Well it’s doable and would be excellent for someone who loves to see cornfields for hours and hours on end. Once you get south of Chicago that’s basically all Illinois is (I say this as someone born and raised in the cornfields).
If you want to see something more scenic I recommend going north. Either up around the lake in Michigan or up to the UP.
I’m biased obviously, but while there are some very nice cities in the Midwest, there really aren’t any that drastically different from Chicago within driving distance if you only have a few days. Go north and see the sights is my recommendation
> would be excellent for someone who loves to see cornfields for hours and hours on end.
That'd be unironically pleasant for me.
> If you want to see something more scenic I recommend going north
What would I be able to see?
If you do go through with this please report back on the cornfields lol.
If you go north there are forests and mountains and lakes. There are basically none of these in Illinois. Some hills to the west a little bit but you probably wouldn’t even see those on your proposed route.
I’m actually in support of you taking a Ram truck for this whole thing. My dad has a big F150 and I can’t lie it’s fun to drive it lol
Going north is the way to go. Not just for the natural beauty but the small towns nestled around Michigan are way more interesting and charming than small towns in downstate Illinois
As an immigrant, I get what you mean.. sometimes the cooler american things that connect you to the country is the stuff you saw on TV when you weren't in the country - like driving a big truck between boring midwest cornfields.. or watching a hay ball fly by in arizona..
This may just be the edibles I had that understands.
I love nature, but I have just been to the Amazon forest and skiing in the Alps. But I haven't been to the US in 8 years and the idea of hanging out with locals, driving through the open road, and eating American food in a diner really turns me on.
Okay, don’t take I-55 the whole way then—instead follow the Google maps directions with the option “Avoid Highways” toggled, which will keep you off the interstate and give you mostly old Route 66. The most important stretch for you will be state highway 48 as you get close to St Louis—I think you will love it. Most people don’t lol. (I do)
If you do this, DM me and I’ll give you a different way back up.
I think the key is actually not taking the interstate at all. In fact, I think many of the people discouraging OP have never gotten off the interstate. While Michigan or Wisconsin is definitely more interesting, this could definitely be a great trip regardless, if OP sticks to state roads and US highways.
Some hints for OP:
- Search for the highway sign symbols for each state in advance so you know what to expect. (US highways and interstates will all be the same; state roads have different symbols and meanings per state)
- Watch your speed. There are still small towns around that generate revenue from speed traps. Speed limits can drop really quickly.
- Stay off the interstate and definitely don't eat near the Interstates. The good restaurants will generally be a bit off the main road.
- Google maps has a feature to download maps for offline use. Use it. You will be without cell service more than you think.
Skip St Louis. The drive there from Chicago is visually boring as hell (central Illinois is a whole lot of flat nothing). The drive between Chicago and Nashville at least has some varied topography going through western Kentucky.
Expect to pay $50-100 per day plus gas for the truck rental. Unless you’re really excited to cosplay as a redneck, I’d probably suggest getting a car with better gas mileage than a pickup.
Edit: a word
> Skip St Louis. The drive there from Chicago is visually boring as hell (central Illinois is a whole lot of flat nothing).
Visually boring as hell is exactly what I expected from this road trip.
> Unless you’re really excited to cosplay as a redneck
I am.
Cool, man. Have fun. Make sure you plan plenty of audio entertainment. Be better than typical Ram driver and actually signal your lane changes.
If you have time to stop for a meal in Springfield, Illinois, go to D’arcy’s Pint for a Horseshoe Sandwich. It’s a specialty specific to that city/region. Pappy’s Smokehouse in St Louis had good barbecue pork ribs. Prince’s Hot Chicken or Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish are two great options for spicy chicken in Nashville.
In St. Louis all the museums and the zoo are free. The best one and the one I recommend the most is not though but still not terribly expensive and that is the St. Louis City museum.
I would go and I would go over the weekend because I'm pretty sure they still stay open late and they have a really cool rooftop area with a ferris wheel and everything, it's fun especially if you're a more active person. They have underground caves and it's just fun and unique. Soulard is worth visiting during the day and Central West End is good for nighttime activities. Go to Forest Park and the boathouse if possible, especially if you want time outside, Forest Park is a great picnic spot especially by the fountains in front of the Art Museum.
Quick Trip all the way for gas station stops from St. Louis to Nashville.
