Northwest Michigan to Memphis

I would never drive through Chicago, day or night, if I had another choice.

Paulj is right, go straight south down through Lansing to Indianapol is and catch I-469 west to I-70 and continue west.

I lived in Gaylord for 20 years and agree with it taking about 6+ hours to be south of Chicago, but in 6 hours you'd be down around Ft. Wayne or further by taking I-69.

The subject line made me think of the UP (northwest), but Gaylord is at the top of the mitt.

If you are worried about passing through NW Indiana to get to I57, why not take I69 to Indianapolis?

There's little to no traffic on I-80/90 that time of night, so take any route you want...however during peak times there is a route from where your starting point is that truckers use.

I wish I could avoid the rush hour in Chicago but by the time I leave Northern Michigan, West of Gaylord, I would have to leave around 2:00a.m. and that would be tough for the rest of the trip that day down to Memphis area.

We are from W MI and we now take I-57. There is much less traffic, especially semis, and I-57 tends to go around large cities, rather than thru them. There are rest areas all along the way for breaks. We tried I-65 the first year going south, and will avoid it because of the heavy traffic.

There's only about 25 miles or so between I65 and I57 on 80. Just take that across to I57, and try to time it so you're not there between 7AM-9AM or 3PM-6+PM on a weekday.

Like dennisgt60 sez, if there's a wreck, its a parking lot. Pay your money, takes your chances.

I hate driving thru Chicago.......

Hmmmmm, well I've traveled the I-90, I -80 route west to I-57 many, many times without a glitch. Can't speak to your proposed alternative.

80/90 traffic seems to me to move along unless, of course, there's an accident in which case it can back up for miles.

Safe travel to Memphis.