10 day trip. Need advice info from you fine people.

[dislocatedkid]

I'm taking a nice long road trip starting 8/5 ending 8/15 and i was looking for any info on road construction/traffic or advice for as smooth of a ride as possible itinerary is as follows.

8/5 to 8/6: Hibbing, MN to Massilon, OH
Leaving around 4 pm

Route: MN-37 East --> US-53 South through Duluth/Superior --> I-94 East (Eau Clare, WI) --> I-90 East (Tomah, WI) --> Indiana & Ohio TPKS East --> I-77 South --> OH-21 South to Massilon

Mostly I'm wondering about Chicago. It wall be late at night when i get to that point and i usually just go right through town UNLESS theres a reason i shouldnt. So is it "safe" to go through town or should i take the Tri-State? I like to avoid getting on the turnpike in Gary. But i will if its worth it.

8/7: Massilon, OH to Rehoboth Beach, DE
Leaving around 5 am

Route: OH-21 South --> US-250 East  --> US-22 East (Cadiz, OH) --> I-376 East --> PA Tpk East --> I-70 East (Breezewood, PA) --> US-29 South/MD-100 East --> I-97 South --> US-50/301 East --> MD-404 East --> MD/DE-16 East --> DE-1 South to Rehoboth Beach

This leg is really bothering me being that i pretty much flipped a coin about what to do at Frederick (MD). Should i do DC or Baltimore?

8/8: Rehoboth Beach, DE to NYC
Leaving around 9am

Route: Cape May Ferry --> Garden State PKWY North --> New Jersey TPK North --> Lincoln TUNN

Of course theres probably lots to know about this leg. But im staying in Mid-Town Manhattan and just want to know what the easiest way on to Manhattan is.

8/11: NYC to Massilon, OH via Stubenville, OH
Leaving around Noon

Route: Henry Hudson North --> I-80 West --> I-99 South --> US-22 West --> Stubenville, OH --> OH-7 North --> OH-39 West --> OH-171 West --> OH-43 North --> US-30 West --> Massilon, OH

Now I Know this is a round about way, but like most of you from what ive read on here, Im not a big fan of "retracing" my steps. So Id like to stay off the TPK if i can. Is 99/22 the fastest way to accomplish this?

8/14-8/15: Massilon, OH to Hibbing, MN
Leaving around 4pm

Route: US-30 West --> US-250 West --> OH TPK West --> I-280 North --> I-75/475 --> US-23 North --> I-75 North --> US-2 West --> MI-77 North --> MI-28 West --> US-2 West --> US-53 North --> MN-37 West --> Hibbing, MN

ANY info would be greatly appreciated on any construction, congestion, or short cuts. Thank ya much in advance.

Your fellow road geek,
Aaron

[dfilpus]

Baltimore is the better choice, especially the US 29/MD 100 bypass of Baltimore.

I-280/I 75/I 475 through Toledo can be congested along the I 75 segment. The I 280 bridge is neat, but that segment by the old Jeep plant is not. Faster would be to go two more exits on the Turnpike and get onto I 475/US 23 there. If you're trying for a more scenic non-turnpike route, look at taking Ohio 2 from Elyria west past Sandusky, then OH 579/OH 51 to I 280.

[Brandon]

Chicago's fine to go through, depending on what time of day and which day of the week it is (weekend vs. weekday).  I'd avoid rush hours (7-9am and 4-6:30pm M-F).  Otherwise, it's up to you how much you want to pay in tolls (the Skyway's a bit pricey, IMHO).

In the UP on the way back it might be better to take M-123 from I-75 to M-28 and follow M-28 west to US-2.  There's more roadgeeky things to see over by Marquette.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Not sure what to suggest. Are you looking at time considerations? County collecting? Route clinching? Sites of interest?

[dislocatedkid]

@dfil: Wasnt sure if Baltimore was the right choice. It just looked shorter and ive heard "The Belt" can be a pain in the ass at all hours. In regards to Toledo, I didnt think either/or would make much of a difference @ around 7ish in the evening, and Im actually from Ohio origionally so Ive seen the 280 bridge quite a few times and as cool as it is i'll go ahead and take your advice and head over to the west side of town. Thanks.

