From Way UP North to Indy

[StumpysWife]

So from Marquette, Michigan, should we go through Michigan to Indy or through Wisconsin/Chicago?  All the online directions take us through Chicago and it takes 8 hours alone to get through the State of Michigan from Marquette, but could for go a clog in Chicago.  What do you guys think?

Heather

[spyderchick]

Get an atlas and route your own trip. Do not go through Chicago, and I wouldn't see a need to since you are coming down through lower Michigan. Online routes are mostly inconvenient and if you go through Chi-town you'll be paying tolls as well as going out of your way. By routing your own trip, you don't have to go entirely interstate and you can utilize some of the state and county roads to your advantage. You might not be going freeway speed the entire time, but hey, that's not always a bad thing. The closest you might get to Illinois is Gary IN.

Good luck!

[StumpysWife]

See we are trying to decide between coming down through lower Michigan and avoiding Chicago or going down trough Green Bay/Milwaukee/Chicago--which is how all the direction site say to go, but I don't trust 'em.  On the other hand, going through lower Michigan (it takes 3 hours to get out of the UP!) is not much fun either but I don't think we'll get stuck in traffic either.  Hmmm. 

I think we should just leave today!!!

[spyderchick]

Chicago is a cluster. There's construction everywhere. Keep that in mind, it's a bear even in the non rush hours times.

[Scotty Ryan]

Heather - After living in Chicago for my first 25 years - Avoid it at all costs.........

You'll be much happier going down through Michigan....

What time do you plan on leaving - and what day???

Might see you there....

[tzracer]

When I drive to Indy I go through Chicago. I will be leaving my house at about midnight on Wednesday and hitting Chicago at about 2 am. Not any problems the last 8 years. Stay off the skyway. Earlier this year I-65 between I-90 and I-80/94 was closed (pretty sure it still is). I usually take I-94 through downtown.

Just meet us at my house before midnight on Wednesday and you can follow us. Bring your Ipass.

[StumpysWife]

We are leaving Wednesday at 5pm-ish--after work.  We'll be there Thursday.  We're taking the RV and staying in Lot 3 I think.  I think the Michigan route is the way to go after talking to a woman here who's from Indy.  Mileage is about the same, but time can be way off.  Ahhh, the joys of living close to absolutely in the middle of no where!!!

What is this Ipass you speak of??  haha  I feel like we're the Belgian contingent.  Good grief.

Heather

[cbr600_mj]

http://www.illinoistollway.com/portal/page?_pageid=133,1399546&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL



Look here for the construction zones.

[StumpysWife]

Ok, I think we're taking Michigan via Lansing & Fort Wayne. 

Indy or Bust Baby!!!

I'm off to practice Valentino-ese.

[dylanfan53]

Those of you planning to use I-65 should avoid the Skyway/Indiana tollroad (which is normally a good route) and take I-94 instead.  I-65 is closed between the IN tollroad and I-94 for construction as they expand it.  They should be done soon.  They elected to shut it down for the summer and get it all done at once instead of over two years. 

[spyderchick]

  They elected to shut it down for the summer and get it all done at once instead of over two years. 

Which was completely stupid. Construction, properly managed, can be done. They've be reconstructing the Marquette Interchange, (the main interchange for downtown Milwaukee), for 4 years now. They set up a web site to keep folks informed on a daily basis what was going to happen. They also used local TV station to keep commuters informed.

Bottom line: few glitches, they finished ahead of schedule and under budget. And the whole time traffic wasn't that big of a deal. Certainly no worse than normal. I don;t know who the folks were who planned the thing out, but they did a stellar job and it looks fantastic.

[dylanfan53]

Actually I'm pleased that it will be over quick.  It is open from I-94, just not from the IN tollroad.  In Indiana I-94 has all been redone after last winter's weather related disasters and is in good shape.  IL is another story.