Chicago road trip
Discussion
funbobby said:
I’ve done a fair few driving holidays mainly on the east coast but have always fancied Chicago and a loop possibly around Lake Michigan. Anyone else done similar?
We did exactly that trip...many years ago.We got to visit places where I don't think they'd even heard of Europe!
Lucky for us Oshkosh airs how was on and we blagged our way in
There are some really interesting places en route (Mackinaw, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured rocks lake shore)
https://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm
Mind you, avoid Indiana on a Sunday...it's hard to get beer! (Most probably different these days)
Mind you, avoid Indiana on a Sunday...it's hard to get beer! (Most probably different these days)
All I'd add is, research & book your accommodation ahead.
We didn't, and as a result stayed in some questionable places (The worst was a wooden shed at the side of the freeway which literally moved when a truck went by 
)
That does have the downside of more structure and a timetable to your trip.
We did it before the days of the internet, satnavs & mobile phones. It was a full on adventure!
We didn't, and as a result stayed in some questionable places
(The worst was a wooden shed at the side of the freeway which literally moved when a truck went by )That does have the downside of more structure and a timetable to your trip.
We did it before the days of the internet, satnavs & mobile phones. It was a full on adventure!
Not quite the same, but flew into Chicago this summer and headed all the way over to Yellowstone and back over 3 weeks. Was a great trip, but wish we'd spent more time in Milwaukee, which we only stayed the night before heading off. Also due to a delayed flight missed another day in Chicago, but this was made up for with the compensation. Definitely one to go back and do more in the future.
Lots of good options for a circular route from Chicago, you can head southwest along a great stretch of route 66 & St Louis, then head eastwards towards Louisville Kentucky, up to Indianapolis and onwards to the UP (upper peninsula) Charlevoix is nice town right on Lake Michigan then across to Mackinac Island, no cars on the island but a stunning hotel(other options available). Continue on into Canada, head round towards Grand Portage, the drive down to Duluth is stunning. Pick a route back to Chicago. If you are a fan of Prince then a stop at Paisley Park (Minneapolis) is well worth it.
Essarell said:
Lots of good options for a circular route from Chicago, you can head southwest along a great stretch of route 66 & St Louis, then head eastwards towards Louisville Kentucky, up to Indianapolis and onwards to the UP (upper peninsula) Charlevoix is nice town right on Lake Michigan then across to Mackinac Island, no cars on the island but a stunning hotel(other options available). Continue on into Canada, head round towards Grand Portage, the drive down to Duluth is stunning. Pick a route back to Chicago. If you are a fan of Prince then a stop at Paisley Park (Minneapolis) is well worth it.
Just don't bother driving to the Indianapolis Motor Circuit, we stopped there a few weeks back en-route from Chicago to New Orleans and the Museum is in the middle of a 2 year re-build (we stupidly hadn't checked). Guyr said:
Just don't bother driving to the Indianapolis Motor Circuit, we stopped there a few weeks back en-route from Chicago to New Orleans and the Museum is in the middle of a 2 year re-build (we stupidly hadn't checked).
That’s a shame, I really enjoyed the museum and they were testing NASCAR’s, pretty damn impressive, they were doing the 2 1/2 miles at circa 49 seconds sounded fantastic. Essarell said:
Looks good, you could also head Eastward, picking up Detroit, Cleveland (Rock & Roll HOF) Niagara / Toronto then double back westwards thru Canada. That way you can pick up all of the Great Lakes in one trip.
I wish i had time for that but limited to around 12 days unfortunately.I had planned similar for 2020. Detroit > Grand Rapids > Chicago > Milwaukee and then Minneapolis for X-Games.
Obviously Covid wrecked those plans, then I was made redundant and then my friends in Grand Rapids moved back to the UK, so now its pointless
Still on the one-day list though.
Obviously Covid wrecked those plans, then I was made redundant and then my friends in Grand Rapids moved back to the UK, so now its pointless
Still on the one-day list though.
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