Come mid-Sept it looks like I'm going to be returning home from Backus with my new 13' Scamp by way of Pittsburgh, PA. Well, just north of Pittsburgh. Any suggestions for how to avoid Chicago (and so many of the toll roads)?
Thanks.
Wed, 08/17/2022 - 18:14
#1
Backus to Pittsburgh
There are a few ways to go east, Indianapolis was closed downtown last spring but the beltways were open. I tried to use us 20 in may but it was also under construction.You will still have a toll or two in Illinois but that's a lot better than Chicago.
We make an annual trip from western Minnesota to Newark, Ohio to avoid Chicago and toll roads, we take I 94 out of Minneapolis, to I 39 in Wisconsin we then take I 74 to Indianapolis then I 70 to Columbus, Ohio. This year, we took a more expensive route with a ride on the Badger acrossed Lake Michigan to Luddington, then camped for a few days around Luddington before heading to Newark.
2020 Scamp 19’ Deluxe, 2021 Nissan Frontier Pro4X
I came back from the Scamp Rally via St Cloud. BAD CONSTRUCTION AND TRAFFIC! I went up as the map shows and it is a comfortable drive and you get to see Mille Lacs Lake. The crossing of the St Croix river at Taylors falls is small town heavy traffic on weekends.
Okay, thank you for this update. Good to know!
I-80 East is an easy drive compared to coming West. No problem with Chicago. Yes, there are tolls, but consider the extra miles and expensive gas on most other routes.and maybe an extra overnight.
I-80 East is much easier than coming West. Yes, there are tolls, but compare that with the extra miles driven and the extra gas involved with a detour. Also, maybe an extra overnight. Chicago not involved going East.
on the ohio turnpike there are full hookup (electric and sewer) campsites that you can reserve at the rest areas. so if you want a cheap rest on 80 for the night, book it. my brother just stayed at one and said it was nice.
1987 Scamp 16
You can easily avoid Chicago proper, just take I294. It saves miles and time vs. "going around". Sign up for pay by plate website, or if you have EZ-Pass, you'll good to go.
I have done I-294 (and I-80 E) and didn't like it. Still too much of Chicago for me. I'd rather drop further south and deal with the extra miles/extra time/extra gas.
I'm going to look into some kind of EZ-Pass for IL, IN, OH, and PA. Last time I did the PA to MN route it seemed like I was forever playing catchup with tolls.
This was news to me. Good tip. I just looked it up, $20 for overnight. That is a good deal. Probably noisy, but price is right. Thanks.
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/service-plazas/overnight-parking-...