Chicago how I don’t love you

havn,t been threw ch in 35yrs and won,t do it again, changed a flat tire on the freeway ,truck diver said go ahead we ain,t moved in a hour and my radio say were not going for a long time. two other drivers helped. p.s find a way around it.

I suppose you could detour south on I-65 about 30 miles and then head west on the 2-lane highways. I feel the same way about Chicago metro area, I do not like that stretch of expressway going east or west. When I head up that way from OK to MI, I get off at US24 and take it east a ways.

Crossing at Niagara Falls and then taking I-90 is the long way around Lake Erie; taking 401/402 to Port Huron, and I-69 on the US side, is generally quicker. (Alternately one could cross at Detroit, of course. Going that way does make it easy to stop for a day or two at the Henry Ford museum and Greenfield Village, which are well worth seeing.)

I-90 to I-80 to I-29 is as good a route if you stay south of Lake Michigan as any. Avoiding driving through or all that near to Chicago is a good plan indeed. Another option is to take the ferry from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI. The SS Badger ferry boat is of historical interest; however, the fees to cross are rather steep; you'd be looking at something in the vicinity of $400-$500 one way for two people, the motorhome, and the car.

2:00 AM on a Sunday would be the only time I would suggest driving through Chicago. There is no reason to go through Chicago on your trip. I80 is south of the city, it is the main cross country highway for truck traffic and is always heavy.
Timing is everything and you dont want to hit I80-94 westbound at morning rush which is 6:00 to 10:00 AM. There is one toll exiting to I80 from I294.
DW hates I80 because of truck traffic but we take it to I280 around the QuadCities then back on I80 to I380 N in Iowa to US20 west to I29 N to I90 At Sioux Falls W to Rapid City.

I think you would be better to cross at Windsor and avoid tolls on I80-90 they get pricey.

FYI Born and raised in Chicago. Retired Carpenter and drove every highway and byway in the Chicago SMA. Still have daughter living there so we run through twice a year.