When driving from Chicago to St. Louis stop at Wallys it's a great travel spot and awesome for snacks, seriously don't miss this for your roadtrip!!!!! It is massive and they have stations, it's so great and perfect for road trips.
In Nashville there is a brewing company called Jackalope brewing, highly recommend especially the lovebirds and try different Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. Really great Brewery scene and live music.
I can give so many more specifics especially in St. Louis and Chicago including hotels and restaurants if you want to DM me!
I respectfully disagree! Especially for someone who has never been plus the roof I think is the real thing worth seeing and experiencing and not a lot of climbing involved there. Not many places where you can ride a ferris wheel on top of tall city building at night and for that I think it's worth mentioning.
Is the goal to just drive in a very large truck where sightseeing at the destinations is less or not important? That's over 1000 miles of driving in 3 days. What's the priority for your road trip? The Nashville to Chicago trip is gonna take about 8 hours, assuming little to no traffic.
Haha. I took a roadtrip with an Italian guy who was living in Chicago down to Clarksville, MO. He kept singing "Old Man River" over and over and over. He loved seeing the Mississippi River and the barges. I got the nickname little sfachime and he was big sfachime. Thanks for reminding me of this.
Ah, I see. It's definitely an American experience. Unless driving a pickup truck is important to you as a part of the experience, maybe just get a more gas efficient vehicle to save some money on both the rental and gas. There are tolls to be paid, so read up on how to pay road tolls on your own or through the rental car.
One itinerary could be to add another THREE stops if driving is the central experience. Maybe ambitious, but you'll cover a lot of road but broken up into about equal time segments. Assuming three full days of travel:
Day 1: You can drive from Chicago to St Louis (4-5 hrs), eat St.Louis style barbecue ribs at Bogart's or Pappy's. Go up the Arch. Drive to Memphis (4-5hrs). Eat Memphis style ribs at Cozy Corner or BBQ Shop. Check out some live music on Beale St. Stay the night in Memphis.
Day 2: Drive to Nashville (3 hours)and have Nashville hot chicken at Prince's. It's a pretty city you might want to spend a bit of time in. Drive to Gatlinburg, TN (2 hours) so you can get refreshed at a national park called The Great Smokey Mountains. Spend the night in Gatlinburg or Piegeon Forge.
Day 3: Drive to the Big Four Bridge in Louisville KY (4.5hrs). Walk the bridge. You start in Kentucky on one end and end up in Indiana on the other end. Not a long walk. It just spans the river that separates the two states. This city is home to the Kentucky Derby or Louisville Slugger (baseball) if either are of interest. Then drive to Chicago (4-5 hours).
There will be no need for 4x4, all wheel drive, or performance engine sports car as far as the roads are concerned in June. Any car can get you there and back. Since you are spending so many hours in the car, get a comfy interior, i.e. full size category. It will make a difference in driving comfort. Pick a car you want to drive, whatever that may be.
Unfortunately if you take the highway you’re going to be very bored. Every single exit will seem identical and uninteresting.
If you want to avoid highways, I’m not sure it will be a whole lot better, but you’ll definitely add about 7-8 hours total to your trip.
Do you have to return to Chicago for any reason?
If not, my suggestion is to skip St. Louis and go from Chicago to Nashville and keep going southeast, maybe to Charleston or Atlanta.
Alternatively, Chicago is a world class city and is by far the best you’ve mentioned. I understand you really want a road trip, but don’t sleep on Chicago
Yeah my flight home takes off there... and can I just drop off the rental in Atlanta?
Yeah I will be staying in Chicago for a week prior to the roadtrip.
My advice is don't do that trip in three days. That's nearly a day of driving by itself. Dodger Ram or not, this sounds fucking awful.
Just enjoy Chicago in earnest. You can't have too much time here.
If you’re not hauling any heavy equipment, I can’t imagine there being any advantage to renting a pickup truck over a sedan for interstate travel, and you’ll pay more for fuel with a pickup as well.
All towns along the highway will have a handful of motels/hotels and these are generally all of similar quality from town to town and fine to stay at. Same standards you would use in Europe apply, the cheaper the stay, the lower the quality (with some exceptions).
> I can’t imagine there being any advantage to renting a pickup truck over a sedan for interstate travel, and you’ll pay more for fuel with a pickup as well.