@Brandon: Well be in CHI probably around midnight or so, so i was more or less wondering if there was any work being done that i should avoid. I know even one lane being closed can mean big time back ups on the Ryan. Tolls dont really matter too much to me. And i figured id be saving a lil by not taking the Tri State. Is that not the case? Ive made my trip back to ohio quite a few times and have never taken the Tri State since im always driving over night and i figure the Ryan is shorter, especially without waiting for the 9 million semis at the 80/94/90 interchange in Gary. Also heard theres constantly road work going on along 80/94 in Indiana. And in regards to the UP by the time i get to Marquette itll probably be about 3-4 AM so ill probably just be looking to get back by that point. Thanks for the info though.

@Hot Rod: Eh. Mostly looking to avoid (or at least be prepared for) tie ups/construction/congestion but also not wanting to retrace my steps (such as taking the PA TPK to Deleware and NOT taking it back from NYC to Stubenville, OH) in the timliest fashion, but ANY info is appreciated.

[ftballfan]

To get from the Turnpike to US-23 north and vice versa, I almost always take I-75 north to I-475 west to US-23 north, seeing as there is no direct interchange at US-23 along the Turnpike.

In the Upper Peninsula, I would go either US-2 west to M-117 north to M-28 west, US-2 west to M-77 north to M-28 west, or I-75 north to M-123 north to M-28 west.

[dislocatedkid]

@ftball: Oops. Just noticed i forgot to include MI-77 on the UP...my bad

[JREwing78]

Don't waste your time trying to avoid the toll roads. As long as you get a EZ-Pass capable transponder, you'll pay much cheaper tolls, and it'll work on just about any toll road east of the Mississippi.

Easiest way is to pick up an I-Pass on the way. You can sign up for an account ahead of time at http://roadrangerusa.com/marketplace/addedconveniences.htm#ipass, and then stop at the Road Ranger truck stop at the first exit on I-39/90 coming into Illinois from Wisconsin (before the tolls start) to pick up a transponder and activate it.

If you have more time, get the I-Zoom from the Indiana Toll Road site (https://www.getizoom.com/aboutIzoom.do), because they don't charge a fee to keep the transponder active (Illinois charges $12 a year, I believe). They will need to mail it to you, so allow sufficient time to make that happen.

[Kacie Jane]

For New York City, I've noticed that traffic coming from the south tends to generally not be all that bad, although it is pretty unpredictable.  That being said, there's a good chance it will be faster for you to take the Holland Tunnel rather than the Lincoln, and hop on 9A up to your destination.  If you do so, you can bypass the tolls on the Newark Bay Extension (I-78 portion of the Turnpike) by taking the Pulaski Skyway instead, which is probably something every roadgeek should do at least once anyway.

[SSOWorld]

Don't waste your time trying to avoid the toll roads. As long as you get a EZ-Pass capable transponder, you'll pay much cheaper tolls, and it'll work on just about any toll road east of the Mississippi.

Easiest way is to pick up an I-Pass on the way. You can sign up for an account ahead of time at http://roadrangerusa.com/marketplace/addedconveniences.htm#ipass, and then stop at the Road Ranger truck stop at the first exit on I-39/90 coming into Illinois from Wisconsin (before the tolls start) to pick up a transponder and activate it.

If you have more time, get the I-Zoom from the Indiana Toll Road site (https://www.getizoom.com/aboutIzoom.do), because they don't charge a fee to keep the transponder active (Illinois charges $12 a year, I believe). They will need to mail it to you, so allow sufficient time to make that happen.

Illinois doesn't have a maintenance fee.

[PAHighways]

Route: Henry Hudson North --> I-80 West --> I-99 South --> US-22 West --> Stubenville, OH --> OH-7 North --> OH-39 West --> OH-171 West --> OH-43 North --> US-30 West --> Massilon, OH

Now I Know this is a round about way, but like most of you from what ive read on here, Im not a big fan of "retracing" my steps. So Id like to stay off the TPK if i can. Is 99/22 the fastest way to accomplish this?

Yes now that 22 is four lanes from Murrysville to I-99.  Outside of Murrysville and Ebensburg, there are few signals on that route.  Since you're leaving New York at Noon, you won't hit traffic by the time you make it onto 376.

[texaskdog]

In the UP M-28 from Seney to Singleton is boring as hell.  I like the Lake Michigan US 2 side to Manistique. then either up M-94 to Munising or US 41 to Marquette.

[dislocatedkid]

@JRE: This sounds like a pretty decent idea. Only one question. Is this possible 24/7? I'll probably be hitting Beloit around 11 or 12 at night.

