation at prime time!!

We'll hopefully be "swimming in the opposite direction".
Going after Memorial day and on a Sunday. We'll be heading north and the weekenders will be heading south back to the big city.... in theory at least.

And thanks for the extra worry.....
my truck get's 7-8 mpg and it's only a 24 gal tank so I don't pass a lot of gas stops.... I'll start looking any time I get near the half tank mark.

[shorthorn]

Originally Posted by KyDan

I can imagine going to a popular tourist destination on the opening holiday for summer vacation at prime time!!

We'll hopefully be "swimming in the opposite direction".
Going after Memorial day and on a Sunday. We'll be heading north and the weekenders will be heading south back to the big city.... in theory at least.

And thanks for the extra worry.....
my truck get's 7-8 mpg and it's only a 24 gal tank so I don't pass a lot of gas stops.... I'll start looking any time I get near the half tank mark.

You will be ok... there is a nice truck stop at LaSalle (I80-39 intersection) Mendota has a small one, Rochelle is a really nice fuel stop.

[jeff64]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...newstopstories

Dan,
So as you are up at the Dells, just see how much fun these folks had on Mother's Day!

[Wolverine 1945]

I have an awful time getting my bladder to make it all the way thru Chicago !!!

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by lcv800

Frankly, I'd by pass Illinois. Roads suck, tolls are high, politicians are crooked, taxes are rediculous. Take an extra day and head north thru Michigan and go over Mackinaw. Pretty, lots to see along the way.
Rusty

All true. But going that way adds about 600 miles to the trip.