Ohio to Wisconsin

narcodog wrote:
I would like to travel from northeast Ohio to southwest Wisconsin avoiding major cities, Chicago and the like. I have a truck camper so I can go most places.

the only major city you'll be near will be Cleveland and there are ways around. you won't be within 100-mi of Chicago. please post specific names of where you're leaving from and where you're going to.

The usual advice is to accept the urban traffic on I80 across the south side of the Chicago metro area, and then head north on I39 (or may for SW WI, maybe further west). You have to go quite a ways further south to avoid suburban roads.

rk911 wrote:

narcodog wrote:
I would like to travel from northeast Ohio to southwest Wisconsin avoiding major cities, Chicago and the like. I have a truck camper so I can go most places.

the only major city you'll be near will be Cleveland and there are ways around. you won't be within 100-mi of Chicago. please post specific names of where you're leaving from and where you're going to.

Astabula, Oh to Viroqa, Wisconsin to be exact.

i misread your original post..sorry.

you can avoid Chicago metro but you'll either go waaay our of your way or thru some very sketchy neighborhoods.

me? i'd stay on I-80 thru the Indiana and Illinois suburbs to I-39 and then head north. if you time it right you'll avoid a lot, but not all, of the traffic. i'd want to run the stretch between where I-80 meets I-94 near Portage IN and Joliet IL between 10a-2p or way before dawn. you have a long drive. if you are doing it without stopping overnight you'll be leaving Ashtabula very, very early. if that's the case I'd just stay on I-90 and time it to barrel thru Cleveland before rush hour.

otherwise to avoid Cleveland consider...

Ohio SR11 south to I-80
I-80 east to the Illinois line
I-80 east to I-39
I-39 north to I-90 west
I-90 west to Illinois SR 14

you'll have one toll in Illinois where I-294 meets I-80. no cash taken...toll transponder or pay online after your trip is done.

safe trip.

sign up for easy pass. p.s there is no easy route get on the far side of ch relax.

Well your other choice is to take US30 for all or part of that East-West route.
But it is a whole lot of stop and go. And Chicago Heights is not a destination for me.
Safer and faster to just endure the traffic and potholes on 80.

obgraham wrote:
Well your other choice is to take US30 for all or part of that East-West route.
But it is a whole lot of stop and go. And Chicago Heights is not a destination for me.
Safer and faster to just endure the traffic and potholes on 80.

agree.

ford heights and the east side of chicago heights...that's what I meant abt "sketchy neighborhoods". you don't want to break down or stop in those neighborhoods.

How much adventure are you up for? There are 2 car ferries across Lake Michigan you could take. Yes, it will be out of your way, but much more relaxing than Chicago traffic.

Muskingum to Milwaukee

Ludington to Manitowoc

The Badger is the last coal fired ship in the US.

rk911 wrote:

obgraham wrote:
Well your other choice is to take US30 for all or part of that East-West route.
But it is a whole lot of stop and go. And Chicago Heights is not a destination for me.
Safer and faster to just endure the traffic and potholes on 80.

agree.

ford heights and the east side of chicago heights...that's what I meant abt "sketchy neighborhoods". you don't want to break down or stop in those neighborhoods.

that's what I'm trying to avoid.