Travel from GB to South Bend Indiana

Pack88Member

Sorry if this post is in the wrong spot but I know a lot of GB area residents will see this and help me out! I am leaving Seasuck country on my way to Florida and I plan a day trip in GB. I am assuming that I will leave Tacoma Wa on Monday or Tuesday and arrive in GB on Thursday (Steeler Game day) or Friday. Considering it is the preseason I am hopeful the city will not be too crowded and I'll be able to go to the HOF and look at the area where my uncle used to live. It is now part of the Stadium complex but still wanna see it. Anyway my big dilemma is my co-rider wants to visit ND after we leave GB which means a trip right through Chicago and I am trying to minimize my pain. If I am in GB on Thursday I plan to leave GB after dinner (6 pm or so) and try to get all the way to Waukesha before I stop. I assume that will be about 10 PM and then get up at 5 and try to be in Chicago by 6AM and hopefully by 7am well away from that traffic nightmare . My friend would like to leave on Tuesday which would make all these plans a day later and then in Chicago on Saturday but the last time I was in Chicago on a Saturday (a loooong time ago it was god awful)

So my questions are am I too optimistic about

1) the stretch from GB to Waukesha

2) the ride through Chicago

I appreciate all input and don't be afraid to laugh or jibe at my optimism I haven't driven those roads in a long time

Thank Pack88

7/25/184:43 PM

Original Post

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CheezersMember

The trip to waukesha should take you 2 hours or a few minutes more. I live near Appleton and my daughter goes to college in Waukesha - we can make it to her campus in about 1:50.

7/25/185:01 PM

ChilliJonI hate the Vikings!

Right now. This minute. If you left GB and drove directly to South Bend you could cover that drive in under 5 hours. That’s through full teeth of Chicago PM traffic. It’s 300 Miles.

If you leave GB Thursday night at 7pm you’ll be in South Bend a little after midnight after a couple stops and some coffee.

Grab a hotel. Sleep in. See South Bend on Friday.

7/25/185:02 PM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

The tollways will rob you if you don't have an EZPASS or IPASS as illinois calls it.

7/25/185:40 PM

Pack88Member

Thank you all and thanks for the warning about tolls I haven't had the Pleasure fight in so many years I had forgot. This is a one time trip so screw em I'll just have to pay! It's like a visit to a strip club the tips are the price of admission

7/25/188:47 PM

PackLandVAMember

Do not take 90/94 through the city to the Skyway. Take I-294 around the city to I-80/90 east. You'll hit a lot of traffic near the airport, but it's usually not as bad as going through the city. The slug from the near north to the Skyway is atrocious, especially during either rush hour times.

As mentioned, I-294 (also known as the TriState Tollway) can get pricey. Tolls are doubled if you don't have IPass.

7/25/189:07 PM

PakrzFREEZE!

Jesus ****.

7/26/1812:27 AM

BrakMember

We go "up" every year. Agree that I-294 is the best bet. I used a toll app this year, you can stay in the ipass lane and it pings on each toll. You have a week to pay. I think the total for IL tolls between IN and WI was around $23. Totally worth it to me.

https://play.google.com/store/...asttoll&hl=en_US

7/26/187:45 AM

The HecklerMember

PackLandVA posted:
Do not take 90/94 through the city to the Skyway. Take I-294 around the city to I-80/90 east. You'll hit a lot of traffic near the airport, but it's usually not as bad as going through the city. The slug from the near north to the Skyway is atrocious, especially during either rush hour times.
As mentioned, I-294 (also known as the TriState Tollway) can get pricey. Tolls are doubled if you don't have IPass.

I just did this drive last weekend and I totally agree if you can avoid doing so do NOT take 90/94 through the city. It took me at least 1.5 hours to get through last Friday morning even after rush hour.

So I also sugges the I-294 to 80/90 East. Personally I can live with tolls compared to the 90/94 fiasco.

7/26/189:55 AM

grignonMember

Green Bay to Milwaukee I-43 = 90 minutes

Milwaukee to I-294 via I-94 = 60 minutes

I-294 to I-80/90 at Gary = 60 minutes

Gary to South Bend via I-80/90 = 60 minutes

The two middle stretches can double if rushhour and construction conspire against you. After 7:30pm and before 6 am you should not have to brake.

The I80/90/94 bottle neck is never not busy. Basically all east-west road traffic in the northern third of the US funnels through this corridor. Just fit yourself in between a couple of 26 wheelers and ride the draft.

7/26/181:37 PM