Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I'm driving from the East Coast to Knoxville, wondering about roads. I-80 is the obvious route, but I was thinking about avoiding Cleveland, Chicago, & tolls by taking Rt. 24 thru Ohio & then 30 to Peoria (?)

Is this a fast divided highway, or a slow 2 laner thru towns, stoplights & speed traps? Made the mistake of leaving the highway and taking the "scenic route" down the Susquehanna (RT. 11?) on the way to Port Royal this summer, what a mistake! probably stuck a half hour in one lil town....

Thanks

I'm not sure about Cleveland or Chicago for that matter, but I-80 in Iowa would be the most direct way then hit Highway 14 South when you hit Newton (I believe it's exit 164). I would avoid Chicago at all costs, I know the horror stories driving around that city. Not knowing where you're starting from but when you get to Indiana (and this is part scenic part interstate): From Fort Wayne get on Highway 24 (it lookis like it turns into Highway 1 and 469 for a stretch but according to Google Maps it will turn back into 24 when you leave the city limits). You'll stay on 24 all the way thourgh Indiana, you'll go through a few medium sized towns (Peru, Logansport, Kentland); stay on 24 (for the most part it just a 2 lane highway) all the way to El Paso, IL (there's a Mickey D's there if your're needing food). From El Paso get on I-39 North just outside of El Paso and stay on 39 until you hit I-80 (La Salle, IL will be the final town before 80). Then 80 until you see the Higway 14 exit in Newton. FYI if you're needing a "final" rest stop before you hit Knoxville I would stop at the I-80 Truck Stop in Wolcott. Dubbed "The World's Largest Truck Stop" yes they do allow cars. They have everything from fast food to a 24 hour sit down buffett. Hope this helps.

I've been out there a few times, on I-80, towing a trailer, and I haven't hit bad traffic yet. South of Chicago I got slowed down to 35 mph for about 20 minutes, but I don't consider that bad. I may have just gotten lucky though. If I were doing it again, I would take 80.

I drove to Knoxville from Pennsylvania just last week. I-80 was smooth sailing until Chicago. I-80 is under construction around Chicago, but there is a detour that isn't too bad. Once you get past Chicago and into the western edge, 80 goes down to 1 lane westbound, where it is ground for re-paving (atleast it was on the 20th). It took about 1.5-2 hours to get thru Chicago, and I hit at straight up 5:00pm.

Hope this helps....

Thanks guys. Probably gonna take 80, but will call a friend in Akron for more details. Hope its not too hot... haha

97 today in Knoxville with a heat index of 118! I just hope it cools down so the pits are tolerable.

Take to the skies my friend...used to drive to Knoxville from Toledo every year. 12-13 hours versus a 80 minute flight...sure makes Sunday tolerable being home by 4:00 pm.

Me and Tommy Bahama almost feel guilty getting there so quickly!! Almost

Enjoy the show!

Flying would be nice, but I'm driving home to Colorado from visiting my 88 yr. old Mom in Connecticut for a big chunk of the summer, part of the plan. Want to visit Speedy Bill museum near Omaha too; trouble is you have to be there at 2pm, guided tour only. Should be fun

Pay the TOLLS !!!!

Go I-80 and be done with it. Going through Cleveland is a breeze, don't try to avoid that at all. As far as Chicago goes, I've tried every which way to get around chicago quicker, but in the end it always just pays to suck it up and go right through. Just my two cents. You can sit in a lot of slow traffic before you will make up going 50 miles out of your way.

revjimk, I had the good fortune to visit the Speedy Bill museum last month while attending the Eagle Nationals. A great experience. Started promptly at 2, was in awe for the next 2 1/2 hours. Should be on everybody's bucket list. Hard to comprehend how they can get so much and so varied automotive memorablia in one place. You will enjoy.

You could always plan a detour thru Indy,and stop in at the museum at the Speedway. Then just get on I 74 west after that to I-80,or Route 34 off from I-74. With going to Speedy Bills Museum,that could be a 2 museum trip!

Speedy Bills museum is worth the 2pm start. Just go to Husets after Knoxville on Sunday night,and meander your way to Lincoln the next day.

only been to Knoxville once and left from Western PA. I always joked about how to get there is get on I-80 west, go about 730 miles, turn left off the exit and you'll run right into Knoxville. We broke it up into two nights (stayed in Newton and got hammered with some guys who washed trucks at the truck stop and watched Barry Bonds hit his 756th career home run) so we had a short little ride into town Wednesday, only to get rained out. But it was a really easy drive. Only issue was coming home, when we sat for 2+ hours while the fire department tried to put out a motorhome that went up in flames a few miles up the road.

No need to make the trip more difficult than that. Go I-80 just plan to try to go by Chicago during a time that isn't considered rush hour.

If you are looking for a different route from Connecticut, depending on where you are, you can take I-95 to I-287 across the Tappanzee Bridge and I-287 to I-78 west. I-78 will then connect to I-81 to I-76 (Pa Turnpike) to I-70 at New Stanton.

I-70 at New Stanton, PA., to Indianapolis and connect to I-74 and follow that to Peoria, IL. and get on 35 west to Burlington IA. Burlington, IA to Ottumwa to Oskaloosa to Knoxville.

Most of this route is 4 lane highway; except for the Pa. Turnpike section it completely avoids the toll roads through Ohio. Once at Burlington it for the most part is 2 lane highway that usually is 60mph. They are making a good portion of this into 4 lane in Iowa.

We have done this route for years from eastern pa with race rigs and motorhomes and it is a nice drive for 1100 miles for us.

Enjoy your trip, as I wish we would be able to continue to Colorada for a few weeks, its awesome country out there.

Dirt's for racin' asphalt for gettin' there

It's actually US 34 that you have to exit at Galesburg a bit west of Peoria. There's only a small section of 2-lane left on 34 in Illinois, maybe about 20-25 minutes of driving. The 4-lane is wide open in Iowa! Takes you straight from Burlington to Osky, then west a bit (on 14 I believe) to Knoxville.

Signature here.

+1 on US Hwy 34.... good road since they have done the work to make it 4-lane. It is Hwy 92 that takes you west from Osky to Knoxville.

Tried a few different ways to Iowa. from the Toledo area....I-80 is still the best. Yea, gettin around Chi town with all of the construction can be a bitch, but like someone else said, try to avoid high traffic time......WHENEVER THAT IS!!!!!!!HAHAHAHA!! Once ya get by that it's usually clear sailing, even with periodic lane closings. JMO...

Thanks for all the info. I usually take I-70 to & from Colorado, smooth sailing but it looks like it detours pretty far south for Knoxville. Took I-80 earlier this summer to avoid tornados, plus Nebraska is somewhat less brutal a drive than Kansas. I'll stare at the map & ponder....

I live in Denver, used to live in the moutains for about 15 years (mostly Leadville, 10,00 ft. altitude & 10 month brutal winter)

See y'all there!