Poconos to Rapid City, S.D.

[floridaguy]

We're heading north from Florida to the Poconos and then turning west to Rapid City. The last time we did this we took I80 West, which got me in Chicago traffic. Without adding too many miles, is there a way to avoid big city congestion? Thanks

[john_bet]

Paulj--I like the scenery out my back door too. No houses for over a half mile and it is only one. Right now it is corn stubble and trees. By July it will be trees and soybeans.:)

[paulj]

Scenery - like the crop duster scene in North by Northwest? Didn't he take the bus south from Chicago toward Indianapolis? (the actual filming location was the California Central Valley).

To me scenery has to have some vertical relief. There's a bit of that where I80/90 passes south of Lake Michigan. And where it crosses a quarry in Illinois. There's more when I90 heads to the Skyway - but that's going into downtown (man made scenery there).

[john_bet]

paulj wrote:
Google Maps adds 93 miles and 2 1/2 hrs to take US24 instead of I80 between Ft Wayne and Moline (69 to 74).

For me it would be worth it to avoid Chicago. Besides scenery will be a lot better. JMHO.

[floridaguy]

paulj wrote:
Google Maps adds 93 miles and 2 1/2 hrs to take US24 instead of I80 between Ft Wayne and Moline (69 to 74).

And I was starting to like that option.

[paulj]

Google Maps adds 93 miles and 2 1/2 hrs to take US24 instead of I80 between Ft Wayne and Moline (69 to 74).

[john_bet]

At the I-80/I-69 jct drop down to Fort Wayne to US-24 west towards Peoria pick up I-39 to I-80 or I-74 to I-80.

[Matt_Colie]

We know your problem well. Trying to get west under the south end of Lake Michigan is a SOB. The best answer we have found is the Cabela's in Hammond IN. Right off the highway I-80 with truck/RV parking. It is Exit 2 (us-41) and we use it all the time as a hold up area to wait out the Chicago traffic. They also have a dump and potable water. The truck parking is often full, and if it is, we just park out in the lot and nobody has ever bothered us.

Matt

[Dennis_M_M]

shawdowboss wrote:
Another route would be 70 to 74 to 80. The improvements in Indianapolis have made that area better. You avoid Chicago and tolls on 80. We use this route a lot to the east coast.

I would take 80 across PA (better than than the PA Turnpike), then I-76 to I-71, I-270 around Columbus and then I-70 West as above.

As an aside, they have made tremendous improvements to I-80/90 (Borman & Kingery Expressways) around the South side of Chicago in the last few years, more lanes and less congestion. They now separate the traffic Northbound on the Dan Ryan a few miles before the split, smooths out traffic flow considerably.

Still heavy traffic and a fairly tense drive - came through there late yesterday morning with the truck and trailer at the speed limit all the way across, but you need to keep your wits about you.

[shawdowboss]

Another route would be 70 to 74 to 80. The improvements in Indianapolis have made that area better. You avoid Chicago and tolls on 80. We use this route a lot to the east coast.

[floridaguy]

I'll survive. Thanks for all the advice.

[paulj]

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.

[floridaguy]

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.

[CloudDriver]

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.

[pianotuna]

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.