Need help getting through Chicago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sundog]

Hello All....

I am going to be transferring stock from our shop outside of Minneapolis to our store/shop at the Michigan Renaissance Festival which is located outside of Flint Michigan. I have made this trip many times going through Chicago but also up and over the Michigan panhandle (the northern route is much longer).

Since time is critical I will be doing a speed run which takes me through Chicago.

Typically I follow the following route:
94 East to
39 South to
88 East to
290 or 294 south (I think it is south?) to
80 East

6 weeks ago I made this trip and 88 east/290 south was slammed due to construction. 2 weeks ago my FIL used:
39 South to
80 East
and there was minimal construction, but a greater distance and the construction may have gotten worse since then.

My question.....?????????????

On the way there I will be hitting Chicago about rush hour (5 pm) on Friday. Is there a good route through the city? Or am I better off sticking with 39S to 80E?

On the return trip I will be hitting Chicago about 5 am Saturday morning. What route will get me through Chicago to 39N the fastest?



Thanks for your help.

 

[Ketteringo]

As someone who currently lives here, I suggest not coming to Flint

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: Ketteringo
As someone who currently lives here, I suggest not coming to Flint

Heh....I do not have a choice. The selling time frame is 7 weekends per year.

 

[Ausm]

I thought 290 hooked up with 294 then to 90 east?

I take that way going from Wisconsin to Ann Arbor.

Ausm

 

Hrmm...I think you are pretty much screwed with Rush hour.

On the way back, you can go to 355n and hit 88 west, which will take you to 39N...some contruction, but not nearly as much as 80.

To get to 355, its 80W to 55 north, then to 355 north...then 88W...unless you want to avoid tolls...then I dunno. Dont take that route though.

 

[minendo]

Stay off of 294/90/80

You are basically screwed no matter what time you hit that area.

 

[fitzhue]

Originally posted by: minendo
Stay off of 294/90/80

You are basically screwed no matter what time you hit that area.

Yep, 5 pm you're basically screwed. 39 is definitely way out there, but 294/80/90 will be jammed anyway. Good luck!

 

[Ausm]

I just went through that area last month and the section from SE CHicago to Gary,Indiana was a road construction nightmare.

Ausm

 

[MaxDepth]

Originally posted by: Ketteringo
As someone who currently lives here, I suggest not coming to Flint

OMG! You're Michael Moore!!!!!

 

[Scarpozzi]

I think you need to get a boat and just bypass Chicago altogether...

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Ausm
I just went through that area last month and the section from SE CHicago to Gary,Indiana was a road construction nightmare.

Ausm

It's terrible no matter what time it is. I thought I could get through there at 3am on a Thursday morning, but no luck at all.

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: Ausm
I just went through that area last month and the section from SE CHicago to Gary,Indiana was a road construction nightmare.

Ausm

It's terrible no matter what time it is. I thought I could get through there at 3am on a Thursday morning, but no luck at all.

:| Crap........The northern route through the Michican panhandle adds 4-5 hours to the trip (takes the total drive time from 21-22 hours to 30-32 hours). If I am going to be stuck in traffic for that period I might as well travel on open roads.

The only problem is over 1/2 of the way is on 2 lane roads which have alot of deer crossing them. Have avoided several close calls on the northern route.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: Ausm
I just went through that area last month and the section from SE CHicago to Gary,Indiana was a road construction nightmare.

Ausm

It's terrible no matter what time it is. I thought I could get through there at 3am on a Thursday morning, but no luck at all.

:| Crap........The northern route through the Michican panhandle adds 4-5 hours to the trip (takes the total drive time from 21-22 hours to 30-32 hours). If I am going to be stuck in traffic for that period I might as well travel on open roads.

The only problem is over 1/2 of the way is on 2 lane roads which have alot of deer crossing them. Have avoided several close calls on the northern route.

Can you head South at all down through IL/IN and shoot back up to 80? (Don't have a map available to me at the moment.)

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: minendo
Can you head South at all down through IL/IN and shoot back up to 80? (Don't have a map available to me at the moment.)

Good suggestion if there are some decent roads not too far south of 80 that run parallel to 80. Will have th check the map when I get home.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: minendo
Can you head South at all down through IL/IN and shoot back up to 80? (Don't have a map available to me at the moment.)

