Greetings from Ohio! I'm planning my next Great Lakes tour, this one being around Lake Michigan, and I would like some input from Chicago-area VFRD members.
I'll be riding north through Chicago during my trip, probably on a weekday, and would like to know whether I should follow I-90 to I-94 through the city, or divert to I-294 to miss downtown traffic and exits. I-294 looks longer on the map (plus there is the expense of the tolls) but there seems to be far fewer interchanges.
I'm not afraid to ride in urban areas, as I've done it many times, but crossing town in the suburbs with less traffic sounds more appealing than dealing with exits every 0.5 to 1.0 miles through downtown Chicago.
Advice and opinions are very welcome here. Thanks in advance for the help! :smile:
Do you know what time you'll be driving through downtown? If it's around rush hour you might be better off avoiding it. Otherwise, it can surprisingly quick and easy to go through downtown.
One thing to consider is riding along N Sheridan Road which is part of the official Great Lakes Circle Tour. If you want to do that I would recommend taking I-94 to Lake Ave; Lake Ave to Sheridan Rd and then take Sheridan Rd north.
It goes through some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the nation with some amazing mansions lining up the road. It is also pretty much the only twisty bit near Chicago. Calling it twisty is being very generous actually.
I have gone as far as north as Kenosha, WI along N. Sheridan Rd. If you go there, Moto Rider is a motorcycle shop worth a stop. They have an amazing collection of rare sportsbikes on display.
Thanks for the tips, Ashok. :smile:
I'm hoping to hit Chicago in the early afternoon, maybe 2 pm. Really hoping to avoid rush hour, so I'd like to be leaving town by 3 pm.
I'm planning to ride from home (in NE Ohio) to Sheboygan, WI, the first day. It's a long day and almost all slab, but it would make the next couple days of my tour much more manageable. I hate slab, and hate the thought of doing an entire day of slab, but in this case it's necessary. :sad:
Go around and avoid 90/94 !!!!
Brian Farted there ....
+1 to Ashok on his recs to stop at Moto Rider. they have an amazing collection of bikes including an RC30, NC35, R7 and Bimotas of every flavor. Make sure you stop in and say hi. Totally worth it.
Just avoid the South side - its the baddest part of town, and if you go down there you better just beware of a man named Leroy Brown.......
Sorry - nothing to really contribute - but have fun Tim - I enjoyed our tour around Lake Ontario couple summers ago - hope this one isn't as hot and humid for you!!!
Driven into Chicago alot in a car, have family there. Might want to get there a little earlier. There definition of traffic and ours is a bit different. And above all else avoid on Fridays. Last time took an hour and a half to get to north side via 90.
I like to use the Elgin O'Hare route to ride into the city, i'm pretty sure there aren't any tolls on that stretch of road.
TimC,
When is this trip happening? If you hit Chicago about noon or so, just stay on 94 (or the Skyway to 94) through downtown. 94 and 90 split on the north side of the city, stay on 94 and it will take you to Milwaukee, then take the lakeshore the rest of the way to Sheboygan.
Will you have time for lunch in Chicago?
Tim Carey aka TC Rides
TimC,
When is this trip happening? If you hit Chicago about noon or so, just stay on 94 (or the Skyway to 94) through downtown. 94 and 90 split on the north side of the city, stay on 94 and it will take you to Milwaukee, then take the lakeshore the rest of the way to Sheboygan.
Will you have time for lunch in Chicago?
Tim Carey aka TC Rides
Thanks for the tips, everyone! :smile:
I'm planning to hit Chicago in the mid-afternoon on Thursday. Exact time depends on what time I actually leave the house, but I'm hoping to be through mid-town by 2 pm (Central). That's too close to rush hour for my taste, but since I'm not a morning person I can't see leaving home before 7 am (Eastern).
Thanks for the offer to meet for lunch, TC. I would love to do it, but unfortunately I think I'll be too late getting to town.