NY to Arches National Park

[dcason]

We will be heading off from NY (near Kingston) to Arches National Park
and are intending to take I 80. Chicago...how bad/horrendous will traffic be through there. Is there a best time to go through there?

Whoopie this is my first time going that route.

Do things quiet down from there onward? I hate traffic!

Donna

[Bumpyroad]

rexlion wrote:
I've been through the Chicago area on I-80 a couple of times and I hated it. Traffic was crazy both times. I-70 through St. Louis is a piece of cake in comparison.

Arches is a fabulous park. Take some good shoes or hiking boots, and plan to carry drinking water with you. And an extra camera! Enjoy.

going past St. Louis is even easier now that they have 370 (NOT I370) open to avoid some of the St. Charles mess.
bumpy

[rexlion]

I've been through the Chicago area on I-80 a couple of times and I hated it. Traffic was crazy both times. I-70 through St. Louis is a piece of cake in comparison.

Arches is a fabulous park. Take some good shoes or hiking boots, and plan to carry drinking water with you. And an extra camera! Enjoy.

[Bumpyroad]

CloudDriver wrote:
My comment regarding "no mountain driving" was meant to refer only to route 128. We have never driven I70 across CO, so have no experience with that.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

If I remember correctly, there was at least one large "bump" on I-70 West of Denver.
bumpy

[2gypsies1]

I would suggest that from home you drop down to I-70 at some point before getting to Chicago and taking that across to Colorado. Then..before the traffic of Denver, take 71 south from I-70 to 24 at Limon, CO then to I-25 south to Hwy 160 at Walsenburg. Take 160 west through Pagosa Springs (& stop for a nice morning of soaking in the springs - about 12 concrete, extremely clean pools of varying temps overlooking the river right in town) moving west through Durango and Cortez (tour Mesa Verde Nat'l Park) and pick up 491 taking you into Utah at 191 and north to Moab/Arches Nat'l Park. It's all a very doable drive with the big RV. Have a good trip!

[CloudDriver]

My comment regarding "no mountain driving" was meant to refer only to route 128. We have never driven I70 across CO, so have no experience with that.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

[Bumpyroad]

CloudDriver wrote:
An alternate for your consideration... After crossing PA, pick up I76 and I71 to Columbus, OH and take I70 to Denver. This avoids the toll roads in OH and IN, as well as the Chicago area traffic.

Also, assuming you are taking I70 across CO, when you get to UT, take exit 214 for routes 6 and 128 to Moab. Route 128 passes Fisher Towers and then goes through a canyon of the Colorado River. Lots of river rafters there and great scenery. No mountain driving involved.

Don't miss Dead Horse point State Park and Canyonlands National Park while in the area!

x2, I hate I-80 south of chicago. also suggest seeing the Goosenecks, and Mesa arch.
bumpy

[paulj]

CloudDriver wrote:
... No mountain driving involved.
...

no mountain driving - in the Utah portion. But there isn't any on I70 to US191 either, is there?

I70 west of Denver is the quintessential example of mountain freeway driving. I've also seen mention of construction on this section. And the I70 route involves Denver traffic. I've also seen complaints about the state of I70 in western Indiana.

But US191 south from I80 also has mountain driving, while I80 - I15 - US6 is a circuitous route around that.

I80 - I76 - I70 would be my choice. Traffic around Chicago and Denver are minor considerations on a drive of this length.

[CloudDriver]

An alternate for your consideration... After crossing PA, pick up I76 and I71 to Columbus, OH and take I70 to Denver. This avoids the toll roads in OH and IN, as well as the Chicago area traffic.

Also, assuming you are taking I70 across CO, when you get to UT, take exit 214 for routes 6 and 128 to Moab. Route 128 passes Fisher Towers and then goes through a canyon of the Colorado River. Lots of river rafters there and great scenery. No mountain driving involved.

Don't miss Dead Horse point State Park and Canyonlands National Park while in the area!

[paulj]

It would have been better if your subject line focused on I80 past Chicago, as opposed to the full route.

The busiest part of I80 is where it runs with I94 through NW Indiana (Hammond, Gary). East of there I80 is the Indiana Tollway. I90 continues the tollway into Chicago. I80/94 is not only the through route EW, but also commuter route from this area into Chicago. But most of that traffic will turn north on I94 or I294. So imagine yourself a commuter working in Chicago or the NW suburbs, and avoid those times. Traffic will return to rural levels west of I55.

[dcason]

Thanks! Good to know.

[lbrjet]

I80 is well south of Chicago. That section always has some traffic (and some crazy drivers) but I wouldn't worry about it. Was just through there on Tuesday and there is no construction going on right now.