xtrainerdt
Monroe Co. GA
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We will be traveling late September from Rapid City, SD to Niagara. We would like to by pass Chicago perferably to the north. Will birth certificates get us into Canada? Any suggestions on routes? Is the snow usually this early?
As always, Thanks a million!
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CloudDriver
New Jersey Shore
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Can't help with the route, but you will need both a birth certificate and a government issued photo ID, such as driver's license when crossing the border in either direction. Good info at these websites.
Canadian border info.
U.S. border info (.pdf file)
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kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
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The snow is not usually this early, but it's not unheard of to have freezing temps at night that early on occasion "up north" - namely in the UP of Michigan. That will be the only practical way to bypass Chicago to the north - head across Wisconsin & the UP on US 2 or another good-sized state route, then south.
Even then, you'd be going way out of your way, only to encounter some heavy-duty road construction on some of the Detroit interstates. Not sure how that impacts crossing into Canada, but I'm sure some Michiganders will set you straight on that situation before too long.
Actually, you can avoid the major headaches around Chicago if you just take I-80. Head down to 80 on either I-29, I-35 or I-90/I-39 (bear in mind that I-90 through much of Wisconsin is very bumpy due to expansion joints in the concrete roadway and is rather miserable to drive; haven't been on the other 2 lately). Whatever you do, do NOT take I-294 or I-94 around/through Chicago. Construction plus congestion = total misery.
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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There are a couple of car-ferries that traverse Lake Michigan that will bypass Chicago. Not sure what the company is but the S.S. Badger is the boat. It costs a bunch so you will have to decide if it is worth it to bypass Chicago. As I remember it goes from Manitowoc, WI to Ludington, MI and takes about four hours.
I just checked the website at www.ssbadger.com
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Exocet
Central NY, USA
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We recently travelled I-80 around the south side of Chicago, and didn't find it that bad. We went through that area about 2:00-3:00 on a Wednesday afternoon. On our 8000 mile trip, we found the I-15 stretch from Provo to Salt Lake City to be far busier.
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newk
Gillette, WY
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Thirteen years ago my late wife and I drove from Wyoming through Rapid, spent a couple days in Iowa's lake country (around Spirit Lake), then up through Minneapolis, Duluth and on up around Lake Superior's North Shore, then across Canada. It was one of the prettiest drives I've ever been on -- and I've been all over the U.S. including Alaska. It was truly a great camping trip -- our last big one.
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larchambeau
Sterling Heights, MI
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IF you decide to go the Upper Peninsula route, you would have two basic choices on getting to Niagara Falls.
First alternative is cross the border at Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury, then Toronto to NF. Second choice is using Michigan freeways to Port Huron, cross the border then to NF. The mileage from the Soo is about the same either way.
In Michigan, there are basically two ways across the Upper Peninsula. The routes are Michigan 28 through Marquette or US-2 through Escanaba. We were in the UP last month and they reported a highway closure on US-2 about 30 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge, so we avoided it and used M28 for a very nice trip. That pretty much took us to Sault Ste. Marie, though, and I think you might find the route through Sudbury most enjoyable.
No snow in late September, but it could get cold. Varies quite a bit. You could get 70 degrees or 40 degrees, so be prepared. Very chilly at night.
Thanks, Larry
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lane hog
Tucson, AZ
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While the scenery would be interesting going via the UP, you add a couple hundred miles going via Sault Ste Marie, and 150 miles by going up Michigan. If bypassing Chicago is the only reason, it's an awfully expensive option.
Taking I-80 and staying on it means you spend less than about 25 miles in what I'd consider heavy traffic areas (I-65 in Indiana to I-57).
You're also going to pay considerably more for gas in Canada and the UP than you would along I-80.
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kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
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Quote:Taking I-80 and staying on it means you spend less than about 25 miles in what I'd consider heavy traffic Only heavy traffic at certain times. Since the construction was finished, at least 1 lane per side, and I think 2, have been added, so traffic flows much better than it used to before the big project started. We've gone through at midday (between 10 and 3) several times recently and had no slowdowns on 80 at all.
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Bill&Barb
Beamsville,Ontario
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Lots of construction and reduced lanes through I-80 and I94 up the east side of Lake Michigan when we went thru 2 weeks ago. Not much fun with all the semis on your tail. I did get diesel for $4.12 on I-94 near Indiana Dunes.
If you pick the right day to go by Chicago , like a Sunday, it's a lot easier. That's what we try to do. We haven't tried going thru the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (yet). But the road from Sault Ste Marie Ontario to Toronto is pretty good, though only single lane for the first half.
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