@Kacie: Thanks for the info. I had actually considered taking the Skyway to the Holland, but being that my hotel is mere blocks from the Lincoln, decided against it. Especially since we may be getting to North Jersey/NYC on the cusp of the beginning of rush hour. I may just have to make that decision according to the traffic when i get there.

@PA: Thank you. Ive been looking @ 22 on GSV and eventhough it seems everywhere ive looked has a 55 speed limit posted , still seemed the best way without using the TPK.

@texas: I agree as ive done both. Yet Ill probably be crossing the bridge (and the whole UP for that matter) sometime after dark so ill just be wanting to get through it ASAP.

[AZDude]

Beware that I-90 from downtown Chicago east to outside the city limits has a rediculous 45 mph speed limit.  And that I-90 between Rockford and downtown Chicago is under construction also with a 45 speed limit.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

@Hot Rod: Eh. Mostly looking to avoid (or at least be prepared for) tie ups/construction/congestion but also not wanting to retrace my steps (such as taking the PA TPK to Deleware and NOT taking it back from NYC to Stubenville, OH) in the timliest fashion, but ANY info is appreciated.

Since it looks like you're retracing your steps along US 22, between Stubenville and Monroeville.
I'll suggest an alternative route coming back west.
From Monroeville, take the Pa Turnpike west to I-376 (formerly Pa 60) South(?) to Pa 51 west, which becomes Oh 14. Stay on Oh 14 till you reach Salem, then take US 62 South (or is it west) to Canton and pick up US 30 west to Massillon (or if need be, follow Oh 172 between Canton and Massillon)

[dislocatedkid]

@AZ: Eh. Yeah. I HATE the Jane between Rockford and Chicago  . So much so that a couple times ive made the trip Ive tried I-94 & I-39-I-80. Both are way more desirable drive wise but wayyyy longer. So the last few times ive made the trip back home i've resigned myself to 90 all the way. It SUCKS but its faster. Thanks for the info though.

@HotRod: I have to stop in Toronto, OH on the way back or else i would just take 30 through E-Liverpool. But Its all good. I love D-Town Pittsburgh anyways. And US-62 Is East West @ least untill Navarre (just another tidbit of info if you were really curious haha) Growing up in Louisville, OH, Ive always hated 62 between Alliance & Canton. LOTS of accidents. Blah blah blah. Im rambling now. But thanks for replying. I appreciate it.

[Mr_Northside]

8/7: Massilon, OH to Rehoboth Beach, DE
Leaving around 5 am

Route: OH-21 South --> US-250 East  --> US-22 East (Cadiz, OH) --> I-376 East --> PA Tpk East --> I-70 East (Breezewood, PA) --> US-29 South/MD-100 East --> I-97 South --> US-50/301 East --> MD-404 East --> MD/DE-16 East --> DE-1 South to Rehoboth Beach

This leg is really bothering me being that i pretty much flipped a coin about what to do at Frederick (MD). Should i do DC or Baltimore?

I'll be doing the majority of that route the day before... At least the parts from D-town Pittsburgh to MD-404.  Heading down with friends for a week's vacation to Chincoteague Island, VA on 8/6.  If I were the one driving, there's a good chance that I'd actually use I-68, but I know the person I'm riding down with is just gonna want to take the Turnpike.

Also, while the US-29/MD-100 (or MD-32 is about the same)/I-97 route is certainly closer to Baltimore than DC, when phrased as doing either DC or Baltimore, I'd mostly consider that splitting the difference.  (Though I'm considering recommending to the guy driving to try out just MD-32 from I-70 to I-97 this time, we'll see what happens.)

[dislocatedkid]

@ North: Yeah I just used those two cities as points of reference being that i cant expect everyone to know exactly where Ellicott City (or wherever) is i guess. I just figured is would be dealing with either DC traffic or Baltimore traffic. But i know what you mean. And i actually though about using 68, but being that i havnt seen the ocean in over 10 years and only have one day to chill there I just want to get there ASAP. I CANT WAIT to see that rolling blue monster again. Ugh. Two more weeks!! But anyways...have a nice trip and enjoy yerself...

[hobsini2]

Actually, being a professional driver in Chicago, the Ryan, Bishop Ford and Kennedy are fine to use at night. No real construction zones on any of them. A couple of places have some "bridge painting" and "light structure" stuff going on but there should not be any impact on travel according to IDOT. As for the 45 zone thru Downtown Chicago, NOBODY does that. The troopers will allow you to do 55-65 in that zone.

