OT: where to stay the night in the greater Chicago area on the way to Minnesota?

Got GSPs

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I’m going to be heading to norther Minnesota this fall and Chicago is roughly the half way point. I don’t want to go into Chicago at all, in fact I would prefer to be right off the highway. What would be a good town/city to target for spending the night? Looking at the map, i thought Elgin and Schaumburg IL looked like potential options on the far side of Chicago. Would these be good spots? What other areas would you recommend?
 

PSU Mike

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Are you planning to take I-90 or I-94 into Wisconsin? Schaumburg is kind of a hotel town and kind of sterile in and of itself. If you elect I-94, which is a little longer route, you could try the Renaissance in Northbrook which is just a mile from me, but a stone’s throw from the off ramp. Getting back on the highway is about 2 1/2 miles, but that distance moves you along your route so it’s not wasted time. I could take you to Guildhall in Glencoe for a sampling of the local small town dining scene in Glencoe.
 
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Connorpozlee

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I’m going to be heading to norther Minnesota this fall and Chicago is roughly the half way point. I don’t want to go into Chicago at all, in fact I would prefer to be right off the highway. What would be a good town/city to target for spending the night? Looking at the map, i thought Elgin and Schaumburg IL looked like potential options on the far side of Chicago. Would these be good spots? What other areas would you recommend?
We like to stay in Schaumburg.
 
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Got GSPs

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Are you planning to take I-90 or I-94 into Wisconsin?
Google maps has me taking I-90, but it looks like 90 and 94 overlap some. It heads north just before you get to Rockford, then skirt to the east of Madison.
 

Got GSPs

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Are you planning to take I-90 or I-94 into Wisconsin? Schaumburg is kind of a hotel town and kind of sterile in and of itself. If you elect I-94, which is a little longer route, you could try the Renaissance in Northbrook which is just a mile from me, but a stone’s throw from the off ramp. Getting back on the highway is about 2 1/2 miles, but that distance moves you along your route so it’s not wasted time. I could take you to Guildhall in Glencoe for a sampling of the local small town dining scene in Glencoe.
Thanks for the dinner invitation. There will be three of us and as many or more hunting dogs. We may look for a dog friendly AirBnB.
 
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Got GSPs

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If it were me, I’d push on for another hour and a half and get to Madison. Great restaurants, bars, many hotel options, and plenty to do.
We may do that. Other people in thd group are coming from a little further away, so it may depend on how much they want to drive in a day.
 

Manofsteel200

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If you are just looking for a quick place to stay, Schaumburg will work. Going up 355 will save you from most Chicago traffic. Plus, there is a Lou Malnatis there….the best Chicago pizza of them all!
 

TiogaLion

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Madison is about 2.5 hours from Chicago. I'd leave a bit earlier and make that my stop. Are you going fishing?
 

Got GSPs

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If you are just looking for a quick place to stay, Schaumburg will work. Going up 355 will save you from most Chicago traffic. Plus, there is a Lou Malnatis there….the best Chicago pizza of them all!
How do I force my gps to go 355 route? If there a waypoint that I can use?
 

TiogaLion

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How do I force my gps to go 355 route? If there a waypoint that I can use?
Program it to take you from home to your destination, which in this case would be Schaumburg. It my case it would be Madison.
 

Lion84

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Are you planning to take I-90 or I-94 into Wisconsin? Schaumburg is kind of a hotel town and kind of sterile in and of itself. If you elect I-94, which is a little longer route, you could try the Renaissance in Northbrook which is just a mile from me, but a stone’s throw from the off ramp. Getting back on the highway is about 2 1/2 miles, but that distance moves you along your route so it’s not wasted time. I could take you to Guildhall in Glencoe for a sampling of the local small town dining scene in Glencoe.
I grew up in Northbrook and my current companies corporate HQ is in Schaumvegas as we call it - Northbrook is nicer area to stay but Schaumburg does have every chain restaurant know to man in and around it - the Renaissance there is also nice.
 
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PSU Mike

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I grew up in Northbrook and my current companies corporate HQ is in Schaumvegas as we call it - Northbrook is nicer area to stay but Schaumburg does have every chain restaurant know to man in and around it - the Renaissance there is also nice.
My wife-figure grew up in Schaumvegas (yes, we too use that name). I suppose you aren’t nearby now (?).
 

