Prepping to Road Trip from Virginia to Chicago and Wisconsin Dells

"Conan" (ske1n) 07/23/2014 at 10:00 • Filed to: None

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I will head out tomorrow or the day after. Anything I should look for on the way? Awesome events or crazy highway closings?

Bonus:

My summer 2014 Playlist which I think'll work well for the road.

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505Turbeaux > Conan 07/23/2014 at 10:01

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download Waze on your smartphone. It will give you the traffic/closings/police along the way. Not sure about events though. Drive safe!

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Conan 07/23/2014 at 10:02

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If time isn't an issue my biggest suggestion for road trips is to avoid interstate highways. It's slower but you'll always find more interesting stuff on smaller roads.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > 505Turbeaux 07/23/2014 at 10:03

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+1, best driving app ever

dinobot666 > 505Turbeaux 07/23/2014 at 10:06

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Never heard of that before. I'll check it out.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > 505Turbeaux 07/23/2014 at 10:09

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Like 505Turbeaux said, download Waze. Watch for speed traps in Ohio and Illinois, they're pretty sneaky.

ncasolowork2 > Conan 07/23/2014 at 10:12

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Skip the Dells go somewhere else. They're a tourist trap. There will be highway closures. It is inevitible in the Chicago area. I haven't been through there yet this summer though so I couldn't tell you where or what.

Mattbob > Conan 07/23/2014 at 10:14

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This youtify is magic. Good playlist

Conan > 505Turbeaux 07/23/2014 at 10:15

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I'll definitely check it out. Thanks.

Conan > ncasolowork2 07/23/2014 at 10:16

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I would definitely but that bit isn't for fun. I have family out there. I agree though. I think it's been over twenty years since we actually did any of the tourist stuff.

f86sabre > Conan 07/23/2014 at 10:20

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USAF Museum is awesome and free. Dayton Ohio

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

Indianapolis Motorspeedway

Conan > Mattbob 07/23/2014 at 10:21

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Thank you. I figured I'd gather what I put together for one of my barbecues and listen to it on the road. Site wise, I'd been thinking about finding a site to put together playlists on for a while (I stopped after Project Playlist died) and it seemed to work rather well.

Conan > f86sabre 07/23/2014 at 10:23

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I'll definitely check out that Museum. Air and Space has always been one of my top two Smithsonians. I like to have things to break up the driving. I wish I had the time to see a race, but this all came up somewhat last minute.

f86sabre > Conan 07/23/2014 at 10:25

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Indy is worth visiting the museum alone. About 5 hours down the road from Dayton.

ttyymmnn > Conan 07/23/2014 at 10:26

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Check out Roadside America . They've got lists and maps of all the crazy, offbeat stuff along the highways of America. We found some interesting little things to stop and do with our kids. Sometimes it's as simple as a dinosaur statue outside a McDonald's in Arizona, or something as awesome as the Minister's Treehouse in Crossville, TN (though it looks like the killjoy fire marshal shut it down). You can select a map, zoom in on your route, and look for pins that mark attractions. Some are good for a day's stay, many are good just for a quick stop to stretch the legs.

Conan > ttyymmnn 07/23/2014 at 10:33

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Ahh! I'd totally forgotten about that site. Thanks for reminding me.

Textured Soy Protein > Conan 07/23/2014 at 10:44

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I live in Madison. Unless you're planning to actually do something in Chicago, you can now completely avoid it using an alternate route.

When you're going through Indiana on the turnpike which (is I-80/90), I-80 and I-90 split up around Gary, IN. Normally if you were headed toward Chicago you would take 90. Don't. Instead, take I-80 W, to I-355 N, to I-88 W, to I-39 N. I-39 then re-joins I-90/94 W around Rockford, IL, and that'll take you up to Madison and then the Dells.

Otherwise, if you're planning to make a stop in Chicago, it's a surprisingly good barbecue town—something that's lacking here in Madison so I tend to get a fair amount of bbq if I hit Chicago. Some ideas:

Lillie's Q
Lem's Bar-B-Q
Honey 1 BBQ
Smoque BBQ
Pork Shoppe
Fat Willy's Rib Shack

Man, now I'm hungry.

