Driving From Indy to Madison, WI (Janesville, Fort Atkinson: live, estimated, best)

[missfootball93]

Ok. This one is for those who are really good with directions, and explaining them! I am looking for the best way to get from Anderson, Indiana (about 30 minutes NE of Indianapolis) to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin (about 45 minutes E of Madison, WI). Of course I used MapQuest.com, and it took me straight through Chicago and all of the tolls. What is the best way to (and from) there bypassing as much of the Chicago traffic as possible, with the fewest amount of tolls? is that possible? i hope so!

[Bowie]

Straight through really is faster and has fewer tolls than the best route, I-294 and I-290. There is no better bypass than 294/290, unless you're willing to take a state highway west off of I-65 (Indiana 10 looks like a possibility) and keep going west to I-39.

[Hntr]

You can drive to Normal/Bloomington, Illinois, then up to up to Ft Atkinson. That keeps you out of all the large cities, but it is an extra forty miles.

Use mapquest, get directions from Anderson to Normal, then get another set of directions from Normal to Ft Atkinson.

I can't remember if you have to pay a toll charge on I-90 by Rockford, if you do, it's only like a buck and a half.


Otherwise, Anderson to Bloomington:

5: Merge onto I-69 S toward INDANAPOLIS. _________________________ 22.2 mi


6: Take the I-465 W/US-31 N exit, EXIT 0. ____________________________________ 0.6 mi


7: Merge onto US-52 W. __________________________________________________ 26.7 mi


8: Take the IN-32 exit, EXIT 140, toward CRAWFORDSVILLE/LEBANON. ______________0.2 mi


9: Turn LEFT onto IN-32. __________________________________________________ 17.4 mi


10: Merge onto I-74 W (Crossing into ILLINOIS). ______________________________123.6 mi


11: Take the US-51/US-51-BR exit, EXIT 135, toward MAIN STREET/BLOOMINGTON. _ 0.3 mi


12: Merge onto US-51 BR N toward BLOOMINGTON. _____________________________ 3.3 mi


13: End at Bloomington, IL


Estimated Time: 3 hours 28 minutes Estimated Distance: 199.81 miles
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________________


Bloomington Il to Ft Atkinson, Wi:

2: Merge onto I-39 N toward ROCKFORD (Portions toll) (Crossing into WISCONSIN). _____________________ 155.3 mi


3: Take the WI-26 exit, EXIT 171A, toward MILTON. _______________________________________________ 0.3 mi


4: Merge onto WI-26 N/MILTON AVE. __________________________________________________ __________ 0.0 mi


5: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto WI-26 N/MILTON AVE. Continue to follow WI-26 N. ________________________ 13.3 mi


6: Take the WI-26-BR ramp toward FORT ATKINSON/WI-89. _________________________________________ 0.4 mi


7: Merge onto WI-26 BR. __________________________________________________ _____________________ 2.8 mi


8: Turn RIGHT onto S 3RD ST W/US-12 BR. __________________________________________________ ______ 0.2 mi


9: Turn LEFT onto S MAIN ST/US-12/WI-89/CR-K. __________________________________________________ _ 0.2 mi


10: End at Fort Atkinson, WI




Estimated Time: 3 hours 7 minutes Estimated Distance: 178.08 miles

[susancruzs]

They give you good options to avoid Chicago. I'd opt for 65 north and then take Hwy. 24 west (which is 24 in Ind. and Ill.) all the way west through Illinois to 39 north towards Rockford.

Goes through small towns but it is a straight shot to 39. I've always used the old 2 lane hwys. alot. One of my favorites is Hwy. 30 but that swings you too close to Chicago.

Just tossing this out as another option then once you get to 39 you'd turn north and follow the last part of Hunter's directions.

[JoshB]

I'd go exactly the way Susan said. 39 is an easy drive.

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by susancruzs

One of my favorites is Hwy. 30 but that swings you too close to Chicago.

US 30 is scary around Chicago Heights. It's fine across Indiana, but I agree that it's not a good alternate route once you get to the Chicago metro area..

[susancruzs]

I should state I use 30 outside metropolitan areas. In Illinois, tolls on 88 are insane for a not so great road so I get off 88 at Sugar Grove take 30 and back on at Rock Falls.

I've never been an interstate fan, they serve a great purpose but even in Indiana I still use Hwy. 41 instead of 65.

[Drover]

I'd just take Indiana State Highway 32 west straight out of Anderson and pick up I-74 westbound northwest of Indy; then take I-74 straight over to I-39; then take I-39 northbound all the way to Janesville WI; then exit on WI Highway 26 northbound which will take you straight into downtown Fort Atkinson. That way you don't have to get anywhere near Chicago traffic or all its torn up expressways. Plus that route has only one toll booth, which I believe is $1.00.

[cubssoxfan]

They give you good options to avoid Chicago. I'd opt for 65 north and then take Hwy. 24 west (which is 24 in Ind. and Ill.) all the way west through Illinois to 39 north towards Rockford.

The US 24 route from I-65 to I-57 seems to take FOREVER, to I-39 an eternity. I would say do I-74 to I-39. Or take US 24 to US 52 to US 45 north to I-57 north to I-80 west to I-39.

[emtfingers]

My mom lives at the Indiana/Illinois border right off I-294... much of the interstate from South Bend through Chicago is flooded... as of 09/20/08 (AM). Plus that is an absolute traffic bottle neck.... I lived in Anderson... so,to avoid the bottle neck... try I-74 to Bloomingtoin Illinois then straight north... you will completely dodge chicago and NW indiana... since it is all interstate any "out of way" should be made up. Watch for Radar between Rockford & Madison...
l