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Coming from Michigan to Necedah.

Oysterpot

Moderator
Staff member
What is the best route to take in Illinois? I will not be towing a trailer. The last time I traveled I94 it was a mess, is it still pretty bad?
 
George,
Depending on what time of day you come through, you could just take I94 to I90 and stay on 90 into Wisconsin. Or, take 80/94 to I-294 to I-290 to I-90 which will bypass the city. 290 has construction but is usually not too bad, again, depending on the time of day.
 
OK George, here's the best way to get to Wisconsin from Tennessee! Take I40 to Nashville and then I24 up through Clarksville to Paducah, Kentucky. Continue with I24 into Illinois, taking Hwy. 57 north to Effingham, to Champaign/Urbana. From C/U go west on I74 to Bloomington/Normal. Once there, take I38 to Wisconsin. You will avoid heavy Illinois traffic. But I warn you, there isn't a Waffle House outside of Kentucky! I39 is also the highway you'll take to the Camp-Outt. We take this to Monterey/Cookeville every time we head to TN. Safe journey!
 
George, I checked Smithville on my Tennessee map. You would eliminate the I40 section of my directions and just head north on I24.
 
You crack me up Jean. Good idea though, I think George would have to leave a bit earlier though.

Being a country folk I don't like taking the more city routes that Ken recommended (he lives there remember). I would come up 39 from Bloomington IL. To get there, probably on 74. These are all easy roads. To get from where you up there I am guessing 24 to 57 to 74?

This is a far easier route, not much but cornfields and wind farms along that stretch. Some traffic at Rockford.

Cary
 
George,

We visited Camp-Inn last week. We drove from Virginia I 90 thru Chicago inbound on Saturday morning and I 294 around Chicago on the return run on Tuesday. Nasty construction from Gary to Chicago on I-90. If you choose to deal with Chicago I would recommend I 80,294,90 there was some construction but not too bad. Chicago traffic was no fun in either direction.

Benn
 
When isn't there construction between Gary & Chicago? :D

For that matter, when isn't there construction ANYWHERE in/around Chicago? :D :D :D

:cool:
 
Remember, George is coming 'from Michigan to Necedah', not from Tennessee.

Right now, construction on the I-290 portion of my directions is the worst, but if hit during non-rush hour is going to be just fine. We have recently done the Michigan to Chicago portion on I-94 and while there is some construction/lane shifting for a short part of that leg, it is not bad at all.

Construction is relatively light believe it or not :o
 
George, Use Maggie Garmin Nuvie, enter the addy and let her tell you the roads to take.

Jean
 
Betsey said:
Skip the entire mess & take the ferry across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin...

:cool:

Believe it or not that is what google maps suggested. The problem is $ and same amount of time. I know no traffic Chicago hassle. Thanks :D :D or were you serious!
 
Jean W said:
George, Use Maggie Garmin Nuvie, enter the addy and let her tell you the roads to take.

Jean


:D :D :D So you have named her :D :D I call her MZ Garmin. I do have a Garmin, and I have a cute story about the GPS's, I plugged in the addresse, and then tried to follow her directions on an Atlas. I loose the roadways she mentions in Cnicago!
My son went to school in Chicago, plus I used to ride my motorcycle to Oshkosh for rallies, but that was alooooong time ago. Midnight to 3 AM were the best times to go through.
 
I know it's not cheap (for that matter, neither are Indiana & Illinois tollways...lol), but we've had some of our customers travel on the ferry & really enjoyed it. And you are right...NO traffic jams! :)

:cool:
 
George,

Well, no wonder then, didn't realize where you were at right now. If you are in MI right now then the only two options are to come over the top through the UP or take the ferry. Avoid Gary at all costs. Listen to Jean and Betsey.

Cary
 
Cary said:
George,

Well, no wonder then, didn't realize where you were at right now. If you are in MI right now then the only two options are to come over the top through the UP or take the ferry. Avoid Gary at all costs. Listen to Jean and Betsey.

Cary


What is up with Gary?
 
Mainly a bottle neck in traffic that is unavoidable, lot of rough neighborhoods too, so a detour for construction might turn out to be more "scenic" than you are planning. If everything is smooth, no big deal though. You'll have to ask Holly about one detour we did through there years back when you see her.

Cary
 
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