Trip Planning, Road questions.

[djengr]

Hello all

In the process of planning a trip from Pauls Valley Ok to Mackinaw area in Michigan,we have reservations at Mackinaw creek in early August, meeting some friends who are doing the lake Superior Circle tour. I am estimating 3 days to get there with first stop around the Mark Twain Nat park in Missouri.
Stay there a day, enjoy.

The next leg is my concern, how far to go. Half way is around Gary Indiana, south of Chicago area. Not sure of the road conditions, I am not too bothered by trafic, but bad roads and slow, yuk. Map shows I80 then connect with I 94. Would anyone have insigts on the roads in the area or would anyone suggest a different route.

After Mackinaw we are going to go upper pennisula, Wisconsin, Minnesota and then head south, on I35. Figure about 3 1/2 weeks or so total trip.

Thanks all
David

 

[Mattcoa]

From Mark Twain head to Indianapolis and jump on I-69. Follow I-69 N to Lansing Michigan. Grab US127 to I-75. That route tracks more ENE than going up to I-80, but it keeps you out of the Chicago area.

 

[Notanlines]

David, having travelled that exact area many times, I simply cannot come up with a better plan than Matt presented. Avoid Chicago at all costs, and possibly work on a trick to avoid Indianapolis, but don't lose sleep over it.

If you do find that travel through Indianapolis is necessary, the American Legion, Post 500 on Georgetown Blvd, Speedway, Indiana has relatively handy RV slots in a large area in the rear where we have stayed many times; 50 amp with water. Even if you don't happen to be a race fan this Post is located DIRECTLY across from the main entrance to the track and is a very historic area. Yes, we have stayed there many times and always enjoyed the experience.

https://www.speedwaylegionpost500.com/

 

[djengr]

thanks Matt and Jim. Perfect info about avoidance and an overnight campsite. Appreciate the feedback.

Safe travels to all.

David

 

[jfk69]

They gave you the best route. Going 94 through Chicago is slow, and a ton of truck traffic. Be prepared on I69 for construction when you get north of I94. It will be one lane for about 20 miles but it moves steady. Major resurfacing project going on there. After that you shouldn’t have much construction the rest of the way to Mackinac City. Yes, it’s Mackinac, but is pronounced Mackinaw.

 

[Notanlines]

Joe, "Yes, it’s Mackinac, but is pronounced Mackinaw."DW and I travelled Michigan, both north and south for probably 20 years before a local at a candy shop told us of our error. I have since kept that in mind. I can tell you, I had more problems in learning the correct pronunciation of 'catfish Atchafalaya' when ordering. Hopefully we live and learn.

 

[TaylorsFalls]

Take the ferry out of Manitowoc, WI to Ludlow, MI. It's a fun way to avoid Chicago traffic!

 

[{Tpc}]

There are some ways around the chicago area, and there are a few toll roads. I've had no issue towing through the chicago area with whatever google maps told me, but doesn't mean I would do it again lol. I try to plan for times that aren't during rush hour traffic but there always seems to be some sort of traffic or construction around chicago.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

Take the ferry out of Manitowoc, WI to Ludlow, MI. It's a fun way to avoid Chicago traffic!

It is Ludington, MI, not Ludlow.

It isn't quite as simple as driving up and going across the lake. A reservation is needed if you want to be sure you can get on with a travel trailer/fifth wheel and there are restrictions/limitations/rules regarding pets, your pets have to stay in the vehicle, but you can't stay there yourself. The crew are the only ones allowed to drive it on and off the boat. Cost is roughly $11/ft, so for a typical truck/trailer combo it will run about $500+/- one-way.

Personally, I would head up to OKC and take I-44 to I-70 to I-69 to US 127 and then to I-75 if you want to stick to major roads.

 

[DutchmenSport]

I will make a very, very strong suggestion! Instead of taking I-69 from Indianapolis to Fort Wayne, instead, around Indianapolis take US-31 North and go straight UP North all the way to Northern, Indiana. US-31 has a 60 mph speed limit, is 4 lane almost the entire way, is now interstate grade, but NOT has torn up, beat up, and decimated as the interstates in Indiana are. It's a much more pleasant route. Beware of strong cross winds around Kokomo also. You'll know you are in "wind" country when you see the windmill fields. You'll go through South Bend, Indiana, pass Norte Dame University, and keep going on North on US-31 all the way up to Mackinaw. The drive is pleasant through Michigan and actually relaxing, not having to fight the insane idiots on the interstates.

We drove that route (going the opposite direction) and it was a marvelous drive. We live about 3 miles from I-69 South of Anderson, Indiana.... and we opted US 31 and that route opposed to the I-69 option.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

David, I was trying to avoid saying bad things about Indiana interstates so as not to offend anyone, so I am glad you acknowledged it. My experience has only been on I-90 to US-31 and my wife made me swear that we would never take that section of highway in Indiana again.

 

[DutchmenSport]

David, I was trying to avoid saying bad things about Indiana interstates so as not to offend anyone, so I am glad you acknowledged it. My experience has only been on I-90 to US-31 and my wife made me swear that we would never take that section of highway in Indiana again.

My wife and I (with fifth wheel in-tow), just returned from a 4 month stay in Louisiana. We drove I-69 from Tennessee to Henerson, Kentucky to Indiana to Indianapolis. We've traveled this route 8 times now in the last 13 months. We travel from Indianapolis to Evansville a couple years ago, when I-69 was just opened in that stretch. The roads were not bad.

Now... 2 years later, that section from Evansville to Indianapolis is already beat-up to shreds! Some sections are horrible.

I've been attempting to sound the alarm for the last 20 or more years about the horrible interstate roads in Indiana. NONE are good! NONE!

Take I-70 through Illinois ... not bad .... Hit Indiana - beat your vehicle and trailer up .... hit Ohio... smooth as glass!

Avoid Indiana Interstates.... Take US highways! They are a little slower, but they are much more relaxing and you won't beat your RV and tow vehicle up with parts breaking off or stuff collapsing inside the camper!

 

[vampress]

I can’t say a lot about other ways around Chicago, but this past year I’ve been through there 4 times with our camper. And more times other years. It’s just slow. Plan on it taking time and you’ll be fine. I do have to say, my preferred route is to stay on I90 the whole way. Yes, it’s through “downtown-ish” and is slow, but is just easy since there is no having to change onto other roads and making sure you get the right offramp.

One trip east we went from I90, to I290, to I294, to I80. I have to say, that was the roughest route we did, I refused to go west on the same route. Those roads have definitely gotten worse from a few years ago. Staying on I80 all the way from Iowa to Indiana was probably medium rough but extremely slow (stop and go traffic on a Monday mid-day so took about 2 hrs longer than normal). I90 thru was slow, but no stop and go, just some areas 20 mph, so easy travel.

If you do go on any of the toll roads, please consider getting an EZ Pass transponder. It just makes it so easy traveling anywhere the toll roads are.

 

[albikilo]

Take I-80/I-94 for the first section of your trip, but be prepared to take a southern bypass via I-90/I-39 to avoid traffic around Gary and Chicago.

snaptube vidmate​