Chicago area help please

[DaveS]

We will be trecking the whole famn damily across the country from Pittsburgh to Minneapolis.

We want to stop about half way, which ends up being right around Chicago.

We will be driving through Chicago (I-90) some time around 7 or 8 PM on Tuesday night.

We thought we'd stay in Elgin so that we could miss the morning traffic the next day.

My question to you Chicagoers (Chicagins? Chicagonites?), is this: is Elgin far enough West to miss the traffic the next morning, or should we press on further to say Rockford?

We are planning to leave Elgin (or where ever) around 9am.

Finally, on the way home Sunday night - will we see a huge traffic jam coming back through that night?

Also - on the way home, we'd love to find a hotel near I-90 that had a kid pool - you know, water slides and what not. Any ideas?

thanks for your help...

[crokett]

I do not live in Chicago but my FIL did for a while. He is visiting and says Elgin is about 90 miles west and you will not need to worry about traffic if you go that far.

[SHADOWFOX]

You can stay at the Marriott @ the Prairie Stone Complex off of I-90 at Rt. 59 (Hoffman Estates) pretty new hotel. You do not have to go as far as Elgin. While staying at the Marriott you can literally have the shuttle at the Marriott take you to the brand new Cabela store that they just built. That place is like a Bass Pro Shop on steroids. While at Cabela go to the 2nd floor have some Bison, Buffalo and Elk burgers. When checking in at the Marriott, ask them if you can get the Sears or GE rate. SEARS/KMART headquarter is in the same complex. GE office is in the same complex as well and they normally offer a discounted rates to these companies employees. Hope that helps.

Oh one more thing. It's Chicagoans not Chicagoers or Chicagonites

Kind regards,

[Slik Geek]

Elgin far enough West to miss the traffic the next morning, or should we press on further to say Rockford?

We are planning to leave Elgin (or where ever) around 9am.

Elgin should get you beyond the morning traffic mess just fine - as long as you are heading west.

Sunday night will likely be a traffic nightmare, especially close to Chicago and into Indiana.

Also - on the way home, we'd love to find a hotel near I-90 that had a kid pool - you know, water slides and what not. Any ideas?

The Chicago area is amazingly devoid of a decent indoor water park (as far as I know). Several have tried... Perhaps the Wisconsin Dells a few hours north provides too much competition?

Here are a few possibles - I haven't seen these personally, but suspect that they will be rather disappointing:
CoCo Key Indoor Water Park at Sheraton Chicago Northwest Hotel
Arlington Heights, IL (847) 394-2000

CoCo Key Indoor Water Park at Clock Tower Resort
Rockford, IL 800-358-7666 (815)-398-6000

Frankly, (and it hurts me as a life-long Illinois resident to have to say this), your best bet would be to go to the Wisconsin Dells. You'll find much better waterparks there, and it is on your way (exit 92 on I90/94 in Wisconsin)

I'm familiar with the Kalahari and the Wilderness. A number of others are rather lame.

http://www.wildernessresort.com/
http://www.kalahariresort.com/hub/

Allow some time to enjoy the place you choose.

[DaveS]

Thanks for the info guys...

[jon_ramp]

Mayan Adventure indoor waterpark at the Holiday Inn in Elmhurst, a western Chicago burb. http://www.hielmhurst.com/specials.php

[Mr__Bill]

Pittsburgh to Minneapolis is only about 900 miles, one jump driving. 13 hours, 14 if you insist on stopping to eat. Just think of the money saved on motel rooms.... rotflmao...
Are you planning on spending Thanksgiving at Mall of America? If you see any of my relatives there say hi for me.

Bill, who is off to the airport to meet an in-comming... only 2 hours away!

[dkerfoot]

I live in Michigan and visit my family 100 miles West of Minnesota every year - a very similar drive. We stay overnight in Milwaukee because of family there.

Personally, I'd push through to somewhere in Wisconsin.

You want to time the trip through Chi pretty carefully. Time it right and you sail through. Time it wrong and it is very, very painful.

[Slik Geek]

Mayan Adventure indoor waterpark at the Holiday Inn in Elmhurst, a western Chicago burb.

I didn't mention that hotel because it appears that the waterpark isn't in full operation in the cold months because the slides go outside. (Based solely upon photos on their website, not from actual experience). I suspect the kids would lose some enthusiasm in short order at the Mayan Adventure.