Wisconsin trip in August
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 219
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From: Williamsburg va
Wisconsin trip in August
Going to go to the Harley museum in the first week of August and will be coming out of Virginia. Going to leave here on a wed morning and get to Dayton oh. On thurs. morning going to go rest of way. Now the advice I am seeking is That will put me in around Chicago around 10 or 11:00 am, is this the best time and what route to I want to take to get around Chicago? I plan on being at museum by 2:00 pm for the museum and the bike night there on thurs. this brings me to the question of what time do I want to leave out of there on fri a.m?
Any help and advice would greatly be appreciated,,,
Rick
Any help and advice would greatly be appreciated,,,
Rick
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 699
Likes: 13
From: Northeast
I rode through Chicago coming from Milwaukee just last Friday. It was about 10:30 am when I got to Chicago and I took I-294. Traffic was moderate at this time of the day and we just cruised right through with no traffic tie ups. Keep in mind it's a toll road but well worth it. If you have your EZ-Pass they have the overhead tolls so you don't have to slow down.
I was at the museum, steel toe tour and bike night last Thursday. You will really enjoy the museum. The service and food at the museum restaurant was really good too.
I was at the museum, steel toe tour and bike night last Thursday. You will really enjoy the museum. The service and food at the museum restaurant was really good too.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 353
Likes: 100
From: Wisconsin/Florida
I rode through Chicago coming from Milwaukee just last Friday. It was about 10:30 am when I got to Chicago and I took I-294. Traffic was moderate at this time of the day and we just cruised right through with no traffic tie ups. Keep in mind it's a toll road but well worth it. If you have your EZ-Pass they have the overhead tolls so you don't have to slow down.
I know many people do anything to avoid Chicago and often spend much more time avoiding it than the time they would spend going through it. That's fine if that is what they want to do. I go through Chicago often and traffic delays have been rare and minimal for me. I-294 (the Tri-State Tollway) is my favored route. It took years to happen but I feel they finally have enough lanes to accommodate the traffic. Time of day is important and you should avoid typical work commute times in the morning and late afternoon. I think you will roll right along anytime from 9 am to 3 pm. I also have the I-Pass (same as EZ-Pass) which keeps you from having to stop at the cash toll stations.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: Wilmette, Illinois
We live just north of Chicago and often go down to Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. Actually we are heading down this Wednesday. We usually take 94 right through Chicago. If you miss rich hours (6-9 in the morning and 3-6 in the evening) we can usually be to I65 in Indiana in about an hour. This is using the Skyway and Indiana Tollway. If you hit rush hours it can be twice that long or more. But if the traffic is good it saves 45 minutes or so over I294, which also has rush hour traffic.
So on Wednesday we won't leave until 9:30 or so in the morning. Timing is everything going through cities.
So on Wednesday we won't leave until 9:30 or so in the morning. Timing is everything going through cities.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Williamsburg va
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From: PNW
I think the real question here is what are your routes to and from Dayton? The mind boggles at all the squiggly lines between you and Dayton. I'm jealous already.
Oh....and on the topic - do as others have suggested and just take 294 coming and going. The biggest concern is whether or not you're keeping up with all the people doing 90 MPH in a 55 zone. EZ/I Pass is a must. Half the cost and 10x the efficiency.
The Skyway blows and the JB/Circle interchange has been a nightmare 24/7. I commute to the south side every Thursday. Trust me on this info.
Travel Tip - Gas up well before Gary. Chicago area gas is expensive. It drops once you get into WI (But not enough!). If you must gas up, do so at one of the Oasises. Ez on and off. Most importantly - safe.
Food - There's a Chicago favorite called Portillo's (burgers, Italian Beef, etc) that is east off 294 at Dempster. Maybe a mile? It's an easy exit and good food. Getting back on is a little weird because you have to work north to Golf road (no northbound ramp on Dempster). Do a little recon with Google maps. It's easy to get back on and you'll be to the museum in 1:15 tops.
Have a safe ride. Look Cheryl and I up at Bike Night. we'll be there.
Oh....and on the topic - do as others have suggested and just take 294 coming and going. The biggest concern is whether or not you're keeping up with all the people doing 90 MPH in a 55 zone. EZ/I Pass is a must. Half the cost and 10x the efficiency.
The Skyway blows and the JB/Circle interchange has been a nightmare 24/7. I commute to the south side every Thursday. Trust me on this info.
Travel Tip - Gas up well before Gary. Chicago area gas is expensive. It drops once you get into WI (But not enough!). If you must gas up, do so at one of the Oasises. Ez on and off. Most importantly - safe.
Food - There's a Chicago favorite called Portillo's (burgers, Italian Beef, etc) that is east off 294 at Dempster. Maybe a mile? It's an easy exit and good food. Getting back on is a little weird because you have to work north to Golf road (no northbound ramp on Dempster). Do a little recon with Google maps. It's easy to get back on and you'll be to the museum in 1:15 tops.
Have a safe ride. Look Cheryl and I up at Bike Night. we'll be there.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 647
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From: Corning, Ohio
As Nevada stated, it's not the stop and go nor the amount of traffic, it becomes a matter of do you want to travel 90 in a 55. We,3 bikes, got on I294 a couple of years ago and immediately saw a 55MPH sign. I looked down at the speedometer and was going in excess of 85 and that was just to keep from being run over. Wife kinda tensed up on me. Trucks travel in the 2 right hand lanes and other vehicles are supposed to travel in the lanes to the left. Of course, the toll lanes are to the extreme right amongst all the truck traffic. Me, I got in the left lane and hammered down, went right thru the I=Pass lanes. Got to the other end and one of the other riders told me I really had a pair. I couldn't figure out why, but he told me that I should have paid a toll at each I-Pass. I told him that's exactly what I did, I-Passed right on thru. Well, when we got home I got on-line and looked up the info and sure enough I had to pay the highest toll for all the toll booths for 3 bikes. That cost me. I go around now. I go way around now. I go way, way around now.
Last edited by jay72; Jul 21, 2015 at 08:57 AM.