Rolin,
I have more time to write now.
Your old plan was not bad, but Canadian fuel prices have done the same thing ours have. (Gasbuddy works for Canada too, but the conversion both currency and volume is up to you.)
I can't help you with the toll transponders and here is why.
We don't use any....
From Chicago, Get to I-80 near Hammond, there is a short piece of I-80 that is toll. Not worth it to try to by-pass that.
About Gary, I-80 joins I-94. I-80 goes south into Ohio and become an over patrolled toll road again. (With out of states plates, do not speed in Ohio.) Watch for the split with I-94.
Take I-94 most of the way across Michigan. Just past Ann Arbor, Catch US-23 south.
When you see I-475 EAST - That is where you want to go.
Exit 20 will be I-75 Go NORTH (doesn't seem right, but trust me).
Exit 207 will be I-280 South (there feel better?)
Exit I-280 at exit 7 and look for signs for 2 (Ohio 2) and go East.
This will look like a mistake for about 30 miles, but when you cross the Portage River, little Rt 2 become toll free limited access highway. (Remember what I said about speeding in Ohio?)
Near Lorain Ohio, pick up I-90(2) East bound (now no toll) and stay with it through Cleveland.
2 & I-90 split at exit 185 and you want to stay with I-90.
At exit 37 catch I-86 to New York. That becomes what gets called the Southern Tier Expressway. Just as fast and the NYST, but No Tolls.
In Corning I-86 becomes NY17 at Exit 54. Stay with 17 until it dumps you onto I-81. The next exit will take you across the Chenango River to I-88. When you get to Schenectady, my capability as a native guide gets weak.
But, you have just added about 10 miles and 20 minute to the drive and saved a small fortune in tolls.
From here we would have been going dowm the coast (CT,RI or MA). I am not sure where you want to be.
Matt