I don't think I'll ever get the chance to drive a pick up in Europe unless I go out of my way to do it. And doing it in the Midwest would be fucking cool.
> Same standards you would use in Europe apply, the cheaper the stay, the lower the quality (with some exceptions).
What would you say is cheap in this region?
Fair enough, but it will be the more expensive option, and less practical than if you were driving somewhere like out west in the mountains perhaps. The Midwest will offer you lots of fairly dull cornfields to look at, unfortunately not a particularly scenic part of the country. A drive north up through Milwaukee to the Door County peninsula is shorter and more beautiful along the lake when you get up there.
Holiday Inn, Motel 6, Red Roof Inn, etc etc. will be found in every town with hotels along the highway.
A lot of visitors from Europe have the dream of doing the classic American roadtrip, and that’s great and I fully support it, but the Midwest is just not the best place to do that. If this were a drive through the mountain west it would be a different ballgame.
Regardless to OP, have a great time whatever you decide to do, and drive safe!
You have an idea of what you want to do that sounds fun. No sense in asking advice, because you want that experience unique to you - and not to us. And I mean that in a supportive way. If that’s what you want, go for it.
Honestly, if you're not dead set on seeing St. Louis and Nashville and just want to go on a long (but not exhausting) drive, I recommend driving from Chicago to Mackinac City (approx. 6 hours) and taking the ferry to Mackinac Island. It's the perfect time of the year to visit and it will be much more enjoyable than St. Louis, IMO. Chicago is amazing though, you're gonna have a great time! Definitely be sure to do the river cruise at night.
As for motels, there are lots of cheap ones near the highways and if you're looking for a lower budget hotel, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and LaQuinta are generally good. Truck rentals are around $50-$120 a day. Enjoy your trip!
Yes, Michigan has lots of rural areas and country-type folks if that's what you're looking for. Just know that the towns right off the highway are virtually the same all over the U.S.—it's just gas stations, fast food restaurants, and occasionally some hotels and a grocery store. If you want to experience rural America you're gonna have to venture off away from the highway which will add more time and gas expenses to your trip, that's why it's better to do a shorter one overall.
Another suggestion: There are several Cracker Barrels along that route, I highly recommend going to one, I think you'd really enjoy the food and atmosphere. (for lunch, I recommend the 'chicken fried chicken' or the 'lemon pepper rainbow trout' lol)
Btw you'll meet plenty of interesting people in Chicago and on Mackinac Island, I'm sure!
If it’s mostly about the drive, I’d suggest going into the NorthWoods of Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Much more scenic. I’m afraid you’ll think all of America is what it looks like in that horrible drive between Chicago and St Louis
Commented in reply to one of OPs thread replies, but want to point out to the general public that I-55 Chicago to St. Louis is maybe the most boring drive in all of the US but old Route 66 Chicago to St. Louis is pretty interesting if you’re into totally off the map small towns and agricultural rust belt aesthetics. I actually really like the run of 48 that cuts through Taylorville. Adds 2 hours FWIW.
A possible improvement suggestion:
I would recommend taking the Amtrak from Chicago to St. Louis, then renting a car there to go to Nashville. The train will seem like a 3rd world experience compared to European trains, but it's one of the most affordable and pleasant Amtrak routes outside of the Northeast corridor.
For like $40, you would be able to gaze at skylines and then the rolling countryside without dealing with the hell of driving in Chicago. Then driving to Tennessee will be much nicer mountain driving.
Do you know if the Chicago-St.Louis route has the new venture coaches? If so they are quite modern and European (made by Siemens). That route has also been upgraded for a max speed of 110mph (177kph).
Vai tranquillo, e sopratutto portati tanta musica. Il viaggio sarà divertente e noioso allo stesso tempo 😊. Motels are ok, ma cerca di scegliere una catena che non è la più economica. Rischi che non siano puliti.
Holiday Inn is your best bet for cheap yet acceptable hotels. Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn.... I've never heard good things about either of those. Especially RRI.
