Need a little advice from the group. We are near Fergus Falls, MN on our way from home in Alaska to New England for the fall season. Looking at the map there is a lot of foolishness going thru Chicago and all the toll roads all the way to NY.So my question is should we go north around the top of MI, put up with the Chicago madness or venture a little further south before heading east and then north?. I don't want to go thru Canada again because of border issues with food, etc so it's US only. No particular hurry as long as we get there before the leaves turn which might be a little late this year. We do mostly Walmart overnights until we get to the northeast.

The UP is always pretty. I would go that way.

I always avoid Chicago like the plague because of the traffic. I just drove from Minneapolis to Watkins Glen NY. We stopped in Niagara Falls for 5 days and it was great. Going north through Michigan is OK adds about 140 miles over the other way, Mackinac Island is great if you have not been thereI take I39 all the way south and hit I80 near LaSalle Illinois smooth sailing all the wayGoing east is another matter the tolls in Indiana, Ohio and New York were huge for us MH towing - might not be bad for you

I'm on my way to Denver from Michigan. I went over the mighty Mac and on up along Superior and over to Lake Itasca Mn to the Mississippi headwaters just out of Bemidji mn. It was about 150 miles more to go through the UP to Denver and another 150 to veer off and up to the head waters. It's money well spent. You can smell diesel fumes and pig poo or look at the shores of lake Michigan. Don't forget to stop at Cut river bridge. :)

Since you are going to New England and don't want to go through Canada, I don't think you will avoid the tollways across northern Indiana and Ohio. Well, Ohio at least.I would try to avoid the interstates that go right through Chicago. On one hand, if you go during non rush hour, it would probably be fine. OTOH, why chance it, if you don't mind driving a bit farther. As mentioned above, you can take I-39 to I-80. It will be all rural until it isn't. :) There is no good way for you to miss the heavy traffic around the bottom of Lake Michigan on I-80. But that stretch is a lot better than it used to be. Usually it is going at full speed but high density, for about 10-15 miles. Just pick a center lane and try to hang out there. Once past I-65 it's smooth sailing. That's about where you get onto the Indiana Tollway anyhow. There are two places to get onto the Tollway, you want the second one, which is around Lake Station IIRC. Just follow I-80 East.I mean, sure you can go through Michigan instead. But you are adding a lot of miles, and non-interstate at that, so only you can decide that.

rr2254545 wrote:I always avoid Chicago like the plague because of the traffic. Yep. :E

chicago area routing help | Good Sam Community

Snowman9000
Explorer
Sep 16, 2015
Since you are going to New England and don't want to go through Canada, I don't think you will avoid the tollways across northern Indiana and Ohio. Well, Ohio at least.

I would try to avoid the interstates that go right through Chicago. On one hand, if you go during non rush hour, it would probably be fine. OTOH, why chance it, if you don't mind driving a bit farther. As mentioned above, you can take I-39 to I-80. It will be all rural until it isn't. :) There is no good way for you to miss the heavy traffic around the bottom of Lake Michigan on I-80. But that stretch is a lot better than it used to be. Usually it is going at full speed but high density, for about 10-15 miles. Just pick a center lane and try to hang out there. Once past I-65 it's smooth sailing. That's about where you get onto the Indiana Tollway anyhow. There are two places to get onto the Tollway, you want the second one, which is around Lake Station IIRC. Just follow I-80 East.

I mean, sure you can go through Michigan instead. But you are adding a lot of miles, and non-interstate at that, so only you can decide that.
azrving
Explorer
Sep 16, 2015
I'm on my way to Denver from Michigan. I went over the mighty Mac and on up along Superior and over to Lake Itasca Mn to the Mississippi headwaters just out of Bemidji mn. It was about 150 miles more to go through the UP to Denver and another 150 to veer off and up to the head waters. It's money well spent.

You can smell diesel fumes and pig poo or look at the shores of lake Michigan. Don't forget to stop at Cut river bridge. :)
rr2254545
Explorer
Sep 16, 2015
I always avoid Chicago like the plague because of the traffic. I just drove from Minneapolis to Watkins Glen NY. We stopped in Niagara Falls for 5 days and it was great. Going north through Michigan is OK adds about 140 miles over the other way, Mackinac Island is great if you have not been there

I take I39 all the way south and hit I80 near LaSalle Illinois smooth sailing all the way

Going east is another matter the tolls in Indiana, Ohio and New York were huge for us MH towing - might not be bad for you
zb39
Explorer
Sep 16, 2015
The UP is always pretty. I would go that way.

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