# Tell me about Illinois toll roads **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [December 10, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446 "2024-12-10T15:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/61 "2025-08-20T22:17:31Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’m just noting that “look at some billboards and a brief view of the airport and a big railroad switching yard” is probably not worth a longer delay, due to that construction zone, for the OP I said all along to take the Kennedy. You’re replying as though I advised to take a different way. I think it’s because I tried to make fun of some funny signs a driver _would_ see on that different route, a route I did not recommend. It’s not my fault you hate Steven Singer and representation for injuries on the job. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/62 "2025-08-20T23:08:50Z")
The tollways oughta keep track of the average speed, and if it drops below - say - 50 MPH, waive tolls for that section. Think that platform would get me elected to something? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/63 "2025-08-20T23:33:35Z")
I know the Okla comments are months old but I’m just reading this thread today. I drove both the Rogers and Turner turnpikes many times in the 1970s. I live in Missouri and have relatives that I often visited in Tulsa, plus I attended the US Postal Service maintenance training center in Norman several times. Even when the national speed limit was 55, I never had a problem (with the time stamps) going 70 mph (or more) on those turnpikes, except to keep an eye out for the Highway Patrol. I assume the rich kids in the beemers and corvettes with Texas plates going 90 or more never had trouble either. This was when that highway (old Route 66) had been I-44 for many years. Can’t speak to earlier eras. I did stop a few times at the over the highway restaurant but only after it became a McDonalds. I do remember when it was a sit down family restaurant but never dined there when it was. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/64 "2025-08-20T23:41:52Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Plus, half of what you describe as '“local sights” are billboards and commercial signs. “Look, it’s the fifteenth billboard for hair restoration, featuring a bad pun, that we’ve seen in the last five miles!” 😛 I’d gladly take that over all the religious ones in the Deep South. “Are you going to HEAVEN, or HELL?” Just a quick heads-up for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as it is MUCH more expensive per mile than say the Ohio one. My GPS re-re-routed me back onto the thing without my permission once and I didn’t notice, until I got a $25 bill the following month. [Yes, I have an EZ Pass transponder now] ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/65 "2025-08-21T00:16:07Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I said all along to take the Kennedy. You’re replying as though I advised to take a different way. I think it’s because I tried to make fun of some funny signs a driver _would_ see on that different route, a route I did not recommend. Yeah, that’s what happened. When you started talking about 294, and its “Local Sights,” I think I thought you were recommending taking 90 to O’Hare, then getting on 294. Apologies. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/66 "2025-08-21T16:08:21Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I think I thought you were recommending taking 90 to O’Hare, then getting on 294. I’m not personally offended, I can make fun of roadsigns (and you!) till we get through Saugatuck. I really just want to make sure my vote is counted right since it’s not an obvious choice. Taking the Tristate/294 is indeed the best route around the lake a LOT of times, especially if OP can’t avoid peak rush times. The Kennedy is probably not best for a lot of the weekend daytime. OP should steer wide of the City if there’s anticipation of any number of sporting events, concerts, parades, filming, protests, etc, plus daily traffic & weather to monitor day-of. A while ago, I’d say stop at the Des Plaines Oasis, check traffic conditions and make the choice. Today, it’s demolished, little more than a mirage. I bought gas there a lot. Instead, I recommend stopping at Mitsuwa so OP can let us know if they have wasabi. And check traffic ahead. > [@Horseradish/Wasabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horseradish-wasabi/1021146/48): > > Well, darn. I went out to Mitsuwa after work on Thursday but got skunked. Here’s the empty spot, I wish I could have described the flavor! [[Album] Mitsuwa Market Illinois [Mitsuwa Market Illinois] ](https://imgur.com/a/k7GwVa7) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/67 "2025-08-24T10:59:45Z")
FYI we took 88 to 355 which were ok, and then 80 which was ok for quite a while. At a certain point it slowed to a crawl and even stop. Even looking at a map not sure of the exact point. There was maybe 30 to 45 min of that before it opened up, though there was another slowdown. Brian ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/68 "2025-08-24T17:03:43Z")
Glad you made it to your destination! ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/69 "2025-08-26T01:36:04Z")
Took the same route back (in reverse 🙂 ) and had no serious traffic issues. We hit the bad parts a little later in the day, but I’m guessing it was more Monday vs Friday traffic. Brian ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/70 "2025-09-05T23:34:06Z")
Two weeks since the first use of tollway and nothing has shown up yet. I’m definitely not upset, but little worried that I will get a bill in a few months with a zillion dollars in fees and interest. Brian ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/71 "2025-09-10T16:58:38Z")
The invoice for my Aug 22 trip finally showed up: $8.90 Curious if my Aug 25 trip will show up in 3 days Brian ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/72 "2025-09-12T13:04:38Z")
Got the eastbound tolls today - $13.80. We took the same route so apparently there is an eastbound tool that isn’t on the westbound side. Brian ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446/73 "2025-09-12T13:59:46Z")
Some toll rates are based on time of day. I think it’s only the Skyway around here that does that and only for larger vehicles: trucks & trailers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446.md?page=3)