I'm traveling from Michigan to Madison and back this weekend, leaving early Friday am and returning early Sunday am. I live about 3 1/2 hours from the outskirts of Chicago. Is 294 the best route, or should I try to take Dan Ryan detours through downtown?

Dan Ryan is under construction and I would avoid it if possible. Consider taking skyway or skirting the downtown Chicago area altogether. Where in Michigan are you coming from? Your drive is not good, let me tell you- especially for that entire (short) time period.

I don't want to discourage you, but depending upon your leaving destination, I would consider the cross Lake Michigan ferries. I'm sure it would be less stressful.

I travel from Southern Chicago burbs to Michigan (Cass County) frequently. The IL/IN border is torn up right now. It may be better for you to go as far South as possible and then West (we use old Rt. 30 at times- lots of traffic lights)depending upon where you are coming from MI.

You can do Skyway and cut through the city but you still will hit border snags. These last weeks and weekends have been brutal.

Can someone give jelsey a way through? There is a ferry from Ludington and also others that dock close to Milwaukee etc. You may want to get some Lake Michigan car/people ferry information if it is 3-1/2 hours just to get to the Chicago environs.

Thanks for the quick reply! I live in Muskegon, but am traveling with another car to Madison so the cost of the ferry is a little prohibitive. I might consider it for the return trip by myself.

Okay, you talked me in to it! I just priced the Lake Michigan Car Ferry from Ludington to Manitowoc, and it's barely over $300 for one one-way with a vehicle and one round-trip with a vehicle. Can't pass up that price, especially when you count missing both Chicago and Milwaukee traffic...

The people on this site are some of the BEST. I so appreciate all the help I've had in my travels!

We will be leaving downtown Chicago to drive to Spring Green, Wi. and then returning to fly out of Midway. Any of you locals interested in giving "Best Route" advise?

Thanks a lot.

jbella, I would start a new post with MIDWAY Chicago to Spring Green WI in the title. I'm a South side person and don't know the best ways North as of 7/12/06- but there are tons of us who go to WI about every other week or three in summer and will let you know what's up right now.

jelsey, I'm so glad you're doing the ferry. I know where I am in detail and sometimes we just go to eat or drive 30 miles out of the way right when we are sick of sitting on 294 or I-80 and the percentage of trucks there are the highest in the USA. Everything has to go around that Lake. So much easier for you to be able to get there as the birds fly and you won't be looking at the inside of trucks' wheel wells for hours either. Great choice!