Expert Tips for Long-Distance Driving: From New England to Chicago

[dawnsclassycupboard]

A group of us are driving from New England to Chicago this year. Anyone here done that?

Have you ever used AAA trip planner and how accurate are their times?

How long do you recommend to drive in a day?

And probably a gazillion other questions that I can't think of right now....

Any and all imput would be appreciated!!

 

[pamperedlinda]

Don't know about New England to Chicago, but my mom and I drove from Los Angeles to Atlanta several years ago and the AAA planner was very accurate.

 

[etteluap70PC]

AAA should be ok since you are going to Chicago. If you were going anywhere past Chicago I would say NO. They always seem to send you right thru the busiest areas. as for time it will tale you. I used to live on the seacoast Portsmouth/Kittery area and it took about 12-14hrs. Watch those toll roads too.

 

[jwpamp]

Ha! New England to the Illinois border....I'm not sure.

But being from Northwest Indiana, I CAN tell you that the Illinois/Indiana border to Downtown Chicago will take you about a day and a half!!!!

Lots of construction -----------

 

[DebbieJ]

Ha! New England to the Illinois border....I'm not sure.

But being from Northwest Indiana, I CAN tell you that the Illinois/Indiana border to Downtown Chicago will take you about a day and a half!!!!

Lots of construction -----------

Ooh, yeah. I'm not going anywhere NEAR the Dan Ryan these days. Thankfully DH can take the train to work.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I have AAA and it is usually right on the money. It takes me about 16-17 hours including stops to go from mid NC to Milwaukee. I do it in one day but it is a stretch to do that. Two days would be much easier. But then I do all the driving. If you have 3-4 drivers you could do it in one stretch as long as 2 are awake at a time. Depends on the people that are driving what they can handle.

 

[pcchris]

Good luck on your drive. Lots of construction in Chicago...give yourselves extra time...and that's all I have to say about that!

 

[dawnsclassycupboard]

AAA should be ok since you are going to Chicago. If you were going anywhere past Chicago I would say NO. They always seem to send you right thru the busiest areas. as for time it will tale you. I used to live on the seacoast Portsmouth/Kittery area and it took about 12-14hrs. Watch those toll roads too.

This is great info. Did you drive to Chicago in that amount of time??

I think that the way that the Trip Planner is taking us is down the high toll roads. Do you have a diferent suggested route?

Thanks to everyone for your input!!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I'm not sure about what you can do - but I know that we drive to conference, and live 3 hrs north of Chicago. We drive to Michigan City, and then take a commuter train into Chicago - takes us right downtown w/ a stop very close to the hotel, and then we just hoof it to the hotel. We park for free at the train station, and it's $15 round trip for the train. Coming from the east, I was just wondering if there was something like that you could do too - saves you the headache and expense of driving downtown!

 

[dawnsclassycupboard]

I'm not sure about what you can do - but I know that we drive to conference, and live 3 hrs north of Chicago. We drive to Michigan City, and then take a commuter train into Chicago - takes us right downtown w/ a stop very close to the hotel, and then we just hoof it to the hotel. We park for free at the train station, and it's $15 round trip for the train. Coming from the east, I was just wondering if there was something like that you could do too - saves you the headache and expense of driving downtown!

What is the train station that you use? This may be a good option for us.