Heading to HOG rally in Milwaukee from Houston. Last leg of trip is from Springfield IL. Any advice from locals on best routes around Chicago would be appreciated. Ride planner has us going up 55 to 294. Curious about the toll roads. Would like to avoid them if possible. Thanks for help.

 

I think I would pick 57 and skip St Louis. and still hit 294. The toll road is not bad and still the most direct route. I am coming 24 to 57 to 294. 65 is nothing but full of road construction.

 

Just some food for thought - I live in Madison but am from OKC. I would offer looking at heading North on I35 through KS City and to Des Moines, head 80 East to Cedar Rapids and then NE on 151 through Cedar, Dubuque and into Madison. From there you can head East on 94 and completely avoid St Lo and Chicago. You will also get a great ride on 151 across the Mississippi. Would take a bit longer but that is the way we get home from the south.

 

You can also miss Chicago by using I-39 right around Bloomington IL then I-43 into Milwaukee.

 

Wife said skip Chicago so it looks like we will be taking the I-39 to I-43. LOL

 

There is one toll to pay on 39. We live just south of Milwaukee and earlier this year when we went to Arkansas we went 43 to 39 just to skip Chicago.