34 replies to this topic

[Savage Beatings]

So I am planning a fast and furtious road trip from Minneapolis, through Wisconsin, down through Chicago, to the Fort Wayne Indiana area.

My questions are... is it worth it to plan routes that avoid all of the tolls?  I'll be leaving Minneapolis on a Friday afternoon/evening so wouldn't get into the Chicago area until late Friday night (missing rush hour).  How backed up do the tolls get, and how much money would I need to account for if i just decide to stay on the toll roads?

Google Maps shows the following:
With Tolls (5 of them) trip would take 10 hours, 34 minutes for 570 miles
Without Tolls trip would take 10 hours, 49 minutes for 578 miles

[bpwallace49]

Where are you avoiding tolls through chicago?  

Are you going through Madison, then south towards 88? You will only hit 3 tolls then BTW. (I think)

Or are you going way south then due east?

And are you stopping to have a jam session with brentastic and his yarn beard?

[Hugh 0ne]

Wow, your really going from one vacation hot spot to another!

Don't forget the sun screen!

[Savage Beatings]

Hugh 0ne, on 13 April 2012 - 09:21 AM, said:

Wow, your really going from one vacation hot spot to another!

Don't forget the sun screen!

  Yeah, it's not exactly a sexy vacation.  We're driving to pick up a dog from a breeder.

[Savage Beatings]

bpwallace49, on 13 April 2012 - 08:59 AM, said:

Where are you avoiding tolls through chicago?  

Are you going through Madison, then south towards 88? You will only hit 3 tolls then BTW. (I think)

Or are you going way south then due east?

And are you stopping to have a jam session with brentastic and his yarn beard?

To be honest I have no idea.  I mapped it out using Google Maps, and then I hit a button that said avoid tolls.  It basically just re-routes you onto different roads that you don't have to pay for.  The summary makes it seem like you only end up going 7 miles and 15 minutes out of your way... but that's kind of why I'm posting here.  I don't really trust the summary to be accurate.  I'm wondering if its just worth it to go through the tolls.  But if I do, I have no earthly idea how much they cost.

[SEC=UGA]

THey really charge people to drive through Illinois?!?!?!

Or are they charging you to leave Minnesota?

What kinda pup you gettin?

I'm outta questions for the moment.

[i_am_the_swammi]

Hugh 0ne, on 13 April 2012 - 09:21 AM, said:

Wow, your really going from one vacation hot spot to another!

Don't forget the sun screen!

[bpwallace49]

Savage Beatings, on 13 April 2012 - 09:29 AM, said:

To be honest I have no idea.  I mapped it out using Google Maps, and then I hit a button that said avoid tolls.  It basically just re-routes you onto different roads that you don't have to pay for.  The summary makes it seem like you only end up going 7 miles and 15 minutes out of your way... but that's kind of why I'm posting here.  I don't really trust the summary to be accurate.  I'm wondering if its just worth it to go through the tolls.  But if I do, I have no earthly idea how much they cost.

What time exactly do you plan to go through Chicago? That will depend on going through tolls or not. The timing can make the side roads horrible for traffic, and you will lose more in time than the hassle of the tolls.

BTW, tolls through chicago for you would cost around 5-7 bucks one way (depending on your route.)

[Savage Beatings]

SEC=UGA, on 13 April 2012 - 09:36 AM, said:

THey really charge people to drive through Illinois?!?!?!

Or are they charging you to leave Minnesota?

What kinda pup you gettin?

I'm outta questions for the moment.

Giant Schnoodle

[Savage Beatings]

bpwallace49, on 13 April 2012 - 09:37 AM, said:

What time exactly do you plan to go through Chicago? That will depend on going through tolls or not. The timing can make the side roads horrible for traffic, and you will lose more in time than the hassle of the tolls.

BTW, tolls through chicago for you would cost around 5-7 bucks one way (depending on your route.)

Well, I'm guessing it will be around Midnight or so when we get to the Chicago area.  I'm not exactly sure when we are leaving Minneapolis, so it could be anywhere from 11:00pm to 1:00am when we get there.  We'll probably look for a Hotel once we get past Chicago, maybe in the Gary area.  

[Clubfoothead]

I'd stay on the toll roads unless you know the area.

[Savage Beatings]

Clubfoothead, on 13 April 2012 - 10:10 AM, said:

I'd stay on the toll roads unless you know the area.

Which clearly I don't.  That's kinda what I was thinking too.  Might be worth it to pay just for not getting lost.

[SEC=UGA]

Savage Beatings, on 13 April 2012 - 10:07 AM, said:

Giant Schnoodle

That's a schnauzer poodle, I'm guessing?  You using it for duck hunting or something?

And, why all of a suden are people starting to mix these breeds... Labradoodle, Schnoodle, Chug (pug/Chihuaha), and my parents just adopted something called a schneagle (schnauzer/beagle) from a girl who couldn't take care of it.  Maybe Sugar can enlighten me.

[SEC=UGA]

Savage Beatings, on 13 April 2012 - 10:11 AM, said:

Which clearly I don't.  That's kinda what I was thinking too.  Might be worth it to pay just for not getting lost.

You remember that scene from National Lampoons Vacation, Honkey Lips?

[bpwallace49]

Savage Beatings, on 13 April 2012 - 10:10 AM, said:

Well, I'm guessing it will be around Midnight or so when we get to the Chicago area.  I'm not exactly sure when we are leaving Minneapolis, so it could be anywhere from 11:00pm to 1:00am when we get there.  We'll probably look for a Hotel once we get past Chicago, maybe in the Gary area.  

