Can I Drive Rochester to Chicago in One Day?

[ToLiveIsToFly]

Unless you're staying in Chicago overnight and then heading to ND.

What part of Chicago is she in?

Yes, I'm staying there. She's at the airport Marriott... She says it's not as nice as other Marriotts and it's in the middle of nowhere.

Once we realized that we had to drive to South Bend, I thought it would be just as easy to drive all the way to Chicago and then we can drive home from South Bend on Sunday.

Rochester to Chicago is eminently do-able. Don't forget you're gaining an hour on the drive.

Whatever you do, when I-80 and I-90 split, take 90, and don't take 94 until 90 and 94 join up in the actual city (and then when they split again, stay with 90). Take the Skyway, take the Skyway, take the Skyway. It's hideously ugly and may be vertigo-inducing and the air stinks, but I'm assuming that if you're coming from Rochester you're used to all that. It's direct and it moves - it'll save you 45 minutes at least.

I drove back from Michigan last weekend 2 hours after the Bears game ended and was stunned at how little trouble we had - the Skyway was a dream come true (except for the ugliness, of course. I just mean the traffic was moving), and all that crap along the combined 90/94 section seems to be fixed.

Key things to know:

The last acceptable don't-have-to-get-off-the-highway-to-get-a-bite stop is in Valparaiso, IN. There's an awful McDonalds on the skyway, but it's awful to pull in and out of. And it's a McDonalds. And not even an above-average-cleanliness one.

EZPass works in western IN and in IL

Fill your tank in Indiana. Don't ever pay Chicago gas prices if you can avoid it.

[Bob Juch]

Sure, it's only 10 hours on the road.

Interstate 80/90 has got to be one of the most boring stretches of road in the country. I-70 through Kansas is the worst.

I-80 through Nebraska is far, far worse.

I disagree. It's right up there though. I drove that just six weeks ago and last summer. At least it has hills and trees.

[kayrharris]

LOL......I love this group. Ask a simple question, get a seminar.

Lots of good advice though. Good luck and have a safe trip.

[silvercamaro]

LOL......I love this group. Ask a simple question, get a seminar.

Lots of good advice though. Good luck and have a safe trip.

Hey, some people have to pay good money for personalized travel planning like this!

[jayhawker536]

I have never been on I-80 but I will vote for I-70 being worse. Can not imagine anyplace on our beautiful planet being worse. Once I take that left turn at Salina and head west to Denver, yawn. . . .only thing to wake you is the terrible stench when you drive by that one feedlot

Unfortunately, people think all Kansas is like western Kansas. Tell them it ain't so Fuzzy and Birch, eastern Kansas is more along the lines of Missouri and Oklahoma.

[ulysses5019]

Unfortunately, people think all Kansas is like western Kansas. Tell them it ain't so Fuzzy and Birch, eastern Kansas is more along the lines of Missouri and Oklahoma.

...and that's an improvement?

[ToLiveIsToFly]

I have never been on I-80 but I will vote for I-70 being worse. Can not imagine anyplace on our beautiful planet being worse. Once I take that left turn at Salina and head west to Denver, yawn. . . .only thing to wake you is the terrible stench when you drive by that one feedlot

Unfortunately, people think all Kansas is like western Kansas. Tell them it ain't so Fuzzy and Birch, eastern Kansas is more along the lines of Missouri and Oklahoma.

You know those signs along I-70 about the prairie dog? (It's been almost 9 years, but I have to think they're probably still there). They're WAY more interesting than ANYTHING on the I-80 Nebraska stretch. Plus the Nebraska one's longer.

[silvercamaro]

...and that's an improvement?

That's so unfair, Uly. Not every state can have the world's largest spud.

[TheCalvinator24]

I like Oklahoma. I especially liked that big tent-looking portion of it just cross the Red River last Saturday.

[gsabc]

Sure, it's only 10 hours on the road.

Interstate 80/90 has got to be one of the most boring stretches of road in the country. I-70 through Kansas is the worst.

I-80 through Nebraska is far, far worse.

Grad school colleague drove from Washington State to Indiana. Said the scenery changed so little that he wanted to get out of the car, while still driving it, just to make sure he was still moving.

[Rexer25]

Sure, it's only 10 hours on the road.

Interstate 80/90 has got to be one of the most boring stretches of road in the country. I-70 through Kansas is the worst.

I-80 through Nebraska is far, far worse.

Grad school colleague drove from Washington State to Indiana. Said the scenery changed so little that he wanted to get out of the car, while still driving it, just to make sure he was still moving.

Saturday night, we were driving home from a Guy Fawkes celebration, coming down a road I drove way too many times when I was a courier. I remarked to Mrs. Rexer that this stretch of road was so monotonous, especially when my shift was over, I was sure the numbers on the signs showing the distance remaining to Denton were increasing.

