Commuting Through Chicago (Rockford, Schaumburg, Detroit: ferry, suburbs, cars)

[نصار]

On Friday i will be driving to Detroit to meet some friends from Toronto at the MGM Grand.

My schedule will make my drive end up in the Chicago area around 4pm Friday

I will be approaching from the NW on I-90 and of course leaving the city on I-94 East

Whats the quickest way driving through the Chicago area during rush hour?

Also how long do you think it will take to make it in and out of the Chicago area?

[نصار]

Someone Please Answer

[Mr Downtown]

Friday 4 pm is a very slow time to be coming in on I-90 from O'Hare to downtown. That will take almost an hour. (Before anyone suggests it, I-290 is a even a few minutes slower than that). Then you face another half hour outbound on I-94. The rest of the trip should be pretty much at speed.

[نصار]

Thanks! I also saw I355. Would that be a stupid route to take?

[emathias]

Originally Posted by نصار

Thanks! I also saw I355. Would that be a stupid route to take?

It wouldn't be stupid. You could also just take I-39 south from Rockford to I-80 and then go west, although you'd be driving further and not necessarily saving any time.

If you could leave early enough to get to Milwaukee by about 12:00, you could take the 12:30 Lake Express ferry from Milwaukee to Muskegon.

It wouldn't save you any overall time and it's moderately expensive, but riding across the Lake on a ferry is a helluva lot better than driving through Chicago at rush hour.

[نصار]

Originally Posted by emathias

It wouldn't be stupid. You could also just take I-39 south from Rockford to I-80 and then go west, although you'd be driving further and not necessarily saving any time.

If you could leave early enough to get to Milwaukee by about 12:00, you could take the 12:30 Lake Express ferry from Milwaukee to Muskegon.

It wouldn't save you any overall time and it's moderately expensive, but riding across the Lake on a ferry is a helluva lot better than driving through Chicago at rush hour.

Unfortunately i cannot get there by 12 all though it seems like a cool idea.

I actually enjoy driving through big cities. i know some people hate it because of all the chaos. but i love it lol. all the scenery and cars and huge highways.

But lets say i took 90-94 through Chicago. How long would it take to get from Schaumburg to lets say Gary in 4pm Traffic?

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by نصار

But lets say i took 90-94 through Chicago. How long would it take to get from Schaumburg to lets say Gary in 4pm Traffic?

Yikes! On a Friday afternoon, figure on at least 2 1/2 hours.

[Chicago76]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Yikes! On a Friday afternoon, figure on at least 2 1/2 hours.

I think that's a pretty fair estimate.

By the grace of God, you might get entirely lucky and pull it off in 2 flat, but I wouldn't count on it. A summer drive at 4pm on a Friday is going to be hell. You're not really in the "clear" until you can get East of the I-65 split on the toll road. I do the downtown to I-65 split leg all the time to visit my family. On a perfect day, it's about 35-40 min. During rush hour, it's usually about 1 hr. During a Friday rush during the summer, 1:15 is a good result, and it has taken me 1:35 just to go from DT to Merrillville.

Good luck.

[pvande55]

4 P.M. on Friday is about the worst time to be on Chicago area roads. Your best bet is either south on 39 to 80 east, or south on 53, which runs into 355 to 80 east. The latter is shorter in mileage. You definitely want to stay away from the city (I94) or the inner suburbs (I294) that time of day. You will join 94 near the Indiana border.

[Manigault]

I second the previous post. If you are coming in on I-90, take I-294 to I-94 then on to Detroit. That's the best route at 4 pm any day.

It is not that much out of the way and it is difficult to become lost using that route.