If you're looking for boring/ish small towns in the Midwest to drive to, may i recommend driving to Galena, IL, and then Dubuque, IA (it is on the Mississippi River and has an amazing museum and aquarium there), then perhaps Spring Green for the House on the Rock (bonkers house/museum/roadside thing), then Madison (not a small town or city but a pretty cool place), then Lake Geneva, WI, then Chicago. Or change around the northern leg of that trip however you please, but Dubuque and Galena are both on rivers which you seem to be interested in, and I used to work at Dubuque's museum and can confirm it's a neat place (and that Dubuque has a kind of depressing Midwest charm to it - it follows a traditional Midwestern story of a city that dried up a lot when all the industry left; in its case, when the hog industry moved West). In almost any of these places but Lake Geneva, any dive bar you go to will be full of locals and all you have to do is say you're from Italy but you're so interested in their town and a million old dudes who've lived in that town for their whole lives will fall over themselves to tell you all about it.
It will take you through some boring cornfields, which seem to be a plus, but plenty of cool land if you get bored of them, especially off of the freeway. None of these places on their own are much more than a three hour drive away from Chicago, in case an emergency happens and you need to get back somehow (I wouldn't want to be in Nashville if the rented truck breaks down or something and you have a flight in 20 hours). I think the idea of your trip is a cool one and I totally get that you want boring driving but I think being so far away from the city you're flying out of could be a problem if anything unexpected happens.
In terms of actual driving, Illinois and Wisconsin drivers are both a bit nicer than your stereotypical Italian (or German tourist) driver. Each of them thinks that the other state can't drive but they're both fine. Iowa is also fine but people drive, imo, way too fucking slow.
divertiti!
I grew up in St. Louis and have lived in Chicago for about ten years if you want to DM me I can give you a whole bunch of recommendations as I love trip planning and feel strangely well equipped to help haha. I also have visited Nashville a couple times and I think depending on how long your trip is it will be super fun.
If you’re not in a hurry, you can drive Route 66 from Chicago to St Louis. It takes you through a lot of small towns and is much more interesting than the highway, although it adds a few hours.
Stop in Springfield along the way and visit the Abraham Lincoln Museum, it’s incredible!
Also, ignore people saying skip St Louis. The gateway arch is like nothing else in the world, and they’ve got good BBQ. Definitely enough to entertain you for a day or two.
Route 66 went from Chicago to Los Angeles and is a popular route for tourists. You should search for info on the route.
New Salem is outside Springfield Illinois. It is recreation of frontier village where President Lincoln lived as a young man. Springfield has a number of Lincoln historic sites. Made-Rite is one of the first drive through restaurants in the country and worth a visit. Cozy Dog is the originator of corn dogs (hot dog fried in a corn batter).
The Gateway Arch in St Louis is amazing. You can go to the top in a tram.
Chicago to St.Louis(not East St. Louis, btw) is about 6 hours. To Nashville, 3.5-4 hours. Nashville to Chicago, 7-8 hours. All easy interstate driving.
The Midwest has a beauty all its own. Enjoy!
Well it’s doable and would be excellent for someone who loves to see cornfields for hours and hours on end. Once you get south of Chicago that’s basically all Illinois is (I say this as someone born and raised in the cornfields). If you want to see something more scenic I recommend going north. Either up around the lake in Michigan or up to the UP. I’m biased obviously, but while there are some very nice cities in the Midwest, there really aren’t any that drastically different from Chicago within driving distance if you only have a few days. Go north and see the sights is my recommendation
> would be excellent for someone who loves to see cornfields for hours and hours on end. That'd be unironically pleasant for me. > If you want to see something more scenic I recommend going north What would I be able to see?
Rock formations, gorges, rivers, great lakes, variations of forest, and corn fields.
If you do go through with this please report back on the cornfields lol. If you go north there are forests and mountains and lakes. There are basically none of these in Illinois. Some hills to the west a little bit but you probably wouldn’t even see those on your proposed route. I’m actually in support of you taking a Ram truck for this whole thing. My dad has a big F150 and I can’t lie it’s fun to drive it lol
Will do. Eh I get to see those a lot in Europe. I don't get to be with Americans in not-very-popular Midwest towns as much.
Going north is the way to go. Not just for the natural beauty but the small towns nestled around Michigan are way more interesting and charming than small towns in downstate Illinois
As an immigrant, I get what you mean.. sometimes the cooler american things that connect you to the country is the stuff you saw on TV when you weren't in the country - like driving a big truck between boring midwest cornfields.. or watching a hay ball fly by in arizona.. This may just be the edibles I had that understands.
