Tollways around Chicago

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Utclmjmpr

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Sat. we are traveling to New York via Can.401 from Detroit, departing Utah so have to go thru Chicago on I80, am concerned about the stretch between Hazel crest and Lansing on I94/294 just prior to getting on I94 into Michigan and thru Kalamazoo, help will be appreciated!!>>>Dan
 
I guess I'm confused as to why you wouldn't just stay on I-80 until I-90 splits off just before Cleveland Ohio. Fuel is cheaper, and the roads were fine last month when I traveled them.
 
I went to The Door County in Wisconsin in June. Getting around Chicago on I-80 was a breeze. The construction has been completed and there is only one toll. If you want to go thru Michigan on I-94 (avoiding the %$&*%# toll roads) you mite want to go to the AAA website and plot the route or if you have AAA you can go to the office and they give you a nice little booklet.  The AAA plot will tell you where the construction is but even so that is not always 100% accurate. We went to the Sutton's Bay area a month ago a (taking I-94 from the Ann Arbor area to US-31) and construction was lite but that is always subject to change. TO restate I would go the AAA website and plot out the route and then you can see where the supposed latest construction zones are.  the website for AAA is http://ww2.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/AAAOnline?page=ITTServices&association=aaa&club=047.
 
If you look closely you see huge amounts of toll roads Im trying to avoid, plus we wish to see the Canadian side of Niagra Falls, thus thru Detroit into Windsor via 401.>>>Dan
 
I too am confused about your routing. We did 2 eastbound trips (one of which started in Door County) and 1 westbound on I-94 (took US-41 south from Wisconsin to avoid the tollroad) around Chicago over the last couple of months, thru Indiana and up into Michigan thru Kalamazoo to Ann Arbor. Had no issues and never paid a toll. Where are you heading once you pass Chicago? Is Detroit a scheduled stop? What roads are you taking from Utah?  Why are you taking I-80 instead of I-70? Your routing seems very jumbled with the information you gave.
 
Our destination is Plattsburg, NE corner of the state of NY (thats why Canada 401 is attractive), I have a brother in Kalamazoo (my home town). I80 has less climbing out of Salt lake and is a newer hiway than I70, my wife has family in Wyoming, and we want to do Niagra falls Canada side, so it all fits. I have layed out the trip and have avoided all tolls except the Tri states prkwy for a short distance south of Chicago, probably not much of a concern.>>>Dan
 
Dan

OK, now it all makes sense. If you take I-80 until you meet I-94 south of Chicago, you'll only have a relatively small toll just before the merge. Then stay on I-94 (I-80 and I-94 split at the exit for the Indiana Toll Road east of Gary) all the way thru Kalamazoo to Detroit. No more tolls, I had no roads issues that I can remember as far as Ann Arbor. Others may have better information, but I remember many years ago being advised to keep going north to Port Huron and crossing into Canada there rather than crossing at Detroit. You can then take CN 402 to the 401. Hopefully, someone else can update that recommendation.
 
Bernie is (in my opinion) correct about going to Canada via Port Huron. If you are going thru Detroit in the morning rush hour the traffic can be a bit trying. What is worse though is crossing the Ambassador bridge. Sometimes the truck traffic to get into Canada can be frustrating. Pt Huron has two spans for going and comming crossing the St Clair river and traffic usually flows nicely. Not to mention you don't have to drive thru Windsor traffic to finally get to the 401.When you get close to Ann Arbor there is a turn off to go to M-14 ad that takes you to I-275.  I-275 will take you to I-696 which in turn takes you back to I-94 and on to Pt Huron. You effectively go north around Detroit.  The nice thing is that when you cross into Canada (Sarnia) you don't have city traffic to contend with (not much anyway) and the 402 in Sarnia connects up with the 401 near London. One thing I would advise is that you fuel up before crossing into Canada as gas/diesel is a lot more expensive in Canada.
 
As far as crossing at Port Huron is concerned, I absolutely agree with the  Bernie and Codgerbill. Only one warning - watch the time of day you are going to get past Toronto. No toll roads, however, it always seems as if they have construction going on somewhere around those roads! AND you want to avoid the early morning and late afternoon hours! Otherwise that is a nice way to go to Niagara Falls.

Mariekie
 
Bernie/ Bill, Thank you very much, I will reroute to Port Huron into Canada and save myself the hassle of Detroit, My intent is to make NY in 5 days if possible without busting my butt.>>>Dan
 
Just a little note here.  The actual mileage from the M-14 cutoff west of Ann Arbor to where 402 comes into 401 near London is bout 174 miles if you go around Detroit. if you take I-94 thru Detroit and across the Ambassador bridge the distance is about 172 miles.  ;D
 
If your coming from Chicago to Port Huron, I recommend taking I-69 from I-94. It's a more direct route. And less traffic. Or take M-131 or M-127 to Mackinaw City. It's the easiest crossing, and the most RV friendly. Remember when crossing use the auto lanes. Not the TRUCK LANES.

Detroit has the busiest crossing in the country. With an average of  10 - 12,000 trucks crossing back and forth everyday. Half of them is trash for the land fills from Ontario. Private Enterprise.

But a visit to The Henry Ford, and the Motown Museum it worth a visit to Motown.
 
Ummmm....wellll...ahhhhh ???,

I-69 is the freeway that one gets on around Flint. While it is a great  and less trafficked road it would add about 30 miles to the trip. One would get to it by taking US-23 north. I-96 would take one into downtown Detroit while I-696 skirts around the north side of Deeeetriot. But the point about the bridge from Detroit to Windsor is spot on. The truck traffic can be tedious. Thats one of the many reasons that the casino in Windsor is not doing so well too. As I mentioned before crossing from Detroit has the disadvantage of the possible longer waits at the bridge plus the fact that you have a bunch of city road miles with lots of traffic lights in Windsor before you get to the 401. ;D In my humble opinion going thru Sarnia via the earlier mentioned freeways (M-14 to I -275 to I-696 to I-94) is the most RV friendly way to go. The only problem you would run into would be I-275 to I-696 if you are there during the morning rush hour.
 
We made the trip and all is well in NY, we will be leaving here monday for the big bluegrass bash in Rosine KY on the 1st thru the 4th, then on to I70 and home. I am thankful for Codgerbill & Bernies advice about Port Huron, it was a breeze and we made good time(would have been better if it wernt for a 100click limit thru Canada)>>>Dan
 
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