Tomorrow we’re driving from Portland Maine to Chicago for a little house hunting. Google Maps would have us take 95 to 495 to 290 to 87 to 80.
Google Map
We made a similar drive years ago and I don’t remember going that way. I think we did 290 to 90 all the way across. Any idea which way would be faster/better? As we’ll have 2 young children and a dog with us, time is important here.
That route looks like it will take you uncomfortably near suburban NYC at possibly rush hour. I wouldn’t do it - I’d take 90 all the way from the 290 intersection and just pay the tolls. The NY Thruway is in decent condition, over flat terrain, and has some actual cities along the way if you need to stop, but not so big that traffic will be a big issue even at rush hour. I-80 goes over the mountains and I’m told has some rough stretches of pavement. It probably has heavier truck traffic as well, since it serves NY. Once you get to Cleveland, 80 and 90 converge anyway.
The route you take in Chicago will depend on the time of day you get there. If you’re going along with the traffic, you’re stuck anyway, but the tollway around the west side of it is probably at a higher speed as well as a longer distance than the lakeshore route, in my limited experience.
FWIW, MapQuest agrees with me.
Huh. When we first tried MapQuest last week, it gave us that same I80 route, but now it shows the I90 route you got. Weird.
Anyway, I believe you’re right to take 90. I have no desire to be that close to NYC.
Thanks!