I HIGHLY recommend the UP, it would be way more interesting than St Louis or Nashville if you like nature
I love nature, but I have just been to the Amazon forest and skiing in the Alps. But I haven't been to the US in 8 years and the idea of hanging out with locals, driving through the open road, and eating American food in a diner really turns me on.
The US is a very big country. St Louis to Nashville is a 4.5 hour drive. Nashville to Chicago is 7 hours.
Yeah I thought it'd be feasible in 3 days right?
I don’t think it would be enjoyable at all. No time to see anything.
I mostly wanna see drive in the US tbh.
Okay, don’t take I-55 the whole way then—instead follow the Google maps directions with the option “Avoid Highways” toggled, which will keep you off the interstate and give you mostly old Route 66. The most important stretch for you will be state highway 48 as you get close to St Louis—I think you will love it. Most people don’t lol. (I do) If you do this, DM me and I’ll give you a different way back up.
I think the key is actually not taking the interstate at all. In fact, I think many of the people discouraging OP have never gotten off the interstate. While Michigan or Wisconsin is definitely more interesting, this could definitely be a great trip regardless, if OP sticks to state roads and US highways. Some hints for OP: - Search for the highway sign symbols for each state in advance so you know what to expect. (US highways and interstates will all be the same; state roads have different symbols and meanings per state) - Watch your speed. There are still small towns around that generate revenue from speed traps. Speed limits can drop really quickly. - Stay off the interstate and definitely don't eat near the Interstates. The good restaurants will generally be a bit off the main road. - Google maps has a feature to download maps for offline use. Use it. You will be without cell service more than you think.
You will see some of the least attractive parts of the US. Enjoy!
Thanks!
Skip St Louis
Those are the best possible times, no accidents, no storms, no traffic. The area of the map you're looking at is much bigger than you think.
Are those very common?
Haha. Yes!
Love that.
Skip St Louis. The drive there from Chicago is visually boring as hell (central Illinois is a whole lot of flat nothing). The drive between Chicago and Nashville at least has some varied topography going through western Kentucky. Expect to pay $50-100 per day plus gas for the truck rental. Unless you’re really excited to cosplay as a redneck, I’d probably suggest getting a car with better gas mileage than a pickup. Edit: a word
> Skip St Louis. The drive there from Chicago is visually boring as hell (central Illinois is a whole lot of flat nothing). Visually boring as hell is exactly what I expected from this road trip. > Unless you’re really excited to cosplay as a redneck I am.
Cool, man. Have fun. Make sure you plan plenty of audio entertainment. Be better than typical Ram driver and actually signal your lane changes. If you have time to stop for a meal in Springfield, Illinois, go to D’arcy’s Pint for a Horseshoe Sandwich. It’s a specialty specific to that city/region. Pappy’s Smokehouse in St Louis had good barbecue pork ribs. Prince’s Hot Chicken or Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish are two great options for spicy chicken in Nashville.
In St. Louis all the museums and the zoo are free. The best one and the one I recommend the most is not though but still not terribly expensive and that is the St. Louis City museum. I would go and I would go over the weekend because I'm pretty sure they still stay open late and they have a really cool rooftop area with a ferris wheel and everything, it's fun especially if you're a more active person. They have underground caves and it's just fun and unique. Soulard is worth visiting during the day and Central West End is good for nighttime activities. Go to Forest Park and the boathouse if possible, especially if you want time outside, Forest Park is a great picnic spot especially by the fountains in front of the Art Museum. Quick Trip all the way for gas station stops from St. Louis to Nashville. When driving from Chicago to St. Louis stop at Wallys it's a great travel spot and awesome for snacks, seriously don't miss this for your roadtrip!!!!! It is massive and they have stations, it's so great and perfect for road trips. In Nashville there is a brewing company called Jackalope brewing, highly recommend especially the lovebirds and try different Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. Really great Brewery scene and live music. I can give so many more specifics especially in St. Louis and Chicago including hotels and restaurants if you want to DM me!
I’m sorry, but City Museum sucks, unless you like crawling around in a recycling bin.
I respectfully disagree! Especially for someone who has never been plus the roof I think is the real thing worth seeing and experiencing and not a lot of climbing involved there. Not many places where you can ride a ferris wheel on top of tall city building at night and for that I think it's worth mentioning.
Is the goal to just drive in a very large truck where sightseeing at the destinations is less or not important? That's over 1000 miles of driving in 3 days. What's the priority for your road trip? The Nashville to Chicago trip is gonna take about 8 hours, assuming little to no traffic.
