Traveling from Detroit to Sturgis. Mapquest has me going through Chicago on I-90. Is that the best route, considering traffic and congestion, or should i go around it, if that's even possible without going way off my route?

 

It's probably the best route without adding additional time and mileage to the trip.....just avoid the am+pm rush hour traffic.....

 

It depends on what time you would be coming through. Unfortunately the alternatives aren't exactly great either. You would be on the Chicago Skyway coming in if you stayed on I-90.

You could stay on I-90 and then head west on 290 in Chicago and then 290 joins in with 355 and then get back on I-90 in Schaumburg. This would keep you away from O'hare.

Or don't get on I-90, but stay on I-80 to the 294 interchange near Hazel Crest. Take 294 to 290 in Hillside, and then stay on 290 till it meets back up again with I-90 in Schaumburg. The worst part of this one would I-80, but this way would keep you off the Skyway and out of the city.

 

Thanks 88

 

Whatever you do, make sure you are wearing a bullet proof vest when you ride thru there...

 

I agree with this. I personally avoid going on 90/94 any time I can. I always take 80/294 around the city. The extra cost of the tolls is worth it.

 

Stay on I-80 all the way through IL and IA, take I-680 to I-29 to Sioux Falls to pick up I-90. This avoids all but 1 toll (a ramp toll where you get off I-294 to stay on I-80) and avoids a LOT of traffic. It's only about 30 miles longer than going through the heart of the Chicago beast.

 

Thank you all, appreciate it.

 

I've always taken 94w from Detroit, to 294. I have only been on the 80 from that point so you should be good to join up from there to the 90 like others said. The way glc said may be a good way to go, many times through and traffic was heavyish but at posted speeds so....

I've heard you can ferry across lake Michigan going 96 west past Grand Rapids, ferry across to Milwaukee. A few bucks though.....

 

Going that way to Sioux Falls was probably one of the most boring drives I've been on. Taking I-90 through WI and MN was not nearly as boring, terrain wise. Guess it depends on if you want to stop at any special places too.

 

Well, if you do want to take I-90 through WI and can deal with a lot of tolls, stay on I-80 to I-355, take that to I-290 to I-90 in Schaumburg. What I'm saying is stay off I-294 if at all possible. I used to commute on that POS and have avoided it like the plague ever since.

 

I live right by the I-80, I-355 interchange. 294 isn't as bad as it used it to be and 355 really isn't any better. I think its like over $6 in tolls oneway for 355 each time I head north to the UP, and that's with the I-Pass rate. Bottom line, driving in Chicagoland sucks.

 

Which is why I suggested I-80/I-29. I'd even consider I-80 to I-39 to Rockford to pick up I-90, even though that adds miles.

 

Thats the route I'll be taking. I'll let johnny cash entertain me on the boring stretches and depending on time, might just get off the slab and take back roads for a while.
Thanks everybody

 

You want some back roads?

1. Take I-80 to Iowa City, then I-380 to Waterloo. Take US-218 to Charles City, then US-18 to I-35 to I-90.

2.Take I-80 to I-680 to I-29 to Onawa. Take IA-175/NE-51/US-275 through Norfolk to US-20. At Valentine, take US-83 to Murdo to pick up I-90.

3. Same as (2) but stay on US-20 to Chadron, then take US-385/US-18/SD-79 to Rapid City.