We are flying in late, arriving at 11 pm to meet my son and drive to California. We want to go from Midway Airport to Denver. Two websites have given different directions. One has us leaving Midway by way of Rt.55 for 12 miles then 88 then 80 to denver. the other keeps us on 55 for 36 miles then right on 80. Which is better? We would like to spend the night after we get out of the city with a little driving, less than 1 hour and I would like to make the reservation ahead of time since it will be so late. The next day, Sat. we will drive hard, where do you suggest we stop for the night to finish on Sunday. Have read about good steak houses on the way. Is Omaha a good place to shoot for? Thanks for the great advice.

TTT

Just don't forget to leave 80 and get on 70, or you'll be in Wyoming.

You should get further than Omaha if you are going to drive hard (i.e. 10 hours on the road) on Saturday--at least to the middle of Nebraska. You will need to leave I-80 in western Nebraska and get on I-76 which will take you right into Denver.

OK so you will be driving after 11 pm Right? No matter which road you take there are nightly lane closures after 11 pm. Rt 88 is a toll Road but faster and less truck traffic at that hour than 55/80 combination.

I would suggest the 55 to 80 option to get you going in the right direction.

Do a search for hotels in Romeoville or Bolingbrook or (more likely) Joliet near I-55 exits. Joliet will take you 45 minutes or so. Romeoville/Bolingbrook is less.

Bear in mind that delays are common on arrival times and getting a car will take some time.

Thanks for your input. I think we will take 55 to 80. We are being picked up so we won't wait for a car. the info on road closures is helpful. As always fodorites are the best.

This is just my opinion, but don't stay in Romeoville or Bolingbrook, get farther out- how about the Empress Casino's hotel in Joliet? It is a smidgen off of I-80 and easy to find- about 3 or 4 blocks from the expressway with a huge parking lot. Plus you are not in the middle of a dense city one-way traffic streets or something like you might be in Joliet proper. There is also huge I-355 extension construction going on which affect the bridges going over the DesPlaines River at different junctures, all except for the I-80 one- so get farther out during the nighttime hours. Construction is all day upon that project.

The Joliet Empress's hotel is separate by two or three football field distances from the casino, in a quiet area near the IL River, not a city location but would be exactly that length of ride from Midway that you suggest, and also with close access to I-80 in the morning.

It's a 3 star at the most, and if you go further down I-80 I'm not so sure you would find much better.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate your help in avoiding traffic tie ups.

Either route out of the airport is OK. The midpoint between Denver and Chicago is just west of Omaha. However, since you got an hour or two jump on that trip I would stay around Lincoln, Nebraska. Once you leave the Lincoln area it gets kind of thin. Many of the exits will have one or two low cost motels but because I-80 is a major east west road, the summer traffic is heavy and these motels fill up early.

If you have the time the Amana Colonies west of Iowa City are intersting. And Bill Zubers (sp?) in Mechanicville is well worth the stop. It is ten miles off of I-80 on US 6. Grandpa is (was) a legendary steak house just south of I-80 at Kearney. Maybe be closed. For some local color -- Ole's Big Game Bar in Paxton, NE, just west of North Platte. Ole was one of the last of the great white hunters and all of his trophies are on display. Food is not bad either. Just west of Ogallala take 76 -- (Ignor earlier advice about I-70 -- I-70 parallels I-80 through Kansas City) Have a full tank of gas and pack a lunch -- damn little between Ogallala and Denver. Watch for radar between the two exists to Sterling.

A second recommendation for Ole's. We've stopped there for lunch twice and enjoyed it both times.

And I agree with fmpden about hotels filling fast. Maybe I missed it, but I don't see that it says exactly when you're going. But, at least during the summer, I highly recommend that you book a place to stay ahead of time. I've heard horror stories from friends and relatives about not being able to find a place to stop enroute and winding up driving all the way home.

On our last trip out, we stayed in Lincoln. The time before we stayed at a Super 8 in Gretna, NE. It's just a little bit further than Lincoln. Nice hotel for the price. But not much else at that exit.

I drive to Denver often from NC and might suggest you drop on down to I70 at some point. You will "gain" an hour, and on the interstates as you get further west you can make exceptional time.
I think you can arrive in Denver late on the second day if you push a bit. I usually drive 80-1000 miles the first day and finish the 1600 miles from my house the second. The driving is just "constant", not really hard.

I agree with Martym about getting to the middle of Nebraska if you are going to drive hard on Saturday, but since you are flying in late the night before, I'd probably take it easy and spend the night in Lincoln. If you do decide to stay in Omaha, you might want to check out restaurants in the Old Market area. It was a nice area to walk around after a long drive.

There is no need to drop down to I-70 if you are taking I-80. I-76 will take you right into Denver.

I'm not sure what time of the year you are making this drive, but pay attention to the weather. The last time we made this drive, we made a stop at the zoo in Lincoln, before heading west for another hour and made it to the hotel just before severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings hit. Just be aware!

Gretchen, you need to explain the value of dropping down to I-70. I-70 actually enters the state about 30 miles south of Denver. If you are driving from NC you have never been on I-80.

Wow what great info. We are going Mid May, in fact next weekend. Anything else we need to know? thanks

fmpden, I think Gretchen's advice stems from the fact that she's never driven it from this "angle". She probably doesn't realize that I 80 paralells (I know I spelled that wrong!) 70 and that there's no advantage in taking 70 when you're starting farther north. I grew up in southern Illinois and we always took 70. But, of course, it makes no sense to do so from the Chicago area.

Ya, bring winter clothes. We had two feet of snow in the mountains Thursday. Be prepared for winter driving -- may be 70 degrees -- could be snow -- just never know this time of year.

I guess the weather channel will be our best friend. Is there a better way if they are calling for snow? Need to get to Bryce Canyon by tuesday. thanks again

I-70 is your way to go from Denver into Utah. If it is snowing, the only time travel will be bad is maybe while it is snowing. The Dept. of Transportation works very hard to keep the interstate drivable. Any secondary road will be worse. We live in the foothills 25 miles from downtown Denver and got about 4 inches of snow last night, though I'm sure Denver just got rain (we're at 7,600 ft altitude). Checking with Colorado Dept of Transportation websit http://www.dot.state.co.us/ I-70, at worst, has icy spots over the higher passes, otherwise no problem all the way from Denver to Utah this his moment.
Also note that east bound I-70 is closed at a spot in Glenwood Canyon so both directions of traffic are routed into the west bound lanes. Depending on traffic, there could be a delay there. Though in May traffic to the mountains is usually not heavy--i.e., ski season over, summer activities not yet started.

Wow, Caph2, someone who actually knows about Big Ole. I grew up in the Sandhills (Broken Bow) and high school in North Platte. Big Ole was still alive in those days -- an interesting character with lots of stories. You are right about Gretchen, I don't think she has been anywhere near I-80. Should not be giving advise on thing you don't know about.

As far as the drive through the mountains goes, looks like the weather is breaking and should be good by mid week. May go skiing at Loveland this week.