With that timing, there will be zero traffic. I would still stick to the toll roads.

A hotel in Gary?    enjoy the bedbugs . . ..


if you stay in chicago we can get a beer . .. just sayin . . .

[Savage Beatings]

SEC=UGA, on 13 April 2012 - 10:12 AM, said:

That's a schnauzer poodle, I'm guessing?  You using it for duck hunting or something?

And, why all of a suden are people starting to mix these breeds... Labradoodle, Schnoodle, Chug (pug/Chihuaha), and my parents just adopted something called a schneagle (schnauzer/beagle) from a girl who couldn't take care of it.  Maybe Sugar can enlighten me.

  Yeah it's a Giant Schnauzer crossed with a Standard Poodle.  We wanted a big dog (mostly for home security) and we wanted one with a good temprament, that did not shed.  This fit the bill, and we trust the breeder.

[Savage Beatings]

bpwallace49, on 13 April 2012 - 10:15 AM, said:

With that timing, there will be zero traffic. I would still stick to the toll roads.

A hotel in Gary?    enjoy the bedbugs . . ..


if you stay in chicago we can get a beer . .. just sayin . . .

Well, I'll have my wife and 7 year old son in the car with me, and we won't get into Chicago until around Midnight, so this probably won't be a good opportunity for me to stop and drink... but seriously, thanks for the offer!

I know nothing about Gary... I just saw it as a point where I will probably be getting tired and want to stop for the night.  Maybe I'll just find a Super 8 or something like that along the Highway in Chicago instead.

[SEC=UGA]

Home security with a good temperment...

Reminds me of the old joke... What do you get when you cross Lassie with a pit bull...  A dog that will rip your face off and then run and get help.

[Big John]

Cheapest way while staying on the interstates is 94 to 90 to 39 to 80 to 69.  There will still be a toll when entering Illinois and when 80 merges with 294.

Problem is that 80/90 in mostly all toll in Indiana

And say hi to Cunning Runt while in Fort Worth.

[Caveman_Nick]

Savage Beatings, on 13 April 2012 - 10:07 AM, said:

Giant Schnoodle

I'd love to hear more about this pup once you get him.  I've been a fan of the Giant Schnauzers for a long time, and my first dog was a 'Labradoodle", before they called them that.  Back then they were just mutts.

[stevegrab]

Savage Beatings, on 13 April 2012 - 10:23 AM, said:

Well, I'll have my wife and 7 year old son in the car with me, and we won't get into Chicago until around Midnight, so this probably won't be a good opportunity for me to stop and drink... but seriously, thanks for the offer!

I know nothing about Gary... I just saw it as a point where I will probably be getting tired and want to stop for the night.  Maybe I'll just find a Super 8 or something like that along the Highway in Chicago instead.

The city of Gary itself is a real CHIPS AHOY! hole, do not stop there if at all possible (even to get off and get gas). I'd either stay in Chicago or continue west of Gary to Lake Station, Portage or even Valporaiso (if taking US30 from there to Fort Wayne). Those are much better/safer areas.

Its been a while since I've traveled US30 in that area, don't know how much its interstate or with more stops and such. May be better to stay on IN Toll Road past South Bend then go south I-69

Born in suburban Gary, and have family there so I know of what I speak.

[Big John]

stevegrab, on 13 April 2012 - 12:53 PM, said:

The city of Gary itself is a real CHIPS AHOY! hole, do not stop there if at all possible (even to get off and get gas). I'd either stay in Chicago or continue west of Gary to Lake Station, Portage or even Valporaiso (if taking US30 from there to Fort Wayne). Those are much better/safer areas.

Its been a while since I've traveled US30 in that area, don't know how much its interstate or with more stops and such. May be better to stay on IN Toll Road past South Bend then go south I-69

Born in suburban Gary, and have family there so I know of what I speak.

[The Irish Doggy]

Ugh. I would try to make it to at least Valparaiso or South Bend depending on how you go through Indiana.  Seriously Gary may be the worst place not named Detroit.  Avoid it if only for the lack of fresh air if not the risk of bodily harm.

Looking at the avoiding tolls on Google maps looks like a lot more than a minor detour to me.   I've never tried those back roads between Madison and Chicago personally of course, but I don't trust it.

[matt770]

SEC=UGA, on 13 April 2012 - 10:24 AM, said:

Home security with a good temperment...

Reminds me of the old joke... What do you get when you cross Lassie with a pit bull...  A dog that will rip your face off and then run and get help.

My wife's aunt has a German shepherd that she got from a breeder in Germany.  I've never seen one like this before, he's built like a freaking tank and could rip any man to shreds.  Muscular like a pit bull, but bigger boned and just more massive all around.  Completely happy-go-lucky though, not a malicious bone in his body and basically just a huge puppy at heart.  Though I wouldn't want to be a burglar and run into him.

[stevegrab]

Big John, on 13 April 2012 - 01:22 PM, said:

To clarify, born in Merrillville, IN my family lived in Gary just before that. I have a brother who lives in Valpo, and another who lived in Valpo, Hammond, Hobart and work at US Steel in Gary for 25+ years. I've been warned about the dangers of going into Gary proper, while surrounding commuties are actually pretty nice (especially as far out as Valpo).