Commute from Skokie to Buffalo Grove (Chicago, Palatine: living, bus, moving to)

[tkg2525]

I will moving to the area soon and was wondering what the commute from Skokie to Buffalo Grove would be like during rush hour (7am)? Thank you!

[chet everett]

Skokie is about 20 miles southwest of Buffalo Grove. There are some stretches of expressway between them but also a fair amount of relatively congested surface streets. I would give myself about 40 minutes if not more during rush hour (which is in full swing at 7AM...).

Skokie is not exactly the center of the relocation universe in the region, you would probably do better living closer to work...

[Drover]

The outbound Edens isn't too bad in the mornings. The inbound Edens in the afternoon sucks. As suburban Chicago commutes go, it's pretty doable.

[chet everett]

I don't think the Edens is going to be much faster than 294. Even if you are in the part of Skokie near / east of Old Orchard the distance / direction to Buffalo Grove is such that I think you are better off using 294...

While I agree there are much worse suburb to suburb commutes(like moving diagonally across the radials that spoke outward from Chicago...), the fact that there is a lot of traffic that moves both out of residential sections and into business areas of Buffalo Grove make it an overall traffic "hot spot" and the closer you can be to a job in such an area the more predictably short you commute can be...

[pvande55]

A little-known but useful fact: Pace bus #626 runs express service from the Skokie terminal on Dempster St to several Buffalo Grove locations. Disadvantage is you have to pay for parking at Skokie unless you live within walking distance.

[reppin_the_847]

I think your best bet might be to take the Edens (94) up to the Spur Ramp (continuation of 94 West), and use the Deerfield Road exit, and head west. Assuming you're commuting to the Lake County portion of Buffalo Grove, this is probably going to be the fastest route.

[cubssoxfan]

OP, just curious; if your working in Buffalo Grove, why did you choose to live in Skokie?

[middle-aged mom]

I would avoid expressways and use streets cause you have options if traffic is slow. At 7, I would allow 30 minutes, depending on where in Skokie and where in BG.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

I would avoid expressways and use streets cause you have options if traffic is slow. At 7, I would allow 30 minutes, depending on where in Skokie and where in BG.

If you're on east/southeast side of Skokie and you're working west part of BG, I would make it 45 minutes. The fastest I ever made it from Wheeling(Palatine & Wheeling Rd.-closer than BG) to Skokie(Howard & Kostner)was about 20 minutes, at 2AM. During rush hour it was typically 30 minutes.