Driving from Chicago to Baltimore, need route ideas

[Steve]

So next Tuesday (the 23rd) I'm voluntarily driving a truck from here (Chicago) to Baltimore for an event. Yesterday somebody told me to avoid the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but they couldn't remember what route or highyway number it is. Anyhow I'm open to suggestions for getting there. I'm required to stop overnight for liability prevention. How would you approach this trip?

One other thing, Google Maps says the trip is 13 hours, Mapquest says 12, and Yahoo Maps 11. I haven't had time to compare their routes though.

 

[Linflas]

I 76= PA Turnpike

 

[leftyman]

go south/east

 

[Mr N8]

Google Maps is your friend

 

[luckysnafu]

Why did your friend tell you to avoid the PA turnpike? What road are you going to take if you don't take that?

 

[Rebasxer]

70 is the way to take, and a beauty to drive on, but once your inside MD, expect delays around rush hour, 70 is hell to drive on around than.

 

[imported_Dimicron]

The turnpike is nice to drive on, but you can expect to pay about $8 to ride on if if going from the border of OH/PA to the I 70E in to B-more. Last time I drove it was about 6 months ago so my toll price may be off. It's far easier and shorter to take the turnpike than go around. If you really want to go around, then next best route takes you through WV/VA (south till I 64E then I 95N than I 270). But that will be too far south and you'll still go through DC and all it's traffic/wretched hive of scum and villany-ness.

 

[MaxDSP]

I drove from Chicago to Maryland last week with family, took about 11-12 hours incl like 4-5 rest stops.

EDIT: Route we took was I-90 E to I-80 E to I-76 (PA Turnpike?)

Cant say how long the drive wouldve been on the way back, because from MD we had to go up to North NJ first and then back home.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Mr N8
Google Maps is your friend

So is reading comprehension

 

[Steve]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'm open to more ideas if you've got 'em.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Get from Chicago to Indianapolis however you choose (I65).
Take I70 over to Columbus and onto Wheeling.
After climbing (and I do mean that word) out of Wheeling, at Washingotn WV, take the ?I89? South toward Charlseton WV.

Then pick up I68 East to Cumberland and link up with I70 into Baltimore.

The Ohio drive is relaxing once you get past Columbus (take 470S around it);
The WV and MD drive is sceinic with little traffic.

When stationed in Indy, used to do that drive every holiday to visit kids in Southern MD.
10 hour haul from Indy keeping the general speed limit.

In WV, you will be hard pressed to keep up to the speed limit.

 

[Steve]

Thanks, I will check into that.

Guys, with all the routes you've suggested, where would you say I should stop and rest overnight?

 

[MaxDSP]

Originally posted by: sm8000
Thanks, I will check into that.

Guys, with all the routes you've suggested, where would you say I should stop and rest overnight?

Stop and rest overnight?


I did the drives by taking 10-15 minutes breaks every couple of hours, no overnight stays anywhere

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: sm8000
Thanks, I will check into that.

Guys, with all the routes you've suggested, where would you say I should stop and rest overnight?

3-4 hourws from Chicago to Indy - 10 hrs to Balt.

Leave 7 AM , get there at bedtime.

Fuel up at Indy/Ohio border and again in MD.

 

[Steve]

Did nobody read the OP?


I am required to stop somewhere. The expense will be reimbursed.


Believe me, if it were my call I'd do it all at once. I did that several times from here to NE Arkansas, usually around 10 hours or so.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Bunk up between Columbus and Wheeling. 8-10 hours of driving on flat roads in Ind and Ohio.

Well rested for the up/downs of WV and western MD.

 

[Steve]

Last call for suggestions and alternatives. I am spending tonight doing laundry, packing, and sleeping. I go to work in the morning and leave from there at noon, I will finalize my route in the morning.

EDIT: BTW, the truck is a 24-foot (or more?) diesel, and it is packed full to the brim. A little nervous, first time I've tried a vehicle like this.

 

[Steve]

Bump

 

[GeekDrew]

In that kind of truck, on a route that you are not familiar with, *take your time*. You'll get used to driving the truck, but remember that braking distance is still MUCH longer than a car, and acceleration as well.