[gotribego26]

I'm leaving Thursday a.m. as soon as the car rental place opens and driving to the airport Marriott in Chicago. It's 615 miles (all highway). A friend says it's a long, dull drive punctuated by 18-wheelers splashing you (rain is predicted).

Anyone?

--dimmzy, who welcomes suggestions for a fun day in Chicago

In my younger days I did Schenectady to Chicago in one day (about 800 miles) Speed limit was still 55 then. Left at 6 a.m. - arrived at 10 p.m.
17 hours with the time change.

I used to do I-80/90 through that region a bunch - it is boring. But not as boring as I-70 through Kansas or I-74 through Illinois, IMHO.

[Spock]

My best was home to Medicine Hat Alberta-about 1,100 miles with very little interstate-200 miles or so. I had wifie and mom and dad on the way to my sister's wedding-I drove 90% of it.

Cool thing is we left at 5:30 AM-just getting light in the east and stopped about 10 or so when it was still a little light in the west-plus we stopped at relatives abd so forth on the way.

[earendel]

I have never been on I-80 but I will vote for I-70 being worse. Can not imagine anyplace on our beautiful planet being worse. Once I take that left turn at Salina and head west to Denver, yawn. . . .only thing to wake you is the terrible stench when you drive by that one feedlot

Unfortunately, people think all Kansas is like western Kansas. Tell them it ain't so Fuzzy and Birch, eastern Kansas is more along the lines of Missouri and Oklahoma.

Speaking of which, you should consider I-40 West, from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles. For most of the trip there's "nothing for miles and miles but miles and miles."

[silvercamaro]

Speaking of which, you should consider I-40 West, from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles. For most of the trip there's "nothing for miles and miles but miles and miles."

You know it's desolate when you find yourself looking forward to that ugly, weird volcanic cone in New Mexico.

[earendel]

Speaking of which, you should consider I-40 West, from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles. For most of the trip there's "nothing for miles and miles but miles and miles."

You know it's desolate when you find yourself looking forward to that ugly, weird volcanic cone in New Mexico.

elwing and I camped there in our younger days, along with our oldest (and at that time only) son. It was a National Monument, IIRC.

[andrewjackson]

Whatever you do, when I-80 and I-90 split, take 90, and don't take 94 until 90 and 94 join up in the actual city (and then when they split again, stay with 90). Take the Skyway, take the Skyway, take the Skyway. It's hideously ugly and may be vertigo-inducing and the air stinks, but I'm assuming that if you're coming from Rochester you're used to all that. It's direct and it moves - it'll save you 45 minutes at least.

I drove back from Michigan last weekend 2 hours after the Bears game ended and was stunned at how little trouble we had - the Skyway was a dream come true (except for the ugliness, of course. I just mean the traffic was moving), and all that crap along the combined 90/94 section seems to be fixed.

Key things to know:

The last acceptable don't-have-to-get-off-the-highway-to-get-a-bite stop is in Valparaiso, IN. There's an awful McDonalds on the skyway, but it's awful to pull in and out of. And it's a McDonalds. And not even an above-average-cleanliness one.

EZPass works in western IN and in IL

Fill your tank in Indiana. Don't ever pay Chicago gas prices if you can avoid it.

Hey, I did exactly the same thing on Oct. 28. I left Michigan right after the Bears game ended (of course I thought of it as the Lions game). I took 94 down to Indiana, jumped on the Skyway and was in the Lincoln Park area in no time.

Not sure why you are recommending stopping in Valpo. That's pretty far off the interstate. I usually stop at the Chesterton exit of 94. Pretty good range of restaurants there. You are right, though, don't plan on stopping any farther west of that area.

[Catfish]

Not sure why you are recommending stopping in Valpo. That's pretty far off the interstate. I usually stop at the Chesterton exit of 94. Pretty good range of restaurants there. You are right, though, don't plan on stopping any farther west of that area.

Chesterton and Valpo are the same exit on both 94 and 80/90 (the toll road, which leads to the Skyway). At 94, Chesterton is more convenient. At 80/90, you turn north to go to Chesterton and south to Valpo and souther to my home. The more better stuff in Valpo may make it worth the extra few miles.

HOWEVER, if you don't want to get off the highway, I'm almost certain (I don't travel that stretch because Chesterton/Valpo is my exit) there is an on-highway rest area (the gas/food/convenience store kind, not the rustic vending machine/bathroom kind) between Valpo/Chesterton and the aforementioned Skyway McDonald's (which is a major pain).

By the way, on the Ohio Turnpike, almost all of the rest areas have Starbuckses.

Let me know if I can be of any assistance on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday morning. I leave for Indy late Saturday afternoon to stay over at the airport hotel so that I can get up bright and early to get my 8:10 flight to LA for my Crosswords taping.