Chicago Bypass

Having lived in the northern Indiana area when I was growing up, I can say that there is an unavoidable reason that traffic is so bad in that area.
Think about this. Lake Michigan is a huge barrier for any traffic (both auto and train) going in an east/west direction. Both the interstates and all the railroad lines divert south to the bottom of the lake and then take the shortest distance to get around the lake and to Chicago. It is a "pinch point." With that much traffic (especially cargo hauling trucks) it is almost always busy along I-94.

Having grown up in the area, the non-interstate roads didn't fare much better, because all of the railroad lines also took the same shortest route around Lake Michigan, and so we were always stopped by trains crossing the roads. We would have to leave extra early to any event, because you might get stopped at 2, 3 or 4 different crossings, depending upon where you were going.

My advice, exit Indiana far south of Chicago, then go on the toll roads west of Chicago, and then circle back toward Milwaukee/Cedarburg once you get way north of Chicago. Believe me, you do NOT want to be on the Dan Ryan Expressway in downtown Chicago at any hour of the day. I've been stuck in traffic there sometimes at midnight.

Any "is one way better than another way" answer is only a generalization. Any wreck at any time can create havoc on any route in Chicago. I only drive in and through Chicago with Google Maps or TomTom's app active so I can route based on actual traffic conditions at the time.

Agree with previous posts. About the only time we have encountered light traffic on the I-90 & I-94 area was when we put my daughter on a flight out of O'Hare after Navy boot camp at 4 in the morning.

Or get thru the Chicago area before noon on Friday. After noon the Chicagoans head for either Wisconsin or Michigan so the roads are crazy. Even better can you wait until Saturday morning?

The only way to handle Chicago is to avoid it completely - I take I80 to I39 north - the traffic in Chicago is horrible anytime

kknowlton wrote:
Agreeing with Romer, but I would amend that a little: 6 PM is still a bit early, and you'll likely end up in rush hour traffic. Waiting a half hour or more should help.
If you have an electronic pass that works on the Ohio Turnpike, it may also work on the 294 tollway. Our Illinois I-Pass worked that way, in reverse.

I agree. Even if you can put yourself at 7:00 PM you'll be better off. And yes, there is reciprocation on the tollway transponders. IL/IN/OH is the Tri-state Tollway.

I will say this, that stretch of 94 to 294, from Gary, IN is hairy even in "light" traffic. I use the word light a bit facetiously. I've gone through there at all different times of the day and evening, unless you go through there in the wee hours, just be very careful. I really hate towing a trailer through that area. Once you are on 294 the rest of the way is not too bad.

Agreeing with Romer, but I would amend that a little: 6 PM is still a bit early, and you'll likely end up in rush hour traffic. Waiting a half hour or more should help.
If you have an electronic pass that works on the Ohio Turnpike, it may also work on the 294 tollway. Our Illinois I-Pass worked that way, in reverse.

Definitely take 294 and before 3 or after 6 would be best.