[dislocatedkid]

@hob: Alright, sweet. Thats the only thing i worry about on the Ryan is construction since im always there at night when traffic is almost always free flowing unless theres a major project going on...and it does always seem like the flow of traffic is usually going at least 65 through town. Stragglers aside. Of which i am definitely not (haha). Thanks for the info.

[Kacie Jane]

@Kacie: Thanks for the info. I had actually considered taking the Skyway to the Holland, but being that my hotel is mere blocks from the Lincoln, decided against it. Especially since we may be getting to North Jersey/NYC on the cusp of the beginning of rush hour. I may just have to make that decision according to the traffic when i get there.

Emphasis mine.  Listening to traffic reports is probably your only solution here.  Reverse-peak, I would guess your going to hit more traffic on the Lincoln than the Holland, but if you take the Holland, you'll hit traffic on the Manhattan side as you run into people headed out of the city near your hotel.

[dislocatedkid]

@Kacie: I figured as much. I kinda wanted to leave Manhattan alone as far as driving goes. But if i come across a ton of traffic on the Jersey side ill probably risk it. Not even sure if Im gonna be driving this stretch, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see

[thenetwork]

8/7: Massilon, OH to Rehoboth Beach, DE
Leaving around 5 am

Route: OH-21 South --> US-250 East  --> US-22 East (Cadiz, OH) --> I-376 East --> PA Tpk East --> I-70 East (Breezewood, PA) --> US-29 South/MD-100 East --> I-97 South --> US-50/301 East --> MD-404 East --> MD/DE-16 East --> DE-1 South to Rehoboth Beach

I was going to say that if you are going via Cadiz/Toronto to get to PGH/Pa Tpk., You might be better off just going South on OH-7 to I-70 and use the I-79/I-68 combo to get to I-70/I-270 in Frederick, Md.   You still go through Pittsburgh once on the way back, you clinch I-68, and you save a little cash by staying off the Penna Pike. 

On the way back to catch US-23 North of Toledo, as a previous poster said, I'd just take US-250 to Sandusky, then SR-2 West past Port Clinton0, then SR-163 West to SR 51.  Head west on SR-51 to SR-795 west to I-75, then catch I-475/US-23 from south of Toledo for the trip into Michigan.

SR-163 and 795 are good, country roads with little traffic, and 795 is pretty much a decent 4-lane expressway between I-75 & I-280.  And SR-51 on the stretch you'd be on ain't that bad either.  You only go through 2 small towns (Genoa & Oak Harbor) but it's quick-in, quick-out.

And to bypass US-250 through Norwalk, might I suggest taking either CR-51 (Greenwich-Milan Town Line Road) North (at Olena) or US-20 East to SR-601 North to Milan, re-joining US-250 there.  US-250 through Norwalk is, has, and never will be, fun to go through. SR-601 is a great little north-south bypass around Norwalk...Unless there is a big race event at Norwalk Raceway Park.

[dislocatedkid]

@network: Ah yes, I had thought of droping south from Steubenville to do the 70/68. Yet my companion has never been to Pittsburgh, and what better way to see it for the first time than coming out of the Ft Pitt? See, this is her first trip OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA for a long long time. And if i can afford to show her some cool stuff on the way then i figure, might as well, right? So yeah, droping south might save some time or money, but her "holy-shit" face is pretty priceless (haha). Im not even sure shes been through a tunnel besides the small ones in Minneapolis and Duluth. So it should be pretty cool.

As far as the OH TPK goes, I have followed OH-2 all the way from Cleveland to Oregon before, and it was awesome, but that new 70 MPH limit is pretty hard to pass up. Is it really worth it on a Saturday night to skip it? I do hate that damn road, but it just seems so much shorter.

And in Norwalk we are actually planning on moving (me: back to/her: to) Ohio next Summer. So part of the purpose of this trip is to scout out some possible places to choose, and Norwalk is on the list to check out. It is a pain to drive through, but its also a pretty cool town, so i figure thats where we'll have dinner and a rest before making the overnight trek north.

Anyhoo, thanks for the info and the reply. It is much appreciated.

[MI42]

I was stuck in a half hour delay on the WB Ohio Tpk at MM 102 construction on a Sunday evening at 7:30, presumably due to a combination of an earlier accident and Cedar Pointe traffic.  You might want to consider 20 or 2.