Nettie

Travelling to O'Hare from Michigan on Friday for a flight that leaves at 8.30 pm. Is it best to go on the toll roads and miss out the city completely or go through the city? We have done both ways before but I found the toll roads went so far around it seemed to take longer..Any suggestions? We will be on the I 94 so will be heading East this way.
Thank you!

ComeSailWithME

Friday night traffic sucks no matter what. It is usually worse going into the city though. I suggest getting on the expressway and not taking streets through the city.

LorettaDN

Everyone drives to work on Friday. Either way will most likely be unpleasant, but I will avoid taking Interstate 90 the entire way to O'Hare sometimes. If you are trying to incorporate a short city visit, here's my recommendation:

Take exit 5 off I-90 after paying the toll (no attendant) onto Hwy 41, turning right to go North. Follow Hwy 41 through Hammond-Whiting-Hammond and continue following Hwy 41 into Chicago turning right on Ewing. There is a detour at Skyway Dog. Stop at Skyway Dog for some Chicago style hot dogs. Be sure to get everything on it and add hot peppers on the side. They come with fries, but you may need more of them (and soft serve ice cream). Exiting the parking lot, you will go over the bridge next to a fish dive. They have good fried fish chips, fried oysters, and smoked fish and shrimp. This is the bridge the Blues Brothers jumped in the movie. Follow the detour to the right, and you will be back on Hwy 41. You will see the new neighborhood "Lakeside" being constructed. Soon you will be on Lakeshore Drive, and you can take that into downtown. You can either turn left and take one of the major streets like Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile) or State Street (that Great Street) to Ohio Avenue, where you'll want to make a left and get back on Interstate 90. I've also taken city streets all the way to O'Hare depending upon how much time I have.