Poconos to Rapid City, S.D.

There isn't a good alternative to I80 across the south side of Chicago metro. US30 is a suburban street. US24 much further south is a 2 lane road serving farms and small towns. I74 is the next freeway south.

With all of those routes I'm pretty much on 80 when I pass a couple of miles south of Chicago. When near Chicago is the driving tough? Last time I did it maybe I was following my GPS and it seemed like I went right through town at rush hour. My knuckles are still white.

Agree with above posts to stay on I80 past Chicago plus take I380 up to routes 218 and 18 to join I35 in northern IA to I90. We came home that way in 2012 after a stop at the Winnebago factory in Forest City IA.

Another route option for your consideration. When heading west in 2012, we took I80 across PA to Youngstown then I76 and I71 to US 30 at Mansfield OH. US 30 is a divided highway all the way across OH and IN and joins I65 just south of Gary IN. It's about 20 miles longer than staying on I80, but avoids all of the tolls in OH and IN.

Hi,

You could also turn north at Iowa City. It is a good road. Plus it is on the diagonal so it saves both time and distance.

Stay on I-80 until Omaha. Then take I-29 to I-90.

-Tom