I-80/90

Why anyone would drive thru Chicago is a mystery to me.

agesilaus wrote:
Why anyone would drive thru Chicago is a mystery to me.

some times it is necessary.

Weather up north was really nasty. As it was we spent 2 days in snow.

Tom/Barb wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
Why anyone would drive thru Chicago is a mystery to me.

some times it is necessary.

Weather up north was really nasty. As it was we spent 2 days in snow.

I assumed there were good (or as good as blue roads get) highways south of Chicago that run east-west but I see on the map you have to drop all the way down to US 24 or take secondary roads. I'd still do that but I really try to avoid certain cities, St Louis for one and Chicago for another. But we drive right thru Houston and Atlanta all the time. Those places maintain their highways with the gas tax that they collect for that purpose.

agesilaus wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
Why anyone would drive thru Chicago is a mystery to me.

some times it is necessary.

Weather up north was really nasty. As it was we spent 2 days in snow.

I assumed there were good (or as good as blue roads get) highways south of Chicago that run east-west but I see on the map you have to drop all the way down to US 24 or take secondary roads. I'd still do that but I really try to avoid certain cities, St Louis for one and Chicago for another. But we drive right thru Houston and Atlanta all the time. Those places maintain their highways with the gas tax that they collect for that purpose.

we stay off the interstate as much as we can, but some times ya just have to get some where.

Tonight we are camped just off I-94 going to see the Ford Museum tomorrow.
hard to find a route from Iowa to Detroit with out using 80/90/94

agesilaus wrote:

I assumed there were good (or as good as blue roads get) highways south of Chicago that run east-west but I see on the map you have to drop all the way down to US 24 or take secondary roads. I'd still do that but I really try to avoid certain cities,

US 6 and US 30 run east-west just south of 80/90/94. The roads are not in bad shape, but you will hit LOTS of stoplights. There are some decent secondary roads that take you through Momence and Kankakee and a lot of farm country. Have used them quite a bit west in Illinois, but just as far east as 65 in Indiana.

Chicago is known for potholes that eat cars. Houston & Atlanta don't have the weather extremes that Chicago does, which contributes to potholes. (Idaho has its share by springtime too - same reason, i.e. weather extremes.)

To avoid 80/90/94, you'll have to duck pretty far south below Chicago, which won't save you any time, but may save some aggravation. I would venture to say that east-west secondary roads east of I-65 in Indiana probably won't be any worse than what STBRetired has encountered west of that. If you don't mind a longer country drive, this could be a good option. I do not advise US 30, though - go farther south.

I 80 has been rebuilt from Joliet to the Indiana line. Most of the work in N.E. Indiana is done to the toll road. You are referring to the busiest truck route in the nation. Try Indy to Columbus oh. I won't run it again. I value my axles

It's my opinion that all interstate highways are in terrible shape. I've driven I-80, I-90, I-40, I-25, I-5, I-10, I-20 and I-35. They are all rough and provide terrible rides, especially towing a 5ver.