Take I 80/90 out of Chicago, hit 65 S until just above Indy. Take 865/465 E to I-70E. A few hours later, you'll get near Columbus. I *STRONGLY* suggest you take the I-270 SOUTH bypass. In case you don't remember the number I-270, follow the hazardous cargo signs through Ohio, and that'll take you around Columbus, instead of through it. I-270 south will become I-270 E. You will want to take the I-70 E exit, to continue east. If you happen to be hitting the Columbus area around rush hour, for your sake, stay in the lane as far to the right as you possibly can - many cars will be happy with you, and it's easier to take the correct exits that way during rush hour.

After you're back on I-70 E, on the other side of Columbus, I personally don't see why taking I-70 toward Baltimore is much of a problem - I-70 includes the Pennsylvania turnpike, though. I'm not really sure why you want to avoid it... ask whomever suggested that you avoided it for advice from that point.

Columbus will be just about as close to the middle of the trip as you are going to get. I make it from Chicago to Columbus in my car in about 6.5 hours - I would venture to guess that in a truck, it will be closer to 8 - 8.5 hours. Anywhere around Columbus would be a good place to stop for the night. Try to figure out exactly where you will be stopping *before* you depart.

I also suggest you find a CB and put it in the truck, and make sure it's working. They can come in very handy if you're in an unfamiliar area after dark, and need assistance or directions (*ahem* not that I would know or anything *ahem*).

 

[Steve]

Thanks, I'm about to head out and I've printed this (along with everything else) to take with me

 

[Steve]

Well, we arrived last night. That truck was no fun to drive, it couldn't climb a hill to save it's life. Wheezing up hills at 20mph is no fun! Anyhow we ended up taking 80/90 to Cleveland, then a bunch of I-70somethings south, then east to 68 and back onto 70. Not a great route in retrospect due to the hills and our sucky truck.

Anyhow I'm open to suggestions for a better drive back. The only condition is that I have to take I-70 through Frederick (MD) and stop to pick up a few things from someone there. I leave Sunday around 2:30pm, and would like to arrive in Chicago early afternoon.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: sm8000
Well, we arrived last night. That truck was no fun to drive, it couldn't climb a hill to save it's life. Wheezing up hills at 20mph is no fun! Anyhow we ended up taking 80/90 to Cleveland, then a bunch of I-70somethings south, then east to 68 and back onto 70. Not a great route in retrospect due to the hills and our sucky truck.

Anyhow I'm open to suggestions for a better drive back. The only condition is that I have to take I-70 through Frederick (MD) and stop to pick up a few things from someone there. I leave Sunday around 2:30pm, and would like to arrive in Chicago early afternoon.

What on *earth* possessed you to take that route?

Oh well, that's what you get for not taking our advice. :thumbsdown:

 

[Miramonti]

When driving long distance, I usually print out mapquest's route and use it rather than googles, because even if all the directions are the same, the ETA is always faster, so I must be saving time.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: sm8000
Well, we arrived last night. That truck was no fun to drive, it couldn't climb a hill to save it's life. Wheezing up hills at 20mph is no fun! Anyhow we ended up taking 80/90 to Cleveland, then a bunch of I-70somethings south, then east to 68 and back onto 70. Not a great route in retrospect due to the hills and our sucky truck.

Anyhow I'm open to suggestions for a better drive back. The only condition is that I have to take I-70 through Frederick (MD) and stop to pick up a few things from someone there. I leave Sunday around 2:30pm, and would like to arrive in Chicago early afternoon.

What on *earth* possessed you to take that route?

Oh well, that's what you get for not taking our advice. :thumbsdown:

Thanks for being helpful, the trip is only 1/2 done I admit I am guilty of poor planning.

Now that I've learned my lesson the hard way, are you willing to provide some helpful advice again, or are you going to continue being an ass?

 

[kranky]

There's no way to avoid the hills. I recommend taking I-70 out of Baltimore, through Frederick, and staying on I-70 until it merges with the PA Turnpike (I-76). Then stay on the PA Turnpike until it becomes the Ohio Turnpike (still I-76 at the beginning).

(For what it's worth, when you get to the New Stanton exit of the PA Turnpike, you've finished with the hills.)

Eventually I-76 splits off, and the Ohio Turnpike becomes I-80. Stay on I-80 into Cleveland and return home from there the way you came.

Geekdrew's suggested route sounds fine also. (I-70 all the way to Indianapolis).