We're driving from Chicago to Albany to attend a wedding later in June.

I was looking at the map and the default route goes "under" Lake Erie through Indiana, Ohio, the northwest corner of Pennsylvania, and then into New York. But, in looking at my atlas, a large stretch of that route is tollroads.

If I was to go "over" Lake Erie, I would drive through the corner of Indiana, up into Michigan, through southern Ontario, then into New York.

Surprisingly, according to Google Maps, the "over" route takes the same amount of time. So, I'm thinking of going this way.

Apart from bringing our passports, are there any downsides to this route I should know of? Thanks!

I have done a similar drive a couple of times. If going through Canada, no weapons, no produce, maybe no or limited alcohol-check online for this. I remember that the roads in Canada were in better condition.

I have made both of those trips more times than I can count.

The only downside to the northern route is coming back into NY. The border folks can be real assholes at times. It's hit or miss though.

I'd recommend taking the 401. It's a nice drive and some nice stops along the way. London, Toronto (if you must), Kingston, etc.... And, if you don't like it you can head back the other way.

I haven't been there for several years but have traveled the 401 Kings Highway.
My impression was that the scenery wasn't all that great. Seemed like a featureless boring stretch of road. It runs just north of the lakes and is fairly flat terrain.
Be aware that gasoline is very expensive in Canada, sold by the litre with lots of tax added.
In fact, lots of taxes on most things you buy there. You may find the toll roads to be an inexpensive alternative.

Thanks guys. It almost sounds like a toss up. On one route, get gouged with toll fees. The other, get gouged with taxes.

Just fill up in Detroit and you'll get all the way through, so you don't need to worry about high gas prices.

As far as scenery goes, anyone who's driven I90 through northern IN and OH can tell you that there ain't a whole lot to see there either. The difference up north is that it is quite rural (once you get past Toronto). I'd much rather look at that than Cleveland.

Driven from Chicago to Boston and back at least 15 times. The route through Canada takes longer by about an hour with a high probability of congestion depending on when you drive. My go to route now is south of Lake Erie. If you drive through the night the Canada part is pretty quick and uneventful.

quote:

Originally posted by cruiser68:
The route through Canada takes longer by about an hour...

Depends, I suppose, if you're looking at time or a nicer drive IMO. Given the choice, I'd go for the nicer drive.

CoolRich, if you're looking for a nice itinerary, let me know. I can get you from Watertown to Albany through some of the best country NY has to offer in my opinion. Nice quiet two-laners, great scenery (lakes and creeks), and all-around decent people...until you get to Albany, then you're on your own because you won't find any there.

Getting pinched for speeding in Canada can get pricey.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:
Thanks guys. It almost sounds like a toss up. On one route, get gouged with toll fees. The other, get gouged with taxes.

If it were me, I'd drive one route there and the other route back to see more scenery.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:

...are there any downsides to this route I should know of?

You mean other than ending up in Albany?

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

CoolRich, if you're looking for a nice itinerary, let me know. I can get you from Watertown to Albany through some of the best country NY has to offer in my opinion. Nice quiet two-laners, great scenery (lakes and creeks), and all-around decent people...until you get to Albany, then you're on your own because you won't find any there.

Thanks. I'm definitely interested. We are on a timeline to get there (we're driving our son, the bridegroom ), but we should have time on the return trip.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:

...are there any downsides to this route I should know of?

You mean other than ending up in Albany?

I'll have to mind my manners re Albany. Never been there, but the bride's family is from there. Plus, I'm from Chicago and I don't think Albany can match the Chicago for urban decay and political corruption.

I visit my daughter in Fishkill a few times a year. I go up 80 then finish the trip on 84. Nice scenery once you get to Northern Pennsy, like at Wilkes-Barre. Some real woods there. About 10 hours from Toledo Ohio where I jump on the toll roads.

Weddings be damned, I'd drive across northern Ohio, stop in the CMP North Store, then on to Top Gun Supply, through Erie, PA. to screw the toll road 90 and stay just south to 5 and 20 through wine country. You can pick up 90 at Syracuse and your next city east is cuomo town. You might like to jump of 20 at Syracuse for dining at Skaeneatalas, spell check that, then make your way to cuomo town.

Don't use the Interstates. I have twice driven parts of your route and stayed off the Interstates for a good part of the time. US-6 across Pennsylvania is a very scenic drive (stop at the Kinzua Viaduct near Smethport) and a visit to Steamtown near Scranton, Pennsylvania is good. These links have some photos of what you might see that way: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627402507727/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627402781267/.

On one trip I came back across Canada into Michigan (at Port Huron) and enjoyed a visit to the African Lion Safari near Hamilton, Ontario: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627680470610/. The double bridge between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron is itself a scenic wonder: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627556369743/. On that drive I drove across Michigan and took the SS Badger ferry from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI, then drove down to Chicago: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627875271122/.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
Don't use the Interstates. I have twice driven parts of your route and stayed off the Interstates for a good part of the time. US-6 across Pennsylvania is a very scenic drive (stop at the Kinzua Viaduct near Smethport) and a visit to Steamtown near Scranton, Pennsylvania is good. These links have some photos of what you might see that way: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627402507727/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627402781267/.

On one trip I came back across Canada into Michigan (at Port Huron) and enjoyed a visit to the African Lion Safari near Hamilton, Ontario: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627680470610/. The double bridge between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron is itself a scenic wonder: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627556369743/. On that drive I drove across Michigan and took the SS Badger ferry from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI, then drove down to Chicago: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157627875271122/.

flashguy

Great photos, thanks for posting the links. I especially liked the pictures of the Badger. A few years back we took the Badger the other way, from Manitowoc to Ludington. It was a great time and I think I'm going to have to do that again.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:

...On one route, get gouged with toll fees...

With I pass you'll pretty much breeze through toll booths:

https://www.illinoistollway.co...ormation/about-ipass

I don't know about the other states, but I think in IL the IPass rate is less than what you would pay in cash. It's also easy to check your account balance and add $$ thru their www site. Yes, something is efficient in IL!

I have never used a toll road....how much is a typical toll?

I used to make runs to upstate NY from the Black Hills every year. Loved the 2 lane hiways for both chatting up the locals and the non-chain eateries. Here's the route I preferred.

I-90 W to 35S at Albert Lea, MN

35S to 80E at Des Moines, IO

80E to 280E at Davenport, IO

280E to 80E at Rock Island, IL

80E to 39S at LaSalle, IL

39S to 24E at El Paso, IL

24E to 224E at Huntington, IN

224E to 30E at Van Wert, OH

30E to 71E at Mansfield, OH

71E to 76E just beyond Burbank, OH

76E to 80E at Austin town outside Youngstown, OH

80E to 11N just beyond Girard, OH

11N to 90E at Plymouth Center, OH

90E to 86E just beyond Westleyville, PA

86E to 13N at Horseheads, NY

13N to 81N at Cortland, NY

81N to 481N just north of Nedrow, NY

481N to the Syracuse area.


I'm sure you could map a similar route from Chicago to the NW Pennsylvania / SW New York area avoiding toll roads and then through either RT 5 east or via the Finger Lakes region NE to Albany.