Towing a 30 ft utility trailer way around Chicago (Bloomington, Algonquin: gas, congested)

[onwaysouth]

We are towing a trailer from Madison, WI to Lexington, Ky. Looking for an alternate route around Chicago. Is it doable to take the 90 to 39 to 80 to 65? How bad is the traffic through Indianapolis?

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by onwaysouth

We are towing a trailer from Madison, WI to Lexington, Ky. Looking for an alternate route around Chicago. Is it doable to take the 90 to 39 to 80 to 65? How bad is the traffic through Indianapolis?

There are two areas I would be concerned
1. Interstate 80 from Illinois-Indiana border to 65
2.Interstate 65 Southbound getting into Louisville espicially right at the Ohio River

465 Is a Major Highway but there are plenty of lanes but its still fast traffic

Good luck but definatley pay attention to the Louisville area , that is a tough area for me

[linicx]

Bear in mind that I know nothing about Kentucky and this just my two cents. You can pick up I-39 S on WI/IL border. It become IL 51 S and ends near the KY border in So IL. It crosses I-74 and US 136 where neigher are too far west of I-55.

I don't know that this is terribly practicle in your situation but I do know that once you get soutb of say Algonquin a few short miles the trarric disappers and the road is good. It is also desolate which means there are long stretches of road between gas and food.stops.

[madpaddy]

I would take 39 all the way to Bloomington IL, then take 74 over to Indy. Its actually a few miles shorter than taking 80 across, and will be much, much smoother sailing. Indy traffic can be a little bit of a bear at rush hour, but is pretty tame compared to Chicago. Another benefit of taking 74 over 80->65 is you come into the Indy loop farther south. If you do hit rush hour traffic, you'll be in it for a shorter time.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by onwaysouth

We are towing a trailer from Madison, WI to Lexington, Ky. Looking for an alternate route around Chicago. Is it doable to take the 90 to 39 to 80 to 65? How bad is the traffic through Indianapolis?

If you're going that far to avoid Chicago traffic, you might as well take 39 from Madison all the way down to I-74 in Bloomington, and then take that over to Indy and continue on your way from there. I-80 can get mighty congested.

Even in the thick of rush hour, traffic on 465 around Indianapolis still flows pretty well.

Originally Posted by linicx

Bear in mind that I know nothing about Kentucky and this just my two cents. You can pick up I-39 S on WI/IL border. It become IL 51 S and ends near the KY border in So IL. It crosses I-74 and US 136 where neigher are too far west of I-55.

He doesn't have to catch I-39 at the border, it goes right through Madison. And its US 51, not IL 51, and US 51 also goes through Madison. What's more, it doesn't stop at the Kentucky border, it keeps right on going all the way to New Orleans. But that's not the best way to get to Lexington anyway.

[artemis]

Originally Posted by Drover

If you're going that far to avoid Chicago traffic, you might as well take 39 from Madison all the way down to I-74 in Bloomington, and then take that over to Indy and continue on your way from there. I-80 can get mighty congested.

Even in the thick of rush hour, traffic on 465 around Indianapolis still flows pretty well.



He doesn't have to catch I-39 at the border, it goes right through Madison. And its US 51, not IL 51, and US 51 also goes through Madison. What's more, it doesn't stop at the Kentucky border, it keeps right on going all the way to New Orleans. But that's not the best way to get to Lexington anyway.

Drover's right, the best way is to take I-39 and avoid Chicago completely.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by artemis

Drover's right, the best way is to take I-39 and avoid Chicago completely.

Good points but he will still have the congestion around Louisville
I guess they are still doing some major road work in that area

Guess getting between madison and lexington no matter what route
you will be hitting some sort of traffic at a given point

[Drover]

They don't have to go through Louisville either. They could keep on 74 to Cincinnati, which has a loop bypass completely around the city like Indy, and bolt south from there.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by Drover

They don't have to go through Louisville either. They could keep on 74 to Cincinnati, which has a loop bypass completely around the city like Indy, and bolt south from there.

I was thinking 64 -

Forgot about that way and actually I have driven that route
was not bad that was probably 10 years ago

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by sunnyandcloudydays

I was thinking 64 -

Forgot about that way and actually I have driven that route
was not bad that was probably 10 years ago

74 to Cincy and 75 south is more direct.