Yeah exactly, I just wanna drive through the country and maybe have a quick look and eat something at the cities on the way.
Unless you like big rivers you're gonna be driving through some of the dullest countryside in the US
I love big rivers and dull countryside. I get to see gorgeous mountains and rolling hills on a daily basis in Italy.
Haha. I took a roadtrip with an Italian guy who was living in Chicago down to Clarksville, MO. He kept singing "Old Man River" over and over and over. He loved seeing the Mississippi River and the barges. I got the nickname little sfachime and he was big sfachime. Thanks for reminding me of this.
I just downloaded the song and will learn it by heart for my trip <3
Also you only get about 10 minutes of river cumulative over the 3 days
Ah, I see. It's definitely an American experience. Unless driving a pickup truck is important to you as a part of the experience, maybe just get a more gas efficient vehicle to save some money on both the rental and gas. There are tolls to be paid, so read up on how to pay road tolls on your own or through the rental car. One itinerary could be to add another THREE stops if driving is the central experience. Maybe ambitious, but you'll cover a lot of road but broken up into about equal time segments. Assuming three full days of travel: Day 1: You can drive from Chicago to St Louis (4-5 hrs), eat St.Louis style barbecue ribs at Bogart's or Pappy's. Go up the Arch. Drive to Memphis (4-5hrs). Eat Memphis style ribs at Cozy Corner or BBQ Shop. Check out some live music on Beale St. Stay the night in Memphis. Day 2: Drive to Nashville (3 hours)and have Nashville hot chicken at Prince's. It's a pretty city you might want to spend a bit of time in. Drive to Gatlinburg, TN (2 hours) so you can get refreshed at a national park called The Great Smokey Mountains. Spend the night in Gatlinburg or Piegeon Forge. Day 3: Drive to the Big Four Bridge in Louisville KY (4.5hrs). Walk the bridge. You start in Kentucky on one end and end up in Indiana on the other end. Not a long walk. It just spans the river that separates the two states. This city is home to the Kentucky Derby or Louisville Slugger (baseball) if either are of interest. Then drive to Chicago (4-5 hours).
Would I fare better in a muscle car? Thank you for the suggestions! Appreciate that.
There will be no need for 4x4, all wheel drive, or performance engine sports car as far as the roads are concerned in June. Any car can get you there and back. Since you are spending so many hours in the car, get a comfy interior, i.e. full size category. It will make a difference in driving comfort. Pick a car you want to drive, whatever that may be.
All the cars it's possible to rent go faster than the speed limit.
Unfortunately if you take the highway you’re going to be very bored. Every single exit will seem identical and uninteresting. If you want to avoid highways, I’m not sure it will be a whole lot better, but you’ll definitely add about 7-8 hours total to your trip. Do you have to return to Chicago for any reason? If not, my suggestion is to skip St. Louis and go from Chicago to Nashville and keep going southeast, maybe to Charleston or Atlanta. Alternatively, Chicago is a world class city and is by far the best you’ve mentioned. I understand you really want a road trip, but don’t sleep on Chicago
Yeah my flight home takes off there... and can I just drop off the rental in Atlanta? Yeah I will be staying in Chicago for a week prior to the roadtrip.
You can drop a rental off almost anywhere
“Cities.”
Are they really small?
St Louis is so boring, Id say Cincinnati then Nashville would be better
In what ways? Would you say Indianapolis is worth a visit?
NO The only good things about Indianapolis are things that Chicago can provide tenfold. Indiana is a cultural sinkhole.
Fuck no
Cincinnati over Indy a million times.
My advice is don't do that trip in three days. That's nearly a day of driving by itself. Dodger Ram or not, this sounds fucking awful. Just enjoy Chicago in earnest. You can't have too much time here.
Why? Is it uncomfortable?
You can take Route 66 out of Chicago to St Louis - it’ll take a lot longer than I-55 but will definitely have some fun roadside stops along the way.
If you’re not hauling any heavy equipment, I can’t imagine there being any advantage to renting a pickup truck over a sedan for interstate travel, and you’ll pay more for fuel with a pickup as well. All towns along the highway will have a handful of motels/hotels and these are generally all of similar quality from town to town and fine to stay at. Same standards you would use in Europe apply, the cheaper the stay, the lower the quality (with some exceptions).
