Chicago residents! Travel advice please!

[DaveS]

We are embarking on the "Obligatory Grandparents Tour 2008" tomorrow.

We are traveling to Minneapolis.

We are in Pittsburgh, and will take 80/90 across Indiana and into Illinois.

When we get to Chi' town, I am wondering:

Should we take 294/290/90 through, or 294/80/355/290/90?

Is there any construction I should know about?

I think we will stay over night just before Chicago (like in South Bend).

So, when are the morning rush hours where the route (above) will be impassable?

We talked about driving straight through to Minneapolis, but we will end up getting to Chicago at 4:00, and I think we will just get stuck in traffic.

So, with my little ones (well, not so little anymore) in the car, I'm thinking we will break it into two days.

Thanks for you help...

[Copper]

Hey Dave

We live in Madison and my wife's family lives in South Bend, so we've driven through Chicago many times. Going West, we always take the Indiana tollway (I80/90) to the Skyway (I90) and take I90 all the way into Wisconsin. Basically, you want to stay on I90 the whole way. However, you'll want to hit Chicago about 9-10 AM (just after the morning rush). If you try to take I80 West on the South side of Chicago, you're just asking for trouble. As far as I know, there isn't any major construction going on in Chicago on this route although there may be some on the Skyway in Indiana. They finished widening I90 in Chicago last year. I think there's some construction on I90 coming into Wisconsin that can't be avoided although I believe both lanes are open. There are a lot of tolls on the route I gave you, but if you have access to an iPass or E-Zpass, the tolls cost half as much and you don't have to stop.

Just my two cents. Have a great trip!

[dkerfoot]

I drive Michigan to Minnesota a couple times a year. It would be an easy drive if it weren't for that darn lake in between.

Timing is everything. Shoot to hit Gary, Ind at 9:00 AM and all will be well.

[tedkitch]

There is some construction on the Skyway (90) currently and even without the I always preferred to travel up through 294 instead of 90. It is a little out of the way, but in my opinion way better that taking the heavily congested 90 (and currently it has reduced lanes).

HTH,

[BobSch]

Another possibility is one of the car ferrys that run form Michigan to Wisconsin. Might be a kick for the kids and lets you bypass Chi-town altogether.

S.S. Badger

Lake Express