Chicago / toll roads

[Bugnatr]

On Sunday the 20th I will be leaving CFO in LaCrosse headed to Kalamazoo. May follow the Big Creek south for a bit before headed east.

Once I leave the river I will be looking for the quickest route to Mi to visit family.

Any tips on the toll roads and dealing with Chicago? Thanks, Bug

 

[wheatonFJR]

You could either take one of the ferries across lake Michigan...

If you have I-Pass or EZPass you could...

take I-90 toll east

to I-355 toll south

to I-80 / I294 toll / I-94 east

to your road up to kalamazoo.

If you don't have I-Pass or EZ-Pass, tolls will be twice as expensive and 5 times the pain as you stop and fumble for tolls.

 

[TCMike]

I wasn't keeping track, but It must have cost me about $30 to get from Rockford to Chesterton,IN on my recent trip. Not to mention the average speed of roughly 35mph, FJR temp reading between 96 and 108, and sucking in all the exhaust fumes in the stop/go traffic. Glad I missed rush hour!

The more direct route, will probably not be any faster, and it will cost ya. Try the ferry, or swinging wide around Chi town.

 

[Bugnatr]

I was thinking about the Ferry or how about going a bit south and use secondary highways?

 

[wheatonFJR]

I was thinking about the Ferry or how about going a bit south and use secondary highways?

Don't use anything but interstates to get around, unless you like hours of stoplights.

Either take the ferry or do the interstates mentioned.

 

[old&slow]

Went thru Chicago once in the car ,,( several years ago )

Had a bushel basket full of change ,,, Thought I was going to run out of money before I got thru town...

The routine was ,, go thru a toll booth ,,get up to speed ,,then slow down for another toll booth ....

Didn't count them ,,but there was a mess of them .... :blink: :blink: :blink:

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

You can always take I-39 south to I-80 east. Only one toll, where 80 becomes 80/94 (I think it's less than a buck, cash). You'll go just a few miles out of your way south on 39 to pick up 80, but will save TONS of time...and tolls...and frustration

 

[radman]

Or shoot north and take the scenic route-really should be beautiful this time of year, well worth it if you have the time.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Or shoot north and take the scenic route-really should be beautiful this time of year, well worth it if you have the time.

Great idea...you gotta go over the Mackinac Bridge.

I like this option the best.

 

[Bugnatr]

Or shoot north and take the scenic route-really should be beautiful this time of year, well worth it if you have the time.

Great idea...you gotta go over the Mackinac Bridge.

I like this option the best.

That's the way I'll use to get back to the MN. RC Lar"'s route makes the most sense. Thanks .

 

[0Face]

You CAN blow through the tolls in the IPASS lanes without an IPASS. You have a week to pay the tolls online.

Check out: https://www.illinoistollway.com/

I'd do the northern route myself if I had the time.

 

[feeger]

I just rode to Chicago from La Crosse. It was after 9 pm so I didn't have to deal with a lot of traffic, but there was still traffic, lots of road construction and the toll booths were a huge PITA.

I stopped for gas and had to pay to get back on the freeway. To make it worse, it was an unattended booth and I didn't have enough change (even after picking up the change scattered on the road).

I paid online via the website 0face posted, but it cost me $2.00 instead of 60 cents.

Oh yeah, the speed limits are really low and they advertise the use of cameras to catch speeders in the construction zones.

 

[Bugnatr]

I just rode to Chicago from La Crosse. It was after 9 pm so I didn't have to deal with a lot of traffic, but there was still traffic, lots of road construction and the toll booths were a huge PITA.
I stopped for gas and had to pay to get back on the freeway. To make it worse, it was an unattended booth and I didn't have enough change (even after picking up the change scattered on the road).

I paid online via the website 0face posted, but it cost me $2.00 instead of 60 cents.

Oh yeah, the speed limits are really low and they advertise the use of cameras to catch speeders in the construction zones.

Thanks Al. sounds like it's worse than the Bay area. Must be torture when you can't lane split.