I'm moving to Boston from Minneapolis in less than a week and I've been struggling with my route. Is there an efficient way to avoid going THROUGH Chicago? I have heard the traffic is horrrrrible.
2006-07-27 06:59:40 · 8 answers · asked by Cindy G 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Chicago
FYI: I have a toddler. I am NOT interested in flying!! And everyone on that plane would be grateful if they knew.
2006-07-27 07:09:54 · update #1
Sure traffic can be bad, but any round-about way will probably take even longer. I assume you will be going east on I-90 through Wisconsin. I-90 is commonly known as the Northwest Tollway (off the subject, Chicago names virtually all highways) and runs from Wisconsin to Rockford Illinois to the northwest suburbs of Chicago to downtown. Northwest of the city 90 meets 294 (the Tri-State) which runs south and then east to Indiana. Please consult a map so you don't get 90, 294 and 290 confused. DO NOT take 290 (the Eisenhower) to downtown, traffic is lousy and it just ends at downtown. If you stay on 90 (the Kennedy) and go downtown you will get worse traffic, but will eventually get where you are going. In the south suburbs 294 meets I-80 (not really named) which will take you east through Indiana to Ohio and beyond.
Traveling in this direction, from the northwest suburbs through the western suburbs and then turning southeast to Indiana, is much more busy in the afternoon than in the morning. Friday is the worst day of the week for traffic.
In addition, I also recommend against taking 94 to Milwaukee and then south through Chicago (the Dan Ryan). It is out of the way and 94 through the south side of Chicago is under construction.
Hope this helps, feel free to ask with more specifics.
2006-07-27 08:46:21 · answer #1 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are probably going to end up going 80/90 to 294 to 90.
You should plan to hit the area before morning rush or after evening rush.
Do not take 90/94 through downtown. There is major construction going on there.
I80 is a major East-West truck route, so traffic there can be bad no matter when you go through.
2006-07-27 16:18:34 · answer #2 · answered by rt11guru 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No need. to. When 80 &90/94 split stay on 80 W to Cedar Rapids IA then take 380 to I-35N and onto MN. Or you could go 80 W to I-39N at Ottowa iL then pick up i-90 pn ther other side of Rockford IL.. Once you leave the Indiana Toll road 80 gets a lttle urban for 35 miles or so after that it's nice .
2006-07-27 18:52:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can drive down to Iowa and accross IL on I80, it is south of Chicago and you will miss the real traffic mess, it will still be a little sticky when 80/94 merge, but it's probably your best bet.
2006-07-27 14:04:47 · answer #4 · answered by Carol R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just take the 294 bypass around downtown.
2006-07-27 14:03:39 · answer #5 · answered by Kutekymmee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Up through canada and down through Michigan...
2006-07-27 14:09:19 · answer #6 · answered by bodinibold 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can drive around
2006-07-28 04:40:41 · answer #7 · answered by young c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FLY
2006-07-27 14:02:45 · answer #8 · answered by stanyazfan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