MFF: Getting There

[vakkotaur]

Midwest FurFest is coming up and I'm pondering routing. The fastest, though laden with irksome tolls, is to take I-90 until I'm almost there.[1] The question for that is, where to leave I-90 and make my way to Golf Road? The other choice is to detour a bit into Iowa and take US 20 until I run out of US 20 and then make my way to Golf Road. This would take a bit longer, both due to speed limits in Iowa and due to longer distance.

The trip to the conference last weekend was by I-90 and to a place not too far from where MFF will be. It wasn't too bad, as it was all Interstate and the tolls while higher this year are still under $5.00 total - if things go exactly right. After last year's experience, I was figuring on taking US-20 just to avoid the toll mess. Now, I'm leaning more toward I-90 again. So that just leave me wondering where is the best place to leave I-90 and get to Golf Road. I have no problem with driving from Elgin if that's needed. Even getting the red light on every traffic light on Golf from Elgin to the Hyatt is less stressful than last year's mess. But it looks like maybe exiting to Barrington Road might be better. Or maybe I should keep that as a backup if I miss an earlier exit? Maybe (New) Sutton Road? I can't say I'm very familiar with the area, so if anyone is and has a word or three of advice, I'd like to hear it.

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[1] I refuse to consider taking I-90 all the way in as that cost me several extra tolls, much wasted time, and so much irritation that I started giving consideration to giving up and just driving back to Fairmont last year.

Comments

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Quite frankly, 90 all the way is easier. 90 to Arlington Heights road (which is just past the hotel area and associated confusion) then North on Arlington Heights Road (passing the BEST Japanese mall in the midwest) to Golf and backa few miles to the Hyatt.

But if you really refuse to do it, your best shot is to cut south on 59 near Barrington. It is after the Elgin toll plaza, but so is any reasonable alternate. Even 31 south in Elgin is just past the Elgin toll plaza.

59 is pretty big and is the 3rd exit (I think) past the Elgin tolls.You take that straight south thru the Forest Preserve to Golf - 3 miles or so. Then Left on to Golf and stright on to Woodfield.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I hadn't considered purposely overshooting the destination, but I see how it could work. I think I'll likely keep that in mind as a last-chance backup though. The farther I go into things on I-90, the less comfortable I get.

[duncandahusky.livejournal.com]

(Howdy! Just stopping by courtesy of Google's Blogsearch :-)

While the Arlington Heights Road option is a good one, and certainly the most direct. The further east you go on I-90, the greater the possibility for traffic jams, particularly at the interchange with I-90/I-290. For what it's worth, it looks like the travel times don't get too bad (http://www.gcmtravelstats.com/Detailed.aspx?selLinks1=107&dayOfWeek1=5&dayOfWeek1=6) on the eastbound side of I-90. If you want to be really sure, though, IL 59 is probably your best choice, though. I have updated the driving directions on the MFF website (http://www.furfest.org/hotel.html) to give people a couple of options - the IL 59 route (with landmarks!) is at the bottom of the page, under "Extereme Navigation" :-)

Hope this helps!

Thanks!

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Uh, shouldn't that second (last) entry read 'Eastbound' rather than 'Westbound'?

But it does look like the IL 59 exit may be the best bet for me.

Re: Thanks!

[duncandahusky.livejournal.com]

Yep, it should :-) I noticed that typo as I was writing my earlier comment, and I have requested that the webmaster fix it at his earliest convenience. IL 59 sounds good, then. Have a good (and safe) trip!