Good suggestion if there are some decent roads not too far south of 80 that run parallel to 80. Will have th check the map when I get home.

It is going to be 2-lane if there are. The next interstate that parallels 80 is 74 which goes a good deal out of the way.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: minendo
Can you head South at all down through IL/IN and shoot back up to 80? (Don't have a map available to me at the moment.)

Good suggestion if there are some decent roads not too far south of 80 that run parallel to 80. Will have th check the map when I get home.

It is going to be 2-lane if there are. The next interstate that parallels 80 is 74 which goes a good deal out of the way.

74 heads pretty far south though. Hell, it passes through Crawfordsville which is south of Lafayette.

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: minendo
Can you head South at all down through IL/IN and shoot back up to 80? (Don't have a map available to me at the moment.)

Good suggestion if there are some decent roads not too far south of 80 that run parallel to 80. Will have th check the map when I get home.

It is going to be 2-lane if there are. The next interstate that parallels 80 is 74 which goes a good deal out of the way.

I don't mind 2 lane at all, as long as traffic moves at a decent clip.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: minendo
Can you head South at all down through IL/IN and shoot back up to 80? (Don't have a map available to me at the moment.)

Good suggestion if there are some decent roads not too far south of 80 that run parallel to 80. Will have th check the map when I get home.

It is going to be 2-lane if there are. The next interstate that parallels 80 is 74 which goes a good deal out of the way.

74 heads pretty far south though. Hell, it passes through Crawfordsville which is south of Lafayette.

Rt. 24 might be an option. If he dosen't mind a lot of 2-lane.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: minendo
Can you head South at all down through IL/IN and shoot back up to 80? (Don't have a map available to me at the moment.)

Good suggestion if there are some decent roads not too far south of 80 that run parallel to 80. Will have th check the map when I get home.

It is going to be 2-lane if there are. The next interstate that parallels 80 is 74 which goes a good deal out of the way.

74 heads pretty far south though. Hell, it passes through Crawfordsville which is south of Lafayette.

Rt. 24 might be an option. If he dosen't mind a lot of 2-lane.

US 30 might be an option as well.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: minendo
Can you head South at all down through IL/IN and shoot back up to 80? (Don't have a map available to me at the moment.)

Good suggestion if there are some decent roads not too far south of 80 that run parallel to 80. Will have th check the map when I get home.

It is going to be 2-lane if there are. The next interstate that parallels 80 is 74 which goes a good deal out of the way.

74 heads pretty far south though. Hell, it passes through Crawfordsville which is south of Lafayette.

Rt. 24 might be an option. If he dosen't mind a lot of 2-lane.

US 30 might be an option as well.

I would not suggest that. The last time I got on 30 at that time it took me about 40 minutes just to get through Joliet. Going through the western burbs would likely be ugly, especially if 59 is screwed up near Plainfield.

 

[Analog]

Minneapolis to Milwaukee = 5 hours

Milwaukee to Muskegon = 2.5 hours (High speed ferry Text)

Muskegon to Flint = 2.25 hours

Better than going through Chicago IMO.

 

[zbalat]

39 South to
80 East
80 East to US 23 North to Flint

80 is a toll road but I think that would be the fastest route.

 

[zbalat]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Minneapolis to Milwaukee = 5 hours

Milwaukee to Muskegon = 2.5 hours (High speed ferry Text)

Muskegon to Flint = 2.25 hours

Better than going through Chicago IMO.

Nice idea.:thumbsup:

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Minneapolis to Milwaukee = 5 hours

Milwaukee to Muskegon = 2.5 hours (High speed ferry Text)

Muskegon to Flint = 2.25 hours

Better than going through Chicago IMO.

Yeah, good idea. Already thought of that. Have to hit the ferry at specific times and the cost is prohibitive.

Automobile*
One Way $59.00
Round Trip $118.00
Trailer**
One Way $50.00
Round Trip $100.00

 

[Kelemvor]

Could take 94 to Milwaukee and take the new High Speed Ferry across the lake to Michigan...

Doh, nevermind. See someoen already pointed that out. And yeah, it is DAMN expensive. No idea why anyone would use it.