Got GSPs

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Program it to take you from home to your destination, which in this case would be Schaumburg. It my case it would be Madison.
Well the post I was responding to mentioned going 355 to avoid Chicago traffic. I have no idea whether 355 is the most direct route to Schaumburg or not.
Are you bringing a dog? If so, add a bunch of time to walk, water, and feed him.
Also, I'll likely be driving an 88 FJ62 so my 57 year old bladder and the 36 year old drivetrain will require multiple stops as well.
 

Lion84

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My wife-figure grew up in Schaumvegas (yes, we too use that name). I suppose you aren’t nearby now (?).
No - My Dad was transferred back to SE PA when I was in High School at Glenbrook North that is how I made my way to PSU and not Illinois. Get back a fair amount - miss the summer but not the winter even though it seems to be getting milder these days. Crazy the housing cost in Northbrook - we grew up in a 3 bedroom 1 bath rancher now that house has 2 stories and goes for $800K plus.
 
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TiogaLion

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Well the post I was responding to mentioned going 355 to avoid Chicago traffic. I have no idea whether 355 is the most direct route to Schaumburg or not.

Also, I'll likely be driving an 88 FJ62 so my 57 year old bladder and the 36 year old drivetrain will require multiple stops as well.
Adding to the instructions. Assuming 355 wasn't an alternate route to Schaumburg, google map a route to Schaumburg. Look at the route and decide which town/location/landmark will force a new route using route 355. Use that new destination in your GPS and once on route 355 program the gps for Schaumburg or if it's fickle select another destination on route 355 and continue the process until your at your desired location.

There are many other ways ultimatel much easier, that will require actually knowing your GPS instructions/procedures but the above works for every GPS. Since this type of navigation is somewhat the manual procedure I discribed is a valid solution.

I don't know where you live but you've spoken about York so in the next post I'll give you examples of a google map from Strinestown.
 
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TiogaLion

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@Got GSPs

Here's the map from strinestown:


In this map I find an turn off the main route that would send me to 355. Which is to just stay on i-80 over to i-355.



Here I zoom-in and find a destination along I-355. Ill choose Bass Pro Shops Bollingbrook Illinois. Once at Bass Pro purchase everything you forgot and reprogram your GPS for Schaumburg destination.


Here is the map you'll leave home using.

 

laKavosiey-st lion

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Well the post I was responding to mentioned going 355 to avoid Chicago traffic. I have no idea whether 355 is the most direct route to Schaumburg or not.

Also, I'll likely be driving an 88 FJ62 so my 57 year old bladder and the 36 year old drivetrain will require multiple stops as well.
Fantastic sled. I suggest Old Man Emu
 

Got GSPs

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Adding to the instructions. Assuming 355 wasn't an alternate route to Schaumburg, google map a route to Schaumburg. Look at the route and decide which town/location/landmark will force a new route using route 355. Use that new destination in your GPS and once on route 355 program the gps for Schaumburg or if it's fickle select another destination on route 355 and continue the process until your at your desired location.

There are many other ways ultimatel much easier, that will require actually knowing your GPS instructions/procedures but the above works for every GPS. Since this type of navigation is somewhat the manual procedure I discribed is a valid solution.

I don't know where you live but you've spoken about York so in the next post I'll give you examples of a google map from Strinestown.
I was just asking for a landmark. I know how to work a gps...
 

TiogaLion

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I was just asking for a landmark. I know how to work a gps...
Wow, very ungrateful as it now seems clear you didn't know how to use gps to find a landmark that would put you on a specific route. You probably could have just said thanks, but for some reason chose a different path.
 
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Got GSPs

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Wow, very ungrateful as it now seems clear you didn't know how to use gps to find a landmark that would put you on a specific route. You probably could have just said thanks, but for some reason chose a different path.
I’m sorry if my response was curt. I literally just needed a town or a business or an intersection. I have no idea where 355 is. I don’t have a map of the area and when I route Schaumburg in mapquest or google maps on my iPad it doesn’t show 355 or at least it’s not labeled as such. I fall into the ignorant / intelligent category (just learned that phrase today). Your detailed instructions were very thoughtfully intended, but for me it was perceived as a little condescending. Thanks for the responses though.
 

BW Lion

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Wow, very ungrateful as it now seems clear you didn't know how to use gps to find a landmark that would put you on a specific route. You probably could have just said thanks, but for some reason chose a different path.
You have to understand that Ranger Dan wasn’t much of Army Ranger

Instead of parachuting properly, Dan thought it best to repeatedly land on his head. 🤷🏼‍♂️
 
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