I-90
I-94
I-69
I-29

These would be between Michigan & Minniapolas (sp? sorry).

If you know the speed limits that would be ideal and the quality of the road, ie number of lanes per direction and ashphalt bumpyness.

I will be driving from Ottawa, ON to Winnipeg MB and I'm trying to decide between the cross Canada route and the cross US route. The US route is 6 hours shorter but the Canada route is 900Km shorter.... that about 500 Miles.

I am thinking I wouldn't mind paying the extra $30-$50 in gas for 6 hours savings of driving time!

I'm quite familiar with the parts of I-90 and I-94 that run through Wisconsin (this is a substantial part of the drive between Michigan and Minneapolis). Road conditions are generally quite good on these highways, although you should always expect some parts to be "under construction". Construction zones tend to be slow and bumpy. These highways generally have two lanes in either direction, with three or more lanes each way in the larger cities (Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minneapolis). As far as speed goes, 65 MPH (105 KmH) is the posted maximum in Wisconsin, but I have never been ticketed doing 65 to 70 on these highways. If you go much faster, you WILL eventually be ticketed.

Go over Lake Superior - it is an absolutely beautiful drive, no customs and immigration hassles - a bigger worry these days - and enjoy Canadian Shield country.

I work in Chicago and have spent many hours driving on the interstates you have listed.

If you enter the US at Detroit, there is no need to take I-69. I-69 connects I-94 to I-90 in Southern Michigan. You should be able to pick up I-94 in Detroit and take it all the way to Chicago. I believe the speed limit in Michigan is 70 mph and although the speed limit is posted as 65 in Illinois, you can just go the speed of traffic (varies from 0 to 80+ mph). I-94 will take you right through dowtown Chicago which may or may not be a good idea depending on the time of day. You might want to consider taking the skyway bypass (294). I have to warn you though, it's very bumpy! Also, it is nearly impossible to get through Chicago without incurring a toll of some sort.

You can bypass Milwaukee (which will eliminate some traffic woes) if you take I-90 to Rockford, Illinois and pick up I-90/I-39 and then follow it to the split north of Madison, Wisconsin. There should be a split between I-39 and I-90/I-94. You'll want to follow the I-90/I-94 road to Minneapolis, MN. There will be another split in Tomah, WI. The road you want is I-94. That will take you to Minneapolis and this is the extent of my knowledge of these roads. There are no tolls in Wisconsin. I do not know about Minnesota.

If you go the way I described, you will hit very little traffic between Chicago and Minneapolis. The only "large" (I'm using the term loosely) city you'll see is Madison. The roads are all in good shape and you should be able to set the cruise at 72 mph or so and have no problems with the state troopers.

This all being said, the drive north of Lake Superior is beautiful. Depending on my mood and time contraints, I would definitely consider it.

Interesting, I realize the canadian route may be more scenic but when my legs cramp up and my back starts to ack I don't think I'll give a damn! :)

It's a lot less distance the cdn route as well 1700Km vs 2600 via the US. Mapblast actually states 18hrs at 2100km.

Here's the breakdown.
Mapblast 18hrs 2100km
Mapquest 32hrs 1700km
yahoo maps 24 hrs 2600 kms


If the maps are correct the mapblast sounds like a no brainer LOL but I have a funny feeling about it.

I wonder if I hit big traffic at the border and bumper crawls in the big city if my savings of time will be all for not anyways. The canadian route is shorter distance wise which is great for gas prices!

I have tons of Km's to waste on my car I have a 96K lease and I'm only at 50K with 12 months to go! Anyone have a GPS, or rand mcnally's map program. I wonder if any of these websites are lieing!

Also I won't be going until the end of May, so some border tension might have loosened up by then.

I think I may have found the jackpot.

www.freetrip.com gives an interesting route.

It's through Canada but detours the 17 a little bit for a faster drive.

Result 1972Km and 21 hours! Now I just need to make sure it's not out to lunch!