Get ready for the some pucker power.... The drivers around here are crazy or just plain idiots.... I work up here during the week but live down by Indy, it's a world of difference. Riding around Indy is like slow motion compared to up here.
Just be careful!

 

On a recent road trip I got sucked into Chicago by the lure of Giordano's pizza. We were told that we could avoid the worst of Chicago traffic by timing our travel to be there between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. We thought we were in that window. We got into Chicago without a problem and parked our bikes about 2:00. The pizza was fantastic, but the service was slow. So slow that it was 4:00 by the time we were leaving. That traffic was about the worst we saw in the whole country (rivaling the construction traffic on I-95 in Connecticut). We knew better, but when pizza calls, whatcha gonna do?

 

Good info, thanks to all who contributed. You convinced me, we were going to ride around now the plan is to ride up to Muskegon and take the ferry across into Milwaukee.

 

Hell, I'll be 3 sheets to the wind!

Keep something else in mind - Chicagoans love to buy up property in Michigan as much as they do Wisconsin. The traffic volumes rise dramatically heading away from Chicago towards Michigan pretty early on a Friday. My advice would to be past Michigan City by noon. Just sayin.

 

Route 6 is good until you get to Ridge Road in Minooka (head 2 miles north and grab I-80 there), or maybe until you hit I-55 (again, a mile or two north and head east on 80). I'd stay on it until there if I weren't in a rush, but I wouldn't go any further east than that.

If you need specifics on the best, most scenic route, from Peru to I-55 feel free to PM me, that's my backyard.

 

So we ended up having a great trip and I figured I'd update this post incase anyone else could use some info..
My buddy ended up having family issues, so it was just my father and I which was really nice. Seeing as I was on the bike solo, I didn't have the wife and her trigger happy finger snapping lots of photos, I did take a few....which by her standards "suck", but I'll share anyway.
We left Marquette Thursday am and had a uneventful but nice ride to Milwaukee. We checked in to the Iron Horse and headed over to the museum. Being at the museum before, it is what it is..But, I've never been there on Thursday Night Bike night.
The lot at the Iron Horse..

The Museum..

Didn't take me too long to find the bar..

As 5:00 was approaching, business was picking up. I have to say Bike Night at the museum was pretty impressive. There was a sh!Tload of bikes there. Actually, I probably saw more bikes there than I do at one of our local weekend rallies. Lots of cool bikes to look at, and quite a bit of other "scenery" to enjoy also.

A little drooling and envy..

Didn't take me long to figure out the "Koozy Club" and enjoy a few $2 HighLifes.
Friday am we hit the road at 7:30am..Could of probably chose a better time to leave Milwaukee, but being down there for work enough I knew what to expect and the traffic was heavy, but seemed pretty controlled. No issues..
We stuck with my plan and headed towards Beloit/Rockford and planned to do nearly 500 miles before ending up back in Michigan.
Dad "checking in" somewhere in Illinois..

So we finally hit I-80 and stuck to the plan of running South of there for awhile. We took 178 down to 71 and road along the Illinois river. Very nice ride and a good break from shoving straight down the interstate. We came upon Fat Daddys in Seneca, and as advised by a friendly forum member, stopped in to wet our whistle. We stayed on 6 until I-55, then jumped on 80 again. I glance at my watch and it was 12:30pm. It was then that everything I read and was told started racing through my mind.
1) The last thing the wife said was, "Don't lose your temper down there, they will shoot your head off".....
2) Go around, WAY..WAY..WAY around....
3) "I'd rather take my chances of wild animals chasing me in Africa"
4) Chicagoans know how to drive....
5) Get to Michigan City by Noon....
Well, I was late for the noon deadline. Perhaps Chicagoans can drive, but there are definitely TWO that cannot! And, I thought I went way..way around but I obviously skipped one of the WAYS and could have went farther. In all honesty, it wasn't horrible and I would probably do it again but I surely had the pucker factor going for 90 miles. Last year we rode 3400 miles to Sturgis/Montana and back. Year before we did the East coast..Never have I had 4 lanes of traffic running 85mph and more lane changes going on than the last lap of the Daytona 500!
We had two "incidents" that crisis was averted, but were close. Both times it was vehicles pulling into our lane without knowing we were there. The first one I saw coming from two lanes over and his rear bumper was aiming for my highway peg before I swerved into the left lane. He was gone like nothing happened. The second time, a SUV did virtually the same trying to fit between two bikes riding 6 feet apart. I gassed it, Dad braked ..and he got his position. The wifes advice slipped my mind at the time, and hands, fingers, and spit were flying. He knew he was number 1, but shrugged his shoulders as to say....Whoops..
Anyway, I was relieved to get off 80 in Michigan City. We rode North on 94 and the Dunes Highway until we hit 31 North.
A pic I sent the wife in Michigan City, proving no heads were shooted off..

We had beautiful weather and it was a nice night, so it was Charlevoix Mi. where we stopped for the night. Just over 600 miles.
Saturday was again uneventful, but a great ride along the coast of Western Michigan. Somewhere along M119 Tunnel of Trees..

Ended up back in Marquette early afternoon, washed the bike and told the wife to hop on and we would head 60 miles South for dinner. She just shook her head and gave that look that most of get for being nutz about riding..
Again, Thanks for all the advice fellas! Much appreciated
Jeff

 

The few times I have had to be in the Chicago area leaves me knowing that I will avoid that place any time I can.

Last time we were there was from Milwaulkee to Gettysburg. We took the toll road south and then east around town.

Bill

 

Glad you enjoyed the trip and it worked out for you to take the scenic route along the IL River.