Conan > Textured Soy Protein 07/23/2014 at 10:51

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I have to go to Chicago for business stuff so a huge list of barbecue places is an awesome suggestion I wouldn't have though of. Thanks!

ly2v8-Brian > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 07/23/2014 at 10:56

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This. Plus the scenery is usually better, and there is a higher likelihood of curves to attack.

JEM > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 07/23/2014 at 11:04

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If you're going a long distance though, sometimes you just really want to make time. I would definitely say split time between the two though! And you absolutely find the best stuff on smaller roads, usually with the help of an atlas.

JEM > Conan 07/23/2014 at 11:06

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1: Definitely use an atlas instead of GPS (but have at least google maps as a backup). Atlas/maps are awesome and you can pick out fun non-interstate routes and the good ones have all sorts of little weird interest points on there.

2: Get a burger at Kuma's Corner in Chicago. Goto the original location, and don't let anyone tell you they overrated, they are not.

2222222222212 > Conan 07/23/2014 at 11:07

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Devil's Lake recreation area is just south of the Wis Dells and its a very nice spot for relaxing and trail hikes.

Conan > JEM 07/23/2014 at 11:13

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I'll be rocking an atlas because they just feel more comfortable. I know that cell service isn't everywhere with long distance driving. I'll have to check out Kuma's too. Sounds like I'm going to eat well in Chicago.

Conan > 2222222222212 07/23/2014 at 11:15

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Yeah, when my Grandpa was still around we sometimes put his boat in on there. It's certainly the antidote for all that touristy stuff. Nice and placid.

JEM > Conan 07/23/2014 at 11:49

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And if you like good beer, Chicago is amazing. I literally never saw Bud/Coors/Miller for sale anywhere I went.

Conan > JEM 07/23/2014 at 11:57

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I've definitely seen that side of the city when there. I'm not drinking due to health now but I'll do what I can to make sure everybody else has a good time.

RafelX > ncasolowork2 07/23/2014 at 12:35

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I-80 in Indiana seems to be perpetually under construction, but there's no major construction on any Chicago expressways that I'm aware of. With that said, there's almost always plenty of regular congestion, especially on 90/94 as you near downtown.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Conan 07/23/2014 at 13:01

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We were at Jellystone Warrens, just north of the Dells, for a family reunion a month ago. Have you been to Devil's Lake, Dr. Evermore's Forevertron, or Pewit's Nest before?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Conan 07/23/2014 at 13:26

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Billy Goat tavern as well. Go to the original not the one on Navy Pier. It's kind downtown but it's hidden under the main road. It's definitely a great place to eat.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Conan 07/23/2014 at 13:31

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don't take 90 from Chicago to Rockford. Half is closed the whole way.

Conan > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/23/2014 at 15:26

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I've been to Devil's Lake. I'll have to look into the others. Thank you.

Conan > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 07/23/2014 at 15:27

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Ahh. I only knew that was on Navy Pier. I'll check it out.

Conan > RafelX 07/23/2014 at 15:27

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Thank you.

Conan > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/23/2014 at 15:27

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Exactly what I was looking for. Y'all are great.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Conan 07/23/2014 at 15:31

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Check days/hours for Dr. Evermore's - I think they're closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's a huge collection of metal sculptures.

Pewit's Nest is a tiny little swimming hole spot at the bottom of some waterfalls.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Conan 07/23/2014 at 15:55

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Yeah just ask people when you're there. I think its in Michigan street.

I'll take 911 RS for $5000 > Conan 07/23/2014 at 17:59

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If you get a chance to stop in Madison, WI I'd recommend trying to see the Olbricht Botanical Gardens (seriously impressive) and the capital. I'd also recommend Graze and The Old Fashioned (both on the capital square) for food as I found them to be excellent.

Conan > I'll take 911 RS for $5000 07/23/2014 at 18:01

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I definitely will if I make it out there. I haven't been to Madison in years. I've several friends there. I went to college in Beloit and was born in Reedsburg.

I'll take 911 RS for $5000 > Conan 07/23/2014 at 18:06

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I'm actually from Virginia, but just spent a few days as a tourist there. The weather was lovely, and it's incredible how different a city it is from Richmond or DC. Or NYC or Boston, or pretty much any East Coast city.