What route would you choose?

[CountryGuy]

Well, the updated construction data on Microsoft Streets and Trips does not give a pretty picture for getting around Chicago, one section looks to be totally closed?

If you were going from, ohhh, say, Coldwater Michigan to Minneapolis, what route would you take, keeping in mind staying a bit away from Chicago is MANDATED!!

Suggestions??? Feedback from any MOC members that have been in or around Chicago, or travel that area freqently, your input is especially important.

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carol

[Montana_2785]

When we have to go around that mess, we typically cross between Indiana and Illinois across IL rt 17.

Search for Sherburnville IL. That is where we cross. Then stay on Rt 17 through Kankakee and past till you get to Rt 47 at Dwight. Take 47 north till you get to I80 (toll) and go west till you get to I39. Take that north to Rockford and get on I90 west and head for Minneapolis.

Yes there are some small towns to play with, but this country boy would rather do that than deal with I80 around the lake. That is generally one REALLY BIG MESS.

BTW: Honk when you go by, we are in Carpentersville...

Eric

[CountryGuy]

Thanks Eric, I will put that all on the streets program!! That is what I needed, some first hand experience.

[jrgwdenner]

Carol, you'll be in our territory when you get on Route 47. You'll be driving through the corn fields of Illinois where I grew up. It's a good flat road from Dwight to near Aurora (where I was born, by the way) with a certain beauty of its own, though some would debate that, I guess. We just came up Rt. 47 yesterday on our way from Nashville to the big town of Sandwich, Illinois, where I'm sitting in the Monty in front of my Dad's house, thankful for the use of someone's wireless. None of this is helpful, just wanted to share.

[old turbo]

Same question but heading in a different direction. Would this be a good route to pick up I 80 going west. We are going to Colorado June 30 sure hate to think about any part of chicago. I am another country boy up here in Michigan ,east of Saginaw. I almost think that no one in chicago has a job, they are all on the roads.Thanks for your input.

[sreigle]

Old Turbo, I'm not sure exactly where you are but if you can cut south to Indianapolis, I70 to Colorado works well. Parts of Missouri are rough and you'll have a toll of around 4 bucks, maybe 5, from Kansas City to Topeka, KS, although we can route you around that if necessary. We just made the trip from Indianapolis to Kansas City on I70 a couple of weeks ago, with Montana in tow. We lived 27 years in Topeka, KS, so can get you around the turnpike, also. I normally just pay the toll.

[keepontruckin]

Al & Carol,

It is my recommendation that you take 80 west to 39 North to Rockford, IL. THe 39 North is 4-lane all the way. When you intersect to 90 West you will only hit one toll booth before leaving Il. This will bring you into the east end of St. Paul. Please feel free to contact me when you are located in the MPLS area. I would enjoy very much to meet you as I know I can learn many things from the both of you based upon your writings. If you have any questions, email me and I will provide a phone number. Good luck on your travels!

[CountryGuy]

OK,Gang,

Here is part TWO of this question!!! I did a little fussing with Streets and Maps and found that if we go out of here due north, to Mackinaw, over 2 to 8, through the UP of Michigan and Wisconsin, it is only about 40 to 60 miles more?? than the route, of around Chicago, that is the southern route around Chicago, say, Goshen, Bremen, Kankakee and then turning north.

SOOO, those of you that are familiar with that route 8 through Wisconsin, how is the drive?? Is it real slow cause of all the towns, nice road, bad road? I have not even looked for campgrounds in that neck of the woods.

The up side of this for us, is that we have not been in that part of Wisconsin, so it would be new scenery for us.

Feedback, as always is greatly appreciated.

keepontruckin,

We are scheduled to arrive Monday the 27th, and the next 3 days after that, if all goes well I will be knee deep in documents and microfilm. We will be staying until at least the 5th.

Carol

[Bob Pasternak]

If I were going from Coldwater to Minneapolis I'd go I-69 up to I-75 and up to the "Big Mac". Then across the UP on US RT. 2. And get some pasties along the way.
Another way (west bound) around Chi is get off 80/94 at Indianapolis Blvd and go south to Rt. 30 (Joliet Rd.) and take it west to Rt. 1 (Halsted) and then north to 80/94.
Enjoy your trip.

[CountryGuy]

Thanks Bob!

How bout some of that smoked fish and jerky from the UP???

