Travel Advice & Construction Updates

So, we're planning our trip for May 18-19, and are trying hard to be patient, as I'm sure many of us are. Since there are a lot of folks here from near the park, I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread that deals with travel directions, tips and construction updates for those of us coming from outside the immediate area.

I am coming down from Detroit's northern suburbs, and am wondering which route is best for maximum gas mileage. This would probably be the route with the overall average speed between 50 and 60mph, and with the fewest stops and least amount of traffic. Any tips?

In addition, I was wondering where us travelers might run into construction, and if it can be realistically avoided.

Thanks in advance! :)

We (coming from Grand Rapids) always take 23 to the turnpike. I would have to recommend taking the turnpike, its not as scenic as 2, but there is much less chance of getting stuck behind the slowpoke who wants to do 40 or getting hit by the idiot falling asleep in the other lane.

The Freep.com should have updates on local (Detroit) construction, and I'm sure AAA or ODOT's website would be able to fill in on the Ohio barrel farms.

Coming from Southgate Michigan, we always take Rt.2.

There is construction on 280 still, but we recently drove down to Cleveland for a weekend, and it's a short detour right before the bridge area not to far off 75. How it will be come May I don't know, but I'm so used to the work in that whole area I don't really give it two thoughts anymore.

Route 2 seems to go by a lot faster then taking the turnpike, but maybe that's just us.

Coming from Port Huron:
I-94 to I-75 to 280 to Hwy 2.
Working there last year, I drove this a lot so I learned this was the best way to go, easiest, fastest, best mileage. And a stop at Tim Horton's in Oregon!

Mmmmm... Tim Hortons. Now I'm hungry!

I've been told the US23/I-475 interchange is closed, although I have not looked into it further. That's going to be a nightmare for me.

Coming from Western Michigan suburbs.

For gas mileage I take the following route and maintain an average of 32.4 MPG in our 4 Cyl Cobalts.
I-275---->I-75---->280---->Turnpike.

For 15 minutes off of our time we take Route 2. But the stop and go takes our mileage down to the high 20's.

I got this data from our last 2 trips of 2005.

We're coming from Joliet Il Memorial Day weekend. We usually take I-80 straight there. Of course we run into construction right before the Indiana border. It's usually a clear shot once we get on the Indiana Toll Road.

There is construction at 23 and 475 and ramps are closed...specifically, westbound 475 to northbound 23, and southbound 23 to eastbound 475. So yeah, Ben, you are hosed.

And, of course, 280 over the Maumee river is closed.

ODOT is your friend

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/dist2/construction.htm

I've not tried taking 280 with the detours to get to route 2 since they closed the crossing. Frankly, as much as I hate the crazy drivers weaving in and ou, the tailgaters,t and those going 20-30 miles above the speed limit on the turnpike, it wasn't all that bad last year.

However that shouldn't hurt anything for taking the Pike. See, even in construction season, the 2.50 to take the turn pike is worth it.

I'm from West Bloomfield and the way I always go is M5->275->I75->I280 (last year the sign said it was closed but I went anyway, I just had to do a little turnaround on First Street in Toledo - I think it's First Street, it might be Front Street, some street that starts with F haha) -> Rt 2 -> Cleveland Road.

It's the quickest way. There's usually not that much traffic on 2 anyway.

Turnpike will give you the best mileage. It may add a few minutes to your trip, but leaving home 10 minutes sooner will correct that.

MrScott

When I went in December to Kalahari, we took 280 to where we got off (following the detour signs) on Galena St (going south) which turned into N Summet St. We followed it (west) back to 280 and got on a turn around that went right onto the bridge. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/Dragster420/CAWLEJOX.gif

Now is that still accessible?

*** Edited 4/10/2006 8:51:18 PM UTC by TTD 120mph***

I'm from Roseville and I take 696 to 75, then take 75 to 280, 280 to the turnpike and follow that until you hit exit 110 or 118, whatever exit you prefer.

I'm not sure if it's the quickest, but it usually has the least amount of stops and travelling on the interstate is safer at night than Route 2.

I probably take one of the routes mentioned, but I don't know which one it is. I take the bridge (Ambassador) across, then to 75 I believe. I've never been the driver so I don't know exact way. Anyway, I've taken both routes; the Turnpike and 280. I just don't know the order or which roads/freeways. If anyone has any idea what I'm talking about, please let me know. When my cousin and I went in September he had a GPS navagation system. It helped a lot.

For those who are in and around the Cleveland area, if you take the turnpike, there will be road construction between mile markers 144-153 in the center and right lane, 2 lane traffic will be open during the daytime and weekends, the project will start in early April and end in late June. It probably will not affect much traffic on opening day, hopefully.
*** Edited 4/10/2006 10:51:19 PM UTC by randinator***

280 currently is going through some final stages of a massive construction project. The bridge is scheduled to be open late this year. I take 75 down to the turnpike when 280 is closed.

I may start taking 127S to US-223 and go through Adrian (E-85 is supposedly available in Adrian) and get onto the Turnpike in Delta, OH and take it to I-280, and then take 163 east to 2 to the point.

Yah Ben, as Old CPer said, that 23 interchange is largely closed off. 23 South has no access to 475 East (to get to 280) and on the reverse route, 475 West has no access to 23 North. I live about a mile from the interchange, and it's already a major headache as all the local streets are a mess with people trying to detour. And we get six months of this crap. Probably the best way around it (coming 23 South out of Michigan) is to get off in Sylvania (the first Ohio exit) and take a right on Monroe Street (Rt. 51) You can follow Monroe to Talmage (by the mall) and take a right, and then hop on 475 East about a mile down the road. This way is probably only about 3-4 minutes longer than staying on the highway when it was open. Of course, then there's still I-280. I've heard they want to have the road open again by June (on the old brige, not the new one yet) but we'll see if that really comes true. You could always follow Rt. 51 through downtown, over the bridge, and to Rt. 2, but that's not the quickest way to go.

Also, I think there's E-85 at a Sterling Gas Station on Rt. 51 in Northwood right along the route I usually take. 475 East to 75 South. Go over the river and exit on Miami Street. At the first light, turn right on Oakdale. There's a small risk of coming across a train on that road, but it's rare. Take Oakdale all the way until it dead ends into Woodville (Rt. 51). Take that right, over 280, to the Woodville Mall. There's a lot of food places and a Meijer along this stretch of road. Turn left onto 579 (COPS! but a 55 MPH speed limit) and that'll dump you onto Rt. 2 just a couple miles before the nuke plant. I've gone every direction possible out of Toledo, and that's definately the fastest way I've found. It also happens to be the exact route (for now) from my house to my grilfriend's house, so I know it well.

God I hate driving in Toledo.

Oh, and TTD 120, your detour is correct and it still exists. It's really not bad (other than driving through a somewhat slummy neighborhood) and you're off and on 280 in less than 5 minutes. Just take 280 to where it's closed (Greenbelt Parkway on your map) and follow the signs back to 280. Pretty simple. *** Edited 4/11/2006 5:05:42 AM UTC by Ralph Wiggum***

We'll be coming up multiple times this year from Canal Winchester, OH. (Southeast of Columbus)

We take I-270 to 23 North, and then take "old route 4" all the way up to Rt. 2...it's a fairly sumblime trip throught the country until you approach Sandusky. The biggest problem with route 4 is that it is a 2-lane highway, and it is a fairly well-traveled and therefore hard-to-pass on road, so if you get stuck behind a slow semi or RV....well, it could be a long haul.

2.5 hours.