Skipping I90 Chicago route going from MA to SD

[#1]

After a few PM exchanges and reading some posts here, I am planning the route to South Dakota from Mass. I am choosing to skip I90 at Chicago Metro all together (just because of experience with Boston I90 and routes 84 & 91 going in or out of Hartford CT).

From those who travel alot in this Western route, can you tell me how far out should I stay away from Chicago and the area?

I'd rather add a few miles and time and keep moving than sitting in gridlock.


Any good advise where it makes sense to do so?


Thanks
Normy

[#2]

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
I just returned to the Chicago area from the Black Hills. There is a long section of I-90 in Southern Minnesota that is in need of repair. In Wisconsin there is a 42 mile long construction zone from Madison south to almost the state line. Traffic moved along at 55 mph, but it was heavy. In Illinois there is construction on I-294 and I-355 and traffic always backs up where I-290 & I-294 meet up.

I-90 through Illinois, Wisconsin & Minnesota is the fastest route. Since you want an alternative, my best advice for you would be to take I-80 all the way to the Omaha area, and then head north to Sioux Falls. I’m guessing that it might add an hour to your trip. FYI, I-80 will have a lot more trucks than I-90 west of the Chicago area.

Thanks so much, you seem to know yours routes! If I take what you suggest, do you recall easy access to fuel stations and plenty? I will need both gas & diesel since we are 2 families

Thanks
Normy

[#3]

pulsar wrote:

Normy wrote:
I was trying to add a saved screen shot of what I planned, I can't upload it here. Heck if I know what the URL is for a file on my PC?

You can post a picture on the forum without putting a copy of the picture on a publicly available host site. To learn the easiest way to post a picture, see this thread in the Forum Posting Help and Support forum

RV.Net Tutorials and Picture Related FAQ's

Read the paragraph beneath the "Easy Photo Upload & Posting Web App" and click on the link. It would be wise to make a trial post of the picture in that forum. If you are not successful, leave the attempt; members will be able to see what went wrong and will be able to give you help. Once you figure it out, you will see that posting pictures is easy.

Tom

Thanks again, this will help me out big time.

Thanks
Normy

[#4]

pulsar wrote:
Get your atlas out and check this route.

Go south until you can get on I-84 west. (I don't know where you are starting.)

I-84 to I-81 south near Scranton, PA
I-81 to I-80 West
I-80 to I-76 west of Youngstown, OH
I-76 to I-71 south
I-71 to I-270 around the west side of Columbus, OH
I-270 to I-70
I-70 to I465 around the south side of Indianapolis
I-465 to I-74
I-74 to I-474 around south side of Peoria
I-474 to I-74
I-74 to I-80
I-80 to I-29 north of Davenport, Iowa
I-29 to I-90 in Souix Falls, SD

Tom

I just bought the latest AAA atlas, but man I can't see the small text LOL. I'll check this out,

Thanks
Normy

[#5]

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
Here’s your screenshot.

Ignoring construction, it would be a good route. Traffic tend to back up where people try to get off I-294 to get to I-290. At times you are better off taking I-294 all the way to I-90 by O’Hare. Google Maps with Traffic on will let you know the best route.
FYI, I-90 between O’Hare and Rockford is an excellent road.

Thankyou, that's it, so your tweak might be more pleasant then?

Thanks so much for posting this

Normy

[Mortimer_Brewst]

Here’s your screenshot.

Ignoring construction, it would be a good route. Traffic tend to back up where people try to get off I-294 to get to I-290. At times you are better off taking I-294 all the way to I-90 by O’Hare. Google Maps with Traffic on will let you know the best route.
FYI, I-90 between O’Hare and Rockford is an excellent road.

[pulsar]

Get your atlas out and check this route.

Go south until you can get on I-84 west. (I don't know where you are starting.)

I-84 to I-81 south near Scranton, PA
I-81 to I-80 West
I-80 to I-76 west of Youngstown, OH
I-76 to I-71 south
I-71 to I-270 around the west side of Columbus, OH
I-270 to I-70
I-70 to I465 around the south side of Indianapolis
I-465 to I-74
I-74 to I-474 around south side of Peoria
I-474 to I-74
I-74 to I-80
I-80 to I-29 north of Davenport, Iowa
I-29 to I-90 in Souix Falls, SD

Tom

[pulsar]

Normy wrote:
I was trying to add a saved screen shot of what I planned, I can't upload it here. Heck if I know what the URL is for a file on my PC?