We are actually leaving from Tipton, Just mentioned COldwater, cause that is usually the way we go, US 12 west to Coldwater, then we either continue on 12 west almost to Elkhart or we may jump on I 69 south maybe jog over to Napanee, etc. Depends sometimes on our mood! HAHA

Thanks for the feedback!! It is appreciated!

[sreigle]

I haven't driven 8 but US 2 across the UP is nice road. That's the reverse of the route we took from Minneapolis to Door County, WI, then to St. Ignace last summer.

[old turbo]

I dont know who made 8 the way across the up. My son lives in St.Paul go through the up all the time . Here is my route . I75 across the brige,pick up two west,a little construction in this are but nothing that will stop you . Two west is a beautiful drive, four lanes out of St.Ignace. Route 2 has 12 passing lanes,so you can be slow to let traffic by or you can pass the slow ones. Take 2 to Escanaba. In Escanaba pick up 35 to Menominee. I forgot to mention 2 may have a little road work along the way but nothing thats real time consumeing.Now back to 35 to Menominee to the border into Wisconsin where their is some bridge work follow the signs to head south and west35 changes to 41 across the border. . Follow 41 to peshtigo,then to Oconto where you will pick 22 west. Follow 22 west to Shawano,where you will pick up 29 going west,watch the signs here because they forgot to put west and south on some of their signs. You will now be heading toward Wausau. When you get to Wausau again pay attention to your signs.Stay on 29 to Eau Claire, you are now close to 94 work your way to 94 and your on your way on a straight shot to Minnesota,have a good tiome and spend some time at the Mall Of America

[CountryGuy]

Thanks a lot Old Turbo! I am gonna grab the maps!

[old turbo]

Try this weSome campgrounds along the way. State Forest Camprounds along 2 but no electric or water. Manistique you might try Kewadin Casino Inn and Campground,not much for a senic view unless you go across 2 from the motel you can take the walking path along the lake shore.The motel lets you use the laundry has men and womens locker rooms with showers and a huge indoor pool with no one in it.I know there are plenty of other campgrounds but I have never stayed at any of them.Try this web site also www.wmallory.com camping on lake michigan.

[CountryGuy]

Status report,

We took 127 north from Jackson MI to 75, crossed the big bridge, spent the night in St. Ignace, KOA, expensive, (and they did not even cut the grass!!!, but one of the staff was enforcing something or other with that gun on his hip!!!), to discover they were having a car show, LOTS of partying going on. Other than the screams of PARTYTIME, the firecrackers and the excessive consumption (witnessed by PILES of beer and booze bottles at a number of the campsites), it was an OK place to stay, but we will try to NOT go there again, if we have to during a car show weekend. SIGHH

Next took 2 over to 8. Bout mid state Wisconsin, we discovered that many of the campgrounds on that route were not really appropriate for our situation (large rig, not wanting to unhook for one night). So, we dove out of the 8 drive (which we were really enjoying by the way, NICE road, very scenic, pretty stuff!!!!) and dropped down to Wausau. Went UP (and I do mean UP) to Rib Mountain State park. Interesting place, road construction got us all messed up, but 2 rather nice and helpful couples pointed us in the right direction, and arrive we did! They told us we could have the last electrical site (they only have TWO electrical sites up there) IF we could get Montana monster on the site. Let me tell you about the view from this site! AMAZING!! WOWIE!! Sad to say after fussing with it for about 45 minutes, Al walked around and found another site. NO power. OK, no biggie, just for the night. So, we set up, pay $20.00 ($10.00 is the daily rate for out of state campers) and settle down for the night.

Last part of the ride was 29 west to Minnesota state line, 29 is mostly concrete, some was OK, but we got a bit of the ole concrete jossle dance today. Not our fav way to spend the day, but we have been on MUCH worse than this. Dropped over to the 494 around SE Minneapolis, and cept for the one driver that was NOT going to yield coming onto the xpressway IN a construction zone, who all but hit us, arrived here in Apple Valley early afternoon.

If we had had a bit more time, would have rather done this with one more day, so we could have continued the leisurely ride across the 8 in Wisconsin, but, would have started from a point further west in Michigan, so we could do all of 8 in one day, and found a campground that might have had electric!

The trip back to Michigan will be around Chicago, WAYYYYYY around Chicago!

Wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions!! MOC IS a GREAT resource! THANKS AGAIN!!

[hodag]

hwy.8 accrossed northern wis. is a good drive. scenic,good road and bypasses around some of the towns. rhinelander happens to be my home town.

[CountryGuy]

hodag

that is some real purdy country side!! and I mean REAL PURDY!!!