we have 10 people leaving Friday for an Eminem/Rihanna concert in Detroit on Saturday. What is the best way to get there and avoid as much traffic as possible?? we will be leaving around 7:00 from Cedar Rapids and wanted to drive around 1/2 way and then finish the drive in the morning, any nice small towns that are decent to stay in? we have 2 rooms at the Hilton in downtown Detroit a block from Comerica Park, just wanting some ideas from people who have been there before... is downtown pretty safe?
Driving to Detroit
- Thread starter CR4ISU
- Start date
It's 520 miles, so 7-8 hours depending on stops. There is really only one way to go: I380->I80->I94.
There are several hotels in Portage, IN (I-94 Exit 19), which would be right at halfway (4 hours). That's just after the I80/I94 split. There's a Country Inn and Suites, Hamption Inn, Best Western and Days Inn all at that exit.
There are several hotels in Portage, IN (I-94 Exit 19), which would be right at halfway (4 hours). That's just after the I80/I94 split. There's a Country Inn and Suites, Hamption Inn, Best Western and Days Inn all at that exit.
Drop down to Gary on Hwy 30 and just drive around there after dark with your windows down and tell the locals you're from out of town and ask if they can recommend a place to stay......
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Been to downtown Detroit once. During the day I felt pretty safe, provided I was close to Ford Field and Comerica. I wouldn't want to wonder around downtown though. At the same time, there are a couple casinos and a few bars around so I can't imagine it is terrible. Also since you will be there for an event you should have quite a few people around.
If you are leaving from DM/Ames around 7 it is around a 4 and 1/2 hours drive or a little more to the Chicago area, by that time at night you shouldn't hit any major traffic on interstate 80. Also if you stop short of Chicago and leave in the morning you should be fine on a Saturday morning on 80. And generally traffic towards Detroit isn't horrible once you get passed Gary, IN.
Not sure of where to tell you to stay, but if you do take 80 there are a lot of hotels along 80 between Joliet, IL and Hammond, IN.
Have fun, should be a good concert Eminem generally does a good job for his home city.
Edited: to prove my in ability to read so good. take an hour and half off, you should still be good on 80 getting through Chicago traffic at that time of night. Would get at least past Gary a few miles before stopping though.
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Drop down to Gary on Hwy 30 and just drive around there after dark with your windows down and tell the locals you're from out of town and ask if they can recommend a place to stay......
hahaha! Ever been to Gary. My brother-in-law used to have jet skis and we would go over there to the beach, easier/cheaper access to lake Michigan. Beach was nice, but I wouldn't get caught dead in Gary at night. That place is scary. Although, during the day, it is worth a drive through never know what you might see.
Drop down to Gary on Hwy 30 and just drive around there after dark with your windows down and tell the locals you're from out of town and ask if they can recommend a place to stay......
[video=youtube;hwBoa-NbNL8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwBoa-NbNL8[/video]
Checking Expedia...the Super 8 in my hometown (Mokena) is advertising $80 for a room w/2 adults for Friday night. (Exit 145 off of 80, Route 45/LaGrange Rd) There's a Sleep Inn(?) giving $100 for the night in Tinley Park, which would be the next exit east. (About 3 miles) Both are less than a mile off the interstate.
Bring change/cash for the 80/94 toll roads. And if someone in your group is more adept at driving crazy/heavy traffic, make sure you switch off before you get to Tinley Park. After that, it gets pretty stupid until 80/94 split, no matter what time of day/week it is.
Bring change/cash for the 80/94 toll roads. And if someone in your group is more adept at driving crazy/heavy traffic, make sure you switch off before you get to Tinley Park. After that, it gets pretty stupid until 80/94 split, no matter what time of day/week it is.
I live in Michigan and have been downtown many times and being a block from Comerica is a good location. You'll be able to walk around the area, go to some breweries there and hit Greektown Casino, all walking distance and safe. Fishbones is a really good Cajun restaurant right down there as well, or you can't go wrong with some BBQ as well. Take 94 East off 80, you'll prolly hit some slow downs but really shouldn't be bad coming into town on a Saturday. Just don't stop between Livonia and Downtown, but have your cameras ready to take a Picture of the 8 Mile exit, it's right before the 7 mile one
. I'm not a guy that goes to strip clubs, but I can tell you this, if you're looking to go to some, bring your passports and go across the bridge to Canada, that's one thing you DON'T want to go to in Downtown. For Friday night, even if you don't gamble, I'd check with Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, MI, if they have rooms left they'll be cheap and it's a nice area, otherwise go another half hour and stay in St. Joseph. Make sure you are in St. Joseph, if you go across the bridge you end up in Benton Harlem, I mean Benton Harbor and you don't want to stay there, but St. Joe is really nice.Stay in western Michigan at a Holiday Inn and you will be smarter the next day.
Seriously, Kalamazoo is a nice town on I-94 to stay at. Been there a few times. I would also stay in Ann Arbor on I-94 to party after the concert. I-94 is a great road, much better than I-80 in Chicago area.
boone7247;4135766 [B said:
Unless you are driving 90+mph it is physically impossible to get from CR to Chicago in that amount of time.
Detroits fun and a real sight seeing adventure. I second the nudey bar trip to Windsor, they do it right over there.
For some slight brewery detours on the trip:
Three Floyds in Hammond, IN, it's about 10 minutes south of 80. Looks really disappointing from the outside and sits in an industrial park, but they make great beer and pizza.
Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, is about 10 minutes north of 94. I forget if they have food, but they make some of the best beers I've ever tasted.
For some slight brewery detours on the trip:
Three Floyds in Hammond, IN, it's about 10 minutes south of 80. Looks really disappointing from the outside and sits in an industrial park, but they make great beer and pizza.
Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, is about 10 minutes north of 94. I forget if they have food, but they make some of the best beers I've ever tasted.
I try to drive 80-85 except on the southern part around Rock Island. I drop down to 75. I can visualize speed traps in that section. Driving across Illinois is a pain since they have granny speed limits so parts I have to slow down to 75. Driving through Chicago area at night is good because you can follow some yahoos pushing 90 getting to the parties. The toll booths are a pain in Indiana since you have to come to a stop to pay the toll. Driving ten people, I would suggest slower driving and hitting the pitstops en masse (potty break every 3-4 hours, no excuses)
Be very careful with I-80/I-94 around Chicago - it's under construction and you could be sitting in stopped traffic for hours.
Comerica Park/Ford Field area and Greektown are two of the few safe parts of Detroit - I have never felt unsafe in either of these areas.
If you don't want to stay downtown, try the west or south suburbs. There are really great hotels in Novi and Southfield. Unlike what has been implied, you don't have to stay in western Michigan to be safe when visiting Detroit - the suburbs are as safe as any other large city suburbs in the United States (well, maybe with the exception of St. Louis...).
Comerica Park/Ford Field area and Greektown are two of the few safe parts of Detroit - I have never felt unsafe in either of these areas.
If you don't want to stay downtown, try the west or south suburbs. There are really great hotels in Novi and Southfield. Unlike what has been implied, you don't have to stay in western Michigan to be safe when visiting Detroit - the suburbs are as safe as any other large city suburbs in the United States (well, maybe with the exception of St. Louis...).
Was there in the 90's and stayed downtown at the large Omni/GM tower. 20 of us walked to Greektown after dark. Some of the natives asked us if we were shot at.
Greek Town safe but the walk from downtown hotel apparently wasn't
take a cab
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