Travel home from Glacier

[Spletbr]

Any suggestions for The best route from Glacier / Mt. Rushmore to the east (eastern PA specifically). Can we avoid I-80 and CHICAGO semi efficiently? Canada sounds cool but gas is so expensive... What routes have you enjoyed? Thanks!

[hornet28]

If you can time it to hit Chicago on I-80 after 10/11 p.m. or before 7 a.m. traffic isn't bad at all. Other times you never know. I go through there on I-80 at least twice a year sometimes quite a bit more. I can't remember the last time I was really tied up in a traffic jam there. Generally I'm doing 60-65 all the way through there. With where I live I don't have a choice about doing I-80 but I refuse to go through town with a trailer. Coming from Rapid City I run one of three routes, I-90 to I-29 to I-880 to I-80. Another way is I-90 to I-35 to U.S. 18 to U.S. 218 to I-380 to I-80. Last I-90 to I-39 to I-80. Some say to go U.S. 30 but that is a busy road with a lot of traffic, vehicles turning into businesses and stop lights, I'd rather stay on 80 then do it.
If your coming from Glacier I'd advise you to avoid Minneapolis to me that's much worse than 80 around Chicago
Between the Black Hills and Billings a shorter way is to take exit 23 on I-90 which is S.D. 34 to U.S. 85 then right to U.S. 212 to I-90 this route is 55 mi shorter than going I-90 all the way and it's all good roads. In the last 9 years I've run this route at least a dozen times, probably more.There's a rest area/weigh station just south of Broadus. There are not a lot of gas stations along the way but there are at least 4.

[Roscommon48]

chicago...ummmm

early early or late late.

that is about it unless you want to add another 600+ miles going through Canada or Michigan.

[JRTJH]

You might consider taking I-70 to Indianapolis, then I-74 to Davenport and I-80 the rest of the way. That would keep you several hundred miles south of Chicago and not add any mileage. According to Google Maps, from Newtown to Davenport via 70/74 is 971 miles, the same trip on 80 is 1006 miles, so no significant savings in miles but it does avoid Chicago and the toll roads in northern Indiana.

[Spletbr]

Great, thanks for the advice!

[Spletbr]

Originally Posted by hornet28

If you can time it to hit Chicago on I-80 after 10/11 p.m. or before 7 a.m. traffic isn't bad at all. Other times you never know. I go through there on I-80 at least twice a year sometimes quite a bit more. I can't remember the last time I was really tied up in a traffic jam there. Generally I'm doing 60-65 all the way through there. With where I live I don't have a choice about doing I-80 but I refuse to go through town with a trailer. Coming from Rapid City I run one of three routes, I-90 to I-29 to I-880 to I-80. Another way is I-90 to I-35 to U.S. 18 to U.S. 218 to I-380 to I-80. Last I-90 to I-39 to I-80. Some say to go U.S. 30 but that is a busy road with a lot of traffic, vehicles turning into businesses and stop lights, I'd rather stay on 80 then do it.
If your coming from Glacier I'd advise you to avoid Minneapolis to me that's much worse than 80 around Chicago
Between the Black Hills and Billings a shorter way is to take exit 23 on I-90 which is S.D. 34 to U.S. 85 then right to U.S. 212 to I-90 this route is 55 mi shorter than going I-90 all the way and it's all good roads. In the last 9 years I've run this route at least a dozen times, probably more.There's a rest area/weigh station just south of Broadus. There are not a lot of gas stations along the way but there are at least 4.

Wow, great info! Many thanks

[Spletbr]

Originally Posted by Roscommon48

chicago...ummmm

early early or late late.

that is about it unless you want to add another 600+ miles going through Canada or Michigan.

I don’t mind extra time or distance if it makes for a more enjoyable trip ��. But if it’s not needed...why bother!