What's the best route driving from Chicago to DC? Thanks!?

Question

By best, I mean easiest, less traffic.

Answer 1

We drove out last summer and took I-80 all the way across Indiana, Ohio, and part of Pennsylvania. It's a toll road but really smooth driving and nice stops for gas and food with clean restrooms. The only problem was getting from I-55 past the Gary area with all the construction there. If you can bypass that somehow you will be glad you did. The tolls are paid only as you leave the tollway or cross state lines. The roadside stops are a part of the tollway so you don't have to pay each time you stop. Mapquest has the better directions for getting into DC. If you miss your exit as we did just find another road off the beltway that goes into downtown. You will get there eventually.

Happy motoring!

Answer 2

I've driven twice from Annapolis to Chicago, and the route suggested by Map Quest is almost the same as from DC. You would just be driving in the reverse direction. You just want to time your trip so that you don't leave Chicago during rush hour or arrive in DC during rush hour, but its mostly clear sailing all the way. I guess Pittsburgh or Toledo might be the only other spots where you might hit rush hour traffic.

Answer 3

Driving directions to Chicago, IL 716 mi – about 11 hours 10 mins Suggested routes I-65 N 716 mi 11 hours 10 mins I-24 W 754 mi 11 hours 45 mins I-75 N 706 mi 12 hours 10 mins Atlanta, GA

Answer 4

The below route will be a little more complex than what Mapquest may give you but the traffic along this route ought to be non-existent.



I-94 South to US 30 East to I-65 South to I-865 East to I-465 East to I-70 East to I-270 South to US 33 South to US 50 East.



Now US 50 East of I-79 is a 2 Lane Road with lots of twists and turns. You can take US 50 right into DC if you can stomach the twists and turns of WV and Western MD. Once you get to the VA Line, US 50 becomes 4 lane through Winchester, VA and points east until it becomes a 2 lane road as it passes through VA horse country. Once US 50 becomes 4 Lanes, you can take it to I-66 into DC.

Answer 5

Go to maps

Answer 6

Interesting question!

Answer 7

<0.1 miles Map



2: Turn LEFT onto N LASALLE ST. <0.1 miles Map



3: Turn LEFT onto W RANDOLPH ST. 0.6 miles Map



4: Merge onto I-90 E / I-94 E via the ramp on the LEFT. 3.0 miles Map



5: Keep LEFT to take I-90 EXPRESS E / I-94 EXPRESS E / DAN RYAN EXP E toward 51ST ST. 4.0 miles Map



6: Merge onto I-90 E / I-94 E / DAN RYAN EXPY E toward EXIT 59A / INDIANA TOLL RD. 0.8 miles Map



7: Keep LEFT to take I-90 E via EXIT 59A toward INDIANA TOLL RD (Portions toll) (Passing through INDIANA- then crossing into OHIO). 306.0 miles Map



8: Merge onto I-80 E (Portions toll). 76.2 miles Map



9: Keep LEFT to take I-76 E (Portions toll) (Crossing into PENNSYLVANIA). 184.6 miles Map



10: Merge onto I-70 E via EXIT 161 toward BREEZEWOOD / BALTIMORE / WASHINGTON D C (Portions toll). 2.2 miles Map



11: Take the US-30 W exit. 0.1 miles Map



12: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto I-70 / US-30 / LINCOLN HWY. 0.3 miles Map



13: Turn LEFT onto I-70 E (Crossing into MARYLAND). 75.9 miles Map



14: Merge onto I-270 S via EXIT 53 toward WASHINGTON. 30.0 miles Map



15: Keep RIGHT to take I-270 SPUR S toward I-495 S / WASHINGTON / NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 2.0 miles Map



16: I-270 SPUR S becomes I-495 S / CAPITAL BELTWAY (Crossing into VIRGINIA). 3.7 miles Map



17: Take EXIT 43-44 toward GEO WASH MEM PKWY / VA-193 / GEORGETOWN PIKE / LANGLEY / GREAT FALLS. 0.3 miles Map



18: Take the GEO WASH MEM PKWY exit- EXIT 43- toward WASHINGTON. 0.5 miles Map



19: Merge onto GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PKWY S. 8.2 miles Map



20: Take the US-29 N exit toward KEY BRIDGE / WASHINGTON. 0.2 miles Map



21: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-29 N / N LYNN ST. Continue to follow US-29 N (Crossing into DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA). 0.2 miles Map



22: Turn RIGHT onto ramp. <0.1 miles Map



23: Merge onto US-29 N / WHITEHURST FWY. 0.4 miles Map



24: Take the ramp toward I-66 W / E STREET. 0.2 miles Map



25: Merge onto POTOMAC RIVER FWY S. 0.2 miles Map



26: Take the E STREET / I-66 W ramp. <0.1 miles Map



27: Take the E STREET exit on the LEFT. 0.2 miles Map



28: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto E ST EXPY. 0.3 miles Map



29: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto E ST NW. <0.1 miles Map



30: Turn RIGHT onto 19TH ST NW. 0.2 miles Map



31: Turn LEFT onto CONSTITUTION AVE NW / US-50. 0.3 miles Map



32: End at Washington, DC US Map



Total Est. Time: 11 hours, 18 minutes Total Est. Distance: 702.19 miles

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Answer 8

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=chicago,+il&daddr=washington,+dc&sll=37.0625,-95.677071&sspn=46.946584,82.265625&ie=UTF8&ll=42.516651,-84.171753&spn=2.749077,5.141602&z=8&om=1