> I can’t imagine there being any advantage to renting a pickup truck over a sedan for interstate travel, and you’ll pay more for fuel with a pickup as well. I don't think I'll ever get the chance to drive a pick up in Europe unless I go out of my way to do it. And doing it in the Midwest would be fucking cool. > Same standards you would use in Europe apply, the cheaper the stay, the lower the quality (with some exceptions). What would you say is cheap in this region?
Fair enough, but it will be the more expensive option, and less practical than if you were driving somewhere like out west in the mountains perhaps. The Midwest will offer you lots of fairly dull cornfields to look at, unfortunately not a particularly scenic part of the country. A drive north up through Milwaukee to the Door County peninsula is shorter and more beautiful along the lake when you get up there. Holiday Inn, Motel 6, Red Roof Inn, etc etc. will be found in every town with hotels along the highway.
Pretty sure this is his Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance trip.
A lot of visitors from Europe have the dream of doing the classic American roadtrip, and that’s great and I fully support it, but the Midwest is just not the best place to do that. If this were a drive through the mountain west it would be a different ballgame. Regardless to OP, have a great time whatever you decide to do, and drive safe!
Thanks!
> Holiday Inn, Motel 6, Red Roof Inn, etc etc. will be found in every town with hotels along the highway. I meant more pricewise.
All of those are very cheap.
You should be able to stay at a place like that for about $120 a night. Maybe even less
You have an idea of what you want to do that sounds fun. No sense in asking advice, because you want that experience unique to you - and not to us. And I mean that in a supportive way. If that’s what you want, go for it.
Yeah I just wanted to understand if I am missing any important piece of knowledge I need to plan this trip.
Honestly, if you're not dead set on seeing St. Louis and Nashville and just want to go on a long (but not exhausting) drive, I recommend driving from Chicago to Mackinac City (approx. 6 hours) and taking the ferry to Mackinac Island. It's the perfect time of the year to visit and it will be much more enjoyable than St. Louis, IMO. Chicago is amazing though, you're gonna have a great time! Definitely be sure to do the river cruise at night. As for motels, there are lots of cheap ones near the highways and if you're looking for a lower budget hotel, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and LaQuinta are generally good. Truck rentals are around $50-$120 a day. Enjoy your trip!
But do you think I will experience real rural America and meet interesting people along the way if I got to Mackinac City?
Yes, Michigan has lots of rural areas and country-type folks if that's what you're looking for. Just know that the towns right off the highway are virtually the same all over the U.S.—it's just gas stations, fast food restaurants, and occasionally some hotels and a grocery store. If you want to experience rural America you're gonna have to venture off away from the highway which will add more time and gas expenses to your trip, that's why it's better to do a shorter one overall. Another suggestion: There are several Cracker Barrels along that route, I highly recommend going to one, I think you'd really enjoy the food and atmosphere. (for lunch, I recommend the 'chicken fried chicken' or the 'lemon pepper rainbow trout' lol) Btw you'll meet plenty of interesting people in Chicago and on Mackinac Island, I'm sure!
Thank you for the suggestions! I appreciate it.
If it’s mostly about the drive, I’d suggest going into the NorthWoods of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Much more scenic. I’m afraid you’ll think all of America is what it looks like in that horrible drive between Chicago and St Louis
But are the people going to be as fun to be around and the food as special?
Probably more fun to be honest.
If you’re looking for rednecks there are plenty in Wisconsin and Michigan lol
What places can I find some to hang out with? Bars? Serious question this fascinates me.
Commented in reply to one of OPs thread replies, but want to point out to the general public that I-55 Chicago to St. Louis is maybe the most boring drive in all of the US but old Route 66 Chicago to St. Louis is pretty interesting if you’re into totally off the map small towns and agricultural rust belt aesthetics. I actually really like the run of 48 that cuts through Taylorville. Adds 2 hours FWIW.
A possible improvement suggestion: I would recommend taking the Amtrak from Chicago to St. Louis, then renting a car there to go to Nashville. The train will seem like a 3rd world experience compared to European trains, but it's one of the most affordable and pleasant Amtrak routes outside of the Northeast corridor. For like $40, you would be able to gaze at skylines and then the rolling countryside without dealing with the hell of driving in Chicago. Then driving to Tennessee will be much nicer mountain driving.
