Driving to Chicago Advice

[HGPuck]

I'm driving to Chicago from central Iowa later today. Does anyone have any advice if I should take I-88 or I-80 across Illinois? I'm heading downtown so there isn't a big distance difference, I-88 is obviously a little shorter. Online they show construction on I-88, anyone know what that's like right now? Is there much difference in terms of traffic, how much in tolls would i expect on I-88, and if there is some bad weather?

 

[SCNCY]

I'm driving to Chicago from central Iowa later today. Does anyone have any advice if I should take I-88 or I-80 across Illinois? I'm heading downtown so there isn't a big distance difference, I-88 is obviously a little shorter. Online they show construction on I-88, anyone know what that's like right now? Is there much difference in terms of traffic, how much in tolls would i expect on I-88, and if there is some bad weather?

I-88 will have less trucks than I-80 until you reach the city as well as less traffic in general than I-80. my suggestion, take 88

 

[GrayerClone]

Depends on where your going in Chicago, but I-88 is hard to beat

 

[cyfanatic]

I'm driving to Chicago from central Iowa later today. Does anyone have any advice if I should take I-88 or I-80 across Illinois? I'm heading downtown so there isn't a big distance difference, I-88 is obviously a little shorter. Online they show construction on I-88, anyone know what that's like right now? Is there much difference in terms of traffic, how much in tolls would i expect on I-88, and if there is some bad weather?

Tolls will be around $6 or so...used to be a lot cheaper! I would just stay on I80 and head up I55 when you reach that point.

 

[cyclonedave25]

Tolls will be around $6 or so...used to be a lot cheaper! I would just stay on I80 and head up I55 when you reach that point.

Yeah, if you want to avoid the tollways at all costs, take I-80 to I-55 north, which takes you right into the city.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I-88 is faster, but prepare to be gouged, especially if you don't have I-Pass - you literally pay twice as much without it.

 

[dmcbrady]

I'm from north of the city and I always took 80 to 88. Seems to be a lot less traffic then taking 80 the entire way.

 

[CyGal]

We went to Chicago in July of last year, and since they were doing construction on the bridge going over the MS River, we ended up going out of our way to get around it. Might have been easier at that point to go on 80. That was July, though, so I don't know what it's like now. We've always gone 88 before, but the tolls do add up.

 

[gocubs2118]

I take I-88 everytime. I hope you are driving with someone, the drive from Iowa to Chicago is brutally boring if you're going by yourself.

 

[cyclonedave25]

I take I-88 everytime. I hope you are driving with someone, the drive from Iowa to Chicago is brutally boring if you're going by yourself.

Tell me about it.. I used to drive from the SW burbs to Ames every home football game last fall. On my drive back to Chicago on Sunday, I always thought to myself, "this drive sucks... was it really worth it?" And then I thought, "yes, it was bc I got to tailgate and spend the day at JT stadium." :biggrin:

 

[cyfanatic]

From Cedar Rapids I always take I88 as well...but I take Highway 30 to get to it through Clinton and Morrison, IL. That saves a lot of time...but if I were going to Chicago from Iowa City...I would probably go I80 to I55 if I were going into the heart of the city.

 

[dmclone]

My navi says I-88E exit 4b and roughly 4 1/2 hours from Des Moines

 

[jdoggivjc]

That reminds me - when you get to Davenport, take I-280 around as they're still working on the I-80 bridge (although it's open). It's virtually the same distance if you decide to go I-80, and only a 2-3 mile backtrack to the North (I-80 West) if you take I-88.

 

[chicagoCy]

if you're going to the city, on a friday afternoon i would definitely take I-80 to joliet and then take I-55 north into the city which puts you right by soldier field. there is much less traffic on 55N than on 88/290 into the city since 55N is a reverse commute at night(wife drives it every day). If you're going to the suburbs anywhere west or north of the city, i would stick with I-88. an added plus is that I-80 & I-55 have no tolls so you don't have to stop for them.

 

[intrepid27]

If your coming across on Hwy 30 and are going to take 88 make sure to get on 88 BEFORE Rock Falls. (There are 3 exits for Rock Falls from 88). Driving through Rock Falls cost you minimum of 10 minutes AND increase your chances of getting carjacked.

 

[Knownothing]

Go really, really fast, and if something get's in your way. Turn.

A little better of dead refference is always a good thing.

 

[HGPuck]

Thanks for the advice everyone, probably going to take 80 and then 55 up to downtown.

 

[burn587]

From Cedar Rapids I always take I88 as well...but I take Highway 30 to get to it through Clinton and Morrison, IL. That saves a lot of time...but if I were going to Chicago from Iowa City...I would probably go I80 to I55 if I were going into the heart of the city.

Good lord, you can stand the single lane from Mt Vernon to DeWitt? And then again from Clinton to Morrison? I will take that route if I'm anywhere east of Calamus but otherwise I always drop down to I-80.

Anyway I've probably driven Chicago to Iowa and back again at the end of the week roughly 120 times (I wish I was exaggerating) in the last 2-3 years. Granted I have the I-Pass, but you cannot beat 88 for time and ease of drive. Once you hit the tollway (roughly mile 44 or so) you can go however the hell fast you want. That first 40 miles is heavily speed trapped so watch out. The I-80 to I-55 route will add at least 30-45 minutes onto your drive, so really you'll come out close to even on the tolls when you factor in gas that you're wasting by taking the long route. I-80 does have more places to stop and eat though. I-88 basically has Silvis (a subway), Rock Falls (Culvers, BK, Hardees) and then the worst oasis in the illinois tollway system at Dekalb (Subway, McDonalds and Panda Express). I would highly recommend 88, especially if you're not used to a longer drive.

 

[cyfanatic]

Good lord, you can stand the single lane from Mt Vernon to DeWitt? And then again from Clinton to Morrison? I will take that route if I'm anywhere east of Calamus but otherwise I always drop down to I-80.

Maybe it is all in the timing...but I rarely get caught behind traffic on those stretches...if I do it is usually a car that I can pass. Good luck maybe? I also have a couple speeding tickets on Highway 30 in my past as well...maybe that explains why I find it faster?

 

[jtd9046]

Good lord, you can stand the single lane from Mt Vernon to DeWitt? And then again from Clinton to Morrison? I will take that route if I'm anywhere east of Calamus but otherwise I always drop down to I-80.

Anyway I've probably driven Chicago to Iowa and back again at the end of the week roughly 120 times (I wish I was exaggerating) in the last 2-3 years. Granted I have the I-Pass, but you cannot beat 88 for time and ease of drive. Once you hit the tollway (roughly mile 44 or so) you can go however the hell fast you want. That first 40 miles is heavily speed trapped so watch out. The I-80 to I-55 route will add at least 30-45 minutes onto your drive, so really you'll come out close to even on the tolls when you factor in gas that you're wasting by taking the long route. I-80 does have more places to stop and eat though. I-88 basically has Silvis (a subway), Rock Falls (Culvers, BK, Hardees) and then the worst oasis in the illinois tollway system at Dekalb (Subway, McDonalds and Panda Express). I would highly recommend 88, especially if you're not used to a longer drive.

This.

And you can drive through the tolls and pay them online after your trip without penalty.