I'm planning to circle Lake Michigan this summer and would like to get some advice from the folks in Chicago. In specific, I will be passing through Chicago and on my way to St Joseph, MI for the night. Is there a good time for the pass through where there is less traffic and congestion? And is there a quick alternative to the toll way?


I appreciate any advice those of you who live there and know these roads the best. Thanks in advance.

 

Take I 94
Congestion starts 6.30 AM until around 9.30 AM
Then starts up again around the loop at 11.45AM until 7:PM
It will back up further North around 2:30 PM until 7:00 PM
On Fridays traffic will back up worse.
Also be sure to check for Chicago White Sox games and,
Chicago Cubs games.
These can back up traffic quite bad.
Feel free to direct message me and I can shoot you my number and I can tell you on the phone how traffic flows at various times a little more in detail than I have explained.
In Chicago every 10 minutes can catch you in worse and worse traffic.

 

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks I may take you up on the # when the time gets closer (Aug tentatively).

 

If you have the time Lake Shore Drive/ Sheridan road is very nice ride! i like to jump on Sheridan in Kenosha and run it down thru the city. takes a lot longer couple of sketchy areas ( Waukegan and North Chicago ) but over all very nice ride and lots of good scenery and beautiful homes! its a nice cruise but i would get off LDS/ Sheridan and back on the highway before you get out of town the south side can get rough and fast!

 

From my limited experiences just going by Chicago I would and will stay away from it on the bike. I've taken I80 by there a couple of times at different days and times. No way on a bike. Speed limit signs say 55. If you are going slower than 80 you are a speed bump.

 

First, let me apologize for not responding earlier. Are you talking about what mapquest refers to as US41? Which would take me along the lake shore and bring me back to I90 just before East Chicago. Or would I90 be a better alternate to the tollway?


I have to be completely honest when I say that this portion of the trip scares the hell out of me, but is also unavoidable (without a 150-200 mile detour).

 

Yes that would be US 41 out of Wisconsin and would take you into downtown Chicago. Lake Shore Dr is a nice ride, however as stated above, get on I94 before the south side. You could take it as far as maybe Millennial Park and cut over to the Dan Ryan (I 94). Take that south out of the city to I 80 East, and pick back up in Indiana. (Indianapolis Blvd). You'll still be riding through sketchy areas but you'll be on a constant move without stoplights. Ideally, late am to early afternoon. Morning and afternoon/ evening traffic is horrible.

 

Chicago sucks for riding and politics. I go down through Beliot and Rockford to avoid it. That part of the tower, will offer little.

I would say skip Lake Michigan, and do Superior, or do Michigan's portion in UP.

 

I just made that ride this past weekend, went from Lakeview (few blocks from Wrigley Field) to St. Joseph MI. You can get onto Lake Shore from Sheridan Road. We took Lake Shore drive, US 41 south all the way, then hopped on to US 12 through Indiana to St Joseph. It gets a little stop and go when getting Near Calumet City/Gary as you are in towns but to me it beats the highway. This was at noon on Saturday and 5-7pm Sunday.
Last year I took Lake shore road north to Sheridan all the way to WI.