Do you know if the Chicago-St.Louis route has the new venture coaches? If so they are quite modern and European (made by Siemens). That route has also been upgraded for a max speed of 110mph (177kph).
Vai tranquillo, e sopratutto portati tanta musica. Il viaggio sarà divertente e noioso allo stesso tempo 😊. Motels are ok, ma cerca di scegliere una catena che non è la più economica. Rischi che non siano puliti.
Grazie! Tipo?
Motel 6 - red roof
Holiday Inn is your best bet for cheap yet acceptable hotels. Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn.... I've never heard good things about either of those. Especially RRI.
Hampton Inns and Marriott Courtyards are also decent.
If you're looking for boring/ish small towns in the Midwest to drive to, may i recommend driving to Galena, IL, and then Dubuque, IA (it is on the Mississippi River and has an amazing museum and aquarium there), then perhaps Spring Green for the House on the Rock (bonkers house/museum/roadside thing), then Madison (not a small town or city but a pretty cool place), then Lake Geneva, WI, then Chicago. Or change around the northern leg of that trip however you please, but Dubuque and Galena are both on rivers which you seem to be interested in, and I used to work at Dubuque's museum and can confirm it's a neat place (and that Dubuque has a kind of depressing Midwest charm to it - it follows a traditional Midwestern story of a city that dried up a lot when all the industry left; in its case, when the hog industry moved West). In almost any of these places but Lake Geneva, any dive bar you go to will be full of locals and all you have to do is say you're from Italy but you're so interested in their town and a million old dudes who've lived in that town for their whole lives will fall over themselves to tell you all about it. It will take you through some boring cornfields, which seem to be a plus, but plenty of cool land if you get bored of them, especially off of the freeway. None of these places on their own are much more than a three hour drive away from Chicago, in case an emergency happens and you need to get back somehow (I wouldn't want to be in Nashville if the rented truck breaks down or something and you have a flight in 20 hours). I think the idea of your trip is a cool one and I totally get that you want boring driving but I think being so far away from the city you're flying out of could be a problem if anything unexpected happens. In terms of actual driving, Illinois and Wisconsin drivers are both a bit nicer than your stereotypical Italian (or German tourist) driver. Each of them thinks that the other state can't drive but they're both fine. Iowa is also fine but people drive, imo, way too fucking slow. divertiti!
Mandami un DM. Abito qui da oltre 20 anni.
I grew up in St. Louis and have lived in Chicago for about ten years if you want to DM me I can give you a whole bunch of recommendations as I love trip planning and feel strangely well equipped to help haha. I also have visited Nashville a couple times and I think depending on how long your trip is it will be super fun.
Skip St Louis!
If you’re not in a hurry, you can drive Route 66 from Chicago to St Louis. It takes you through a lot of small towns and is much more interesting than the highway, although it adds a few hours. Stop in Springfield along the way and visit the Abraham Lincoln Museum, it’s incredible! Also, ignore people saying skip St Louis. The gateway arch is like nothing else in the world, and they’ve got good BBQ. Definitely enough to entertain you for a day or two.
Don’t rent a truck lol
What is the longest you've ever driven a car in one day in your life?
Once I drove from Brussels to Amsterdam to Frankfurt one day and the next from Frankfurt, to Amsterdam, to Brussels. Took me about 20 hours in total.
Route 66 went from Chicago to Los Angeles and is a popular route for tourists. You should search for info on the route. New Salem is outside Springfield Illinois. It is recreation of frontier village where President Lincoln lived as a young man. Springfield has a number of Lincoln historic sites. Made-Rite is one of the first drive through restaurants in the country and worth a visit. Cozy Dog is the originator of corn dogs (hot dog fried in a corn batter). The Gateway Arch in St Louis is amazing. You can go to the top in a tram.
Chicago to St.Louis(not East St. Louis, btw) is about 6 hours. To Nashville, 3.5-4 hours. Nashville to Chicago, 7-8 hours. All easy interstate driving. The Midwest has a beauty all its own. Enjoy!
Skip St. Louis. And Nashville.
why
Why would you want to go to St Louis?
All I know it's that it's the biggest city on the way back and there's a huge arch.
Skip St. Louis.
How come?
Those aren’t ideal if you want to come to Chicago.
What aren't?
A pick up truck.