Through Chicago or around?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: S.W. Iowa
Through Chicago or around?
In july our local H.O.G. chapter is taking a trip up to Mackinac island, we will be traveling up the Wisconsin side and back down on the Michigan side, most of the group is going to take a ferry from Muskegon ( I think) to Milwaukee and a few of us are going to ride around and meet them there. I believe we will be taking I-94, any way when we reach Chicago it will probably be 11:00a.m or so, does any one have any suggestions on getting through or around? It looks like mapquest has us taking 1-94 to I-90 and up, but we were thinking it might be better to jump over to I-355 and go around, any one got any great ideas, I despise sitting in gridlock . Any suggestions would be awesome.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Wisconsin, USA
In july our local H.O.G. chapter is taking a trip up to Mackinac island, we will be traveling up the Wisconsin side and back down on the Michigan side, most of the group is going to take a ferry from Muskegon ( I think) to Milwaukee and a few of us are going to ride around and meet them there. I believe we will be taking I-94, any way when we reach Chicago it will probably be 11:00a.m or so, does any one have any suggestions on getting through or around? It looks like mapquest has us taking 1-94 to I-90 and up, but we were thinking it might be better to jump over to I-355 and go around, any one got any great ideas, I despise sitting in gridlock . Any suggestions would be awesome.
Gridlock isn't the problem in Chicago. The problem is when traffic is going 80 and even if you go with the flow, some asshat is going 100 mph weaving through traffic.
Take 294 if you want to go around Chicago. Less traffic, which could be good, or get you killed. I try to take State roads, and avoid the Interstate when near Chicago. Slower, but less crazy.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Colorado Springs CO
Ok having traveled and lived in this area (Hickory Hills!) I have gone around Chicago way to many times when I lived in Cleveland and done the 80 to 294 to 290 to 90 as well as the 355 route. Stay away from the 90,94 map suggestion utter useless... 80 is going to be the worst part of the trip. That being said 355 is the safe, boring and a little longer way down to 80. As was said earlier, 80 is a speeders dream, stay very mindful of the traffic around you watch your mirrors for those that choose to weave their way in and out of traffic. Oh and then exit and entrance ramps off and on 80 coming from the east are crap... potholes abound and they never seem to get fixed!
90 > 290 > 294 is not a bad option but check for construction as they always seem to be doing work on 294 and on 80.
90 > 290 > 294 is not a bad option but check for construction as they always seem to be doing work on 294 and on 80.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: S.W. Iowa
Thanks for the ideas so far. Ron, I usually don't like to take the interstate anywhere, but we kinda have to if we want to catch up with the rest of the group that evening. Glide, so far 294 looks like it might work better than 355. Wylee, the last time we were through there on our bikes it was about 3pm and we were at a dead stand still on the interstate and it was pouring down rain, took about an hour just to move far enough to make it to an exit, So I'm hoping lunch hour isn't going to be to bad.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Be sure to hit the "Tunnel Of Trees" coming back down through Michigan
http://motorcycleroads.com/75/309/Mi...rees-Road.html
http://motorcycleroads.com/75/309/Mi...rees-Road.html
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Hobart, Indiana
Stay away from downtown Chicago I would suggest the 294 route even at 11 am the city is a pain in the *** cause the people that are going to lunch are in even more of a hurry then when there just going to work in the morning. Just a word for the wise no matter where you are at near Chicago keep your eyes wide open cause the idiots in cages are bad.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: North Central Wisconsin
I take the I90 Skyway onto Chicago to I94 to Milwaukee, I have gotten stuck in traffic any way I try to go, and if I am sitting in traffic I might as well have something to look at! I have already gotten off on the Stevenson and gone to Lakeshore Dr and taken US 41 north also.
