Forum Discussion

djcjc's avatar
djcjc
Explorer
Mar 28, 2016

65 thru Indiana

Headed to Bristol in 2 weeks anybody been down 65 from Chicago to KY and how is the road conditions on 65. Last year quite a few areas were pretty rough wondering if better or worse? I could run I-57 down thru Illinois and cut over on 24 but takes longer.
  • I could see you going from Chicago to Indy on 65, but why take 65 down to Louisville? I'd get to Indy and then go I-74 down toward Cincinnati, taking 275 around Cincy to I-75 into KY. Better road, less construction, and more direct.
  • I went through there last Sept. Everything from I-294 around Chicago all the way to, and into Louisville pretty much sucked as far as road conditions. It seems like the construction going into Louisville has been taking forever.

    And people in WI think the roads are bad here? :h
  • Have not been down I-65 in a couple of years, bit of a PIA with the traffic and only 4 lane most of the way. We went from Chicago to Bristol twice a year for 10 plus years. So I worked out the best route.

    I-65 to Indy; around 465 on the North to I-74 (We often spent the night at the Cracker Barrel in Shelbyville, just North of exit 113 all by itself); I-275 South around Cincinnati to I-75;

    Get off 1-75 at Corbin, KY (Watch the exit ramp - fairly short and a steep downhill, get down to 50 before you hit the top of the ramp!) and take US 25E up to Cumberland Gap - a bit of a climb, but nothing out of the ordinary. After you are through the tunnel at the Gap take US 58 East across Southern VA. Good four lane with no traffic most of the way across. Last time through it was two lane from Jonesville to Duffield.

    At Duffield US 58 turns South toward Gate City. Going through Gate City stay in the right lane and take the exit for Kingsport and I-26. I-26 to I-81 and then North to exit 69 and then 394 around to the track.

    Have fun, Bristol is an experience!
  • Where at in KY? You can take I57 in IL. And cut over to KY. On I74 or I64. You should miss most of the IN. 65.
  • The orange cones have sprouted. Haven't been on 65 recently but construction season is on - and in Indiana, that means they block off one lane for many miles, and work on one little section at their own pace. It's been that way for decades. Otherwise, I-65 is as serviceable as any, and no worse than interstates in Illinois.
  • It's Indiana, we don't spend money on roads yet the Governor brags about his "surplus". My cousin dropped a drive shaft Saturday after hitting a huge hole on I70 near Richmond.

    I just had a conversation with some friends yesterday that a week doesn't go by that someone asks on here about our crappy roads.

    I haven't been on 65 from Chicago to Indy lately. 65 from Indy to Louisville has improved "some" and there is some construction. Louisville has one side of the new bridge open and there is still extensive construction on the KY side.
  • Probably about the same. Lots of it still under construction south of Indy with a 55 speed limit.