You can't post a picture on the forum without putting a copy of the picture on a publicly available host site. To learn the easiest way to post a picture, see this thread in the Forum Posting Help and Support forum

RV.Net Tutorials and Picture Related FAQ's

Read the paragraph beneath the "Easy Photo Upload & Posting Web App" and click on the link. It would be wise to make a trial post of the picture in that forum. If you are not successful, leave the attempt; members will be able to see what went wrong and will be able to give you help. Once you figure it out, you will see that posting pictures is easy.

Tom

[Mortimer_Brewst]

I just returned to the Chicago area from the Black Hills. There is a long section of I-90 in Southern Minnesota that is in need of repair. In Wisconsin there is a 42 mile long construction zone from Madison south to almost the state line. Traffic moved along at 55 mph, but it was heavy. In Illinois there is construction on I-294 and I-355 and traffic always backs up where I-290 & I-294 meet up.

I-90 through Illinois, Wisconsin & Minnesota is the fastest route. Since you want an alternative, my best advice for you would be to take I-80 all the way to the Omaha area, and then head north to Sioux Falls. I’m guessing that it might add an hour to your trip. FYI, I-80 will have a lot more trucks than I-90 west of the Chicago area.

[Rustycamperpant]

Here is what I would do, and I've done it. From the east take 80/90/94 west around the south side of Chicago, Take 294 north towards Wisconsin, get on 355 north to I90, take I90 west towards Rockford and then north into Wisconsin. Take I90 all the way to South Dakota.

There is a little constuction as always on the way to Rockford. Some may say to take 88 from I294 all the way to I39 and go lorth to Rockford, but I88 is ONE lane all the way from Aroura to Rochelle Illinois. You will lose much time there.

[#11]

I was trying to add a saved screen shot of what I planned, I can't upload it here. Heck if I know what the URL is for a file on my PC?

[#12]

Rustycamperpants wrote:
BTW, it cost us around $90 in tolls just to cross Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Yikes!

yeah adding axles and dually wheels if you have them. When I was pulling a 5th wheel with my 2005 1 ton GMC pickup, going to Fla in 2012 was a lot back then.


I hope the roads are good for the cost they charge. They got rid of toll collectors in my area, and prices still go up....OH well

[#13]

Rustycamperpants wrote:
I looked at going up though Wisconsin from western Chicago suburbs to Mackinac Island, but it takes SEVERAL hours more than biting the bullet and going I90/94/80.

When we go to Michigan or farther east to Virginia or New Jersey we just try to time it so we hit Chicago on off hours. Between 10am and 2pm, or later after 8pm and it isnt all that bad. There are CRAZY drivers no matter when you go through. The headache is worth the time saved to me.

There is always the ferry option to go across lake Michigan, but that is VERY expensive.

I commute daily to and from work. Going in and out of Hartford CT a nightmare, I hit heavy traffic miles away from the downtown on Routes 84 & 91. I travel past Bradley International airport and don't have to go to Hartford, but depending on the time or day forget my travel. I use many back roads as possible.

RV is different, as well as not knowing the area.


A couple of kind folks here suggested backing away from Chicago via I90, I just wonder what is far enough?


I was able to save a screen shot of what I planned but I can't figure to upload it? Asks for a URL but I saved it on me PC. I had the option to upload it on IRV2 forum, it's there under Normy post

[Rustycamperpant]

BTW, it cost us around $90 in tolls just to cross Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Yikes!

[Rustycamperpant]

I looked at going up though Wisconsin from western Chicago suburbs to Mackinac Island, but it takes SEVERAL hours more than biting the bullet and going I90/94/80.

When we go to Michigan or farther east to Virginia or New Jersey we just try to time it so we hit Chicago on off hours. Between 10am and 2pm, or later after 8pm and it isnt all that bad. There are CRAZY drivers no matter when you go through. The headache is worth the time saved to me.

There is always the ferry option to go across lake Michigan, but that is VERY expensive.

[#16]

Fleet Man wrote:
Have you considered avoiding the Chicago area completely and route yourself through Michigan, the UP and west to SD?

I'm open to anything that saves aggravation. I don't know the area at all which to make sense.

We want to get to SD as safe and quick as possible, we are not retired and have limited vacation time still working for the "man/woman". So I'm trying not to add too much time going around or through. I think we will go thru during the week day not weekend, not sure yet