Driving through Chicago area to Wisconsin
 

I am planning a trip from southern Michigan to Winnipeg Manitoba after Labor Day. I'm most worried about driving through the Chicago area - what's the best route (ie. least busy) to get to Wisconsin? I'll be coming from Michigan on a Friday on I-94 - is it worth it to take I-80 to I-39 or save about 40 miles on I-294? Any other decent alternatives? Thank you in advance for all info.

I would stick to 294 to 90 so you will be cutting through the area at a northwest angle if this makes any sense.

Rush hour should be easing by 9 AM so plan accordingly.

Thanks for the info about rush hour. I was planning to leave Michigan at 6 AM, which would be 5 AM Chicago time. As it's about 3 hours to the Illinois border, that would get me there at about 8 AM. Looks like I should wait an hour to avoid rush hour traffic.

If this worries you so, why don't you take a ferry between Michigan and Wisconsin?

There are 2: www.lake-express.com and www.ssbadger.com

Assuming you have a smart phone, use google maps to route you through Chicago. It will give you the fastest route given the current traffic conditions.

I thought about taking the ferry, but the cost for me, my wife, and the car would be more than $500 round-trip on the Lake Express. The Badger costs less but takes several hours longer. More time and/or money than I wanted to spend, so I'll take my chances with Chicago.

Planned on using google maps - just wanted to get ideas from the locals. Thanks again for the replies.

As a local, I have 3 pieces of advice: 1) google maps because the best route through Chicago at any time of the day is constantly changing (it is unlikely I39 will be the best route) 2) the speed limit is whatever everyone is driving not the posted number 3) if you don't have one get a toll road transponder (ezpass or iPass) it works on Indiana, Illinois, and most other toll roads. In Illinois the toll is about half price as paying cash and Illinois has open tolling so you don't have to stop. Huge timesaver.

bjgchi,

In reference to number 1 above - I'll use google maps. Number 2 - assuming the speed everyone is driving is higher than the speed limit, what are my chances of being stopped since I have out-of-state plates? I'll be using a rental car from Michigan, so I'm not sure what state's plates it will have, but it probably won't be Illinois. Also, number 3 - because I'll be using a rental car, it may have its own transponder. If I have another transponder, I'm not sure which one the toll road will use - not to mention the possibility of them using both. Rental car companies use transponders as a way to add below-the-line service charges in addition to the toll amount, so I may end up paying tolls plus a $20 service charge. This would be more than the cash amount. No toll roads in Michigan, and I don't use them elsewhere often enough to justify getting a transponder. Thanks for responding - I appreciate your taking time.

License plates don't matter. 1/4 of the cars in Chicago probably have out of state plates. The cops only care about vehicles that are going unreasonably faster than everyone else on the road. My point is don't stress out about the speed limit, just follow what everyone else is doing and you will be fine. Just note that speed can matter on non-freeway roads.

In reference to license plates, I was thinking of Ohio where they prey on out-of-state plates. I have a friend who was going 60 in a 55 zone (this was in the 90s) in Ohio behind a long line of Ohio cars. He was stopped because he was from Michigan and was less likely to contest the ticket. Didn't want to run into that in Illinois. Thanks for the advice - will keep that in mind.

I'm pleased to report that we made it through Chicago going (Friday morning) and coming (Monday morning) without incident. The advice that rush hour would be easing about 9:00 AM and to keep up with traffic was quite valuable. Although Chicago traffic is busier than I'm used to, it was manageable with the good advice. Fortunately my rental car did not have a toll transponder, so no potential conflicts there. Thanks again to all for the advice.

P.S. Forgot to mention that we did take 294 to 90 and vice versa on the return. FWIW, the worst of it was the construction on I80/94 near the Illinois/Indiana border. The road goes down to 2 narrow lanes in spots and you're surrounded by semis. Eastbound on I-94, the construction continues sporadically all the way to the Michigan border.