How bad are the Interstates crossing Illinois in January? (57, 74, 80) (Chicago: how much, home)

[TheTimidBlueBars]

I have vague plans to see family in Chicago during January, but depending on how much time I can get off, I think it might be fun to fly into (say) St. Louis and explore the state for a couple days before getting to Chicago. I haven't actually seen much of my own home state, I never had a car while living there and my parents would always drive us east into Indiana to see our extended family.

Am I asking for trouble at this time of year? How well plowed are the highways? Does black ice tend to linger for a few days after plowing? Are there unusually a lot of potholes compared to other parts of the country? How much snow has Illinois even gotten the past few winters?

[ConawayDouglas]

Last Winter was a pretty mild one. The one before that was average. Idk about the roads out there honestly, I'm kind of in the same boat as you, having not explored the state too much (outside of Chicago and Rockford, for me) but there could very well not be snow for a week or two weeks, who knows? Last winter we'd go like, 3 weeks without snow even, if memory serves?

[aga412]

There’s not a lot in Illinois worth seeing.

[wjj]

Anything can happen at any time in Illinois in the winter with regards to ice and snow. For the most part, in my experience, the north/south interstates seem to fare worse since the wind is often blowing from the west pushing snow from farm fields across the roads. Interstate 65 in Indiana seems to be the worst road in the area and is always getting shut down. A close second would be I 55 and I 57 in Illinois. Coming up from STL would mean I 55 if you are going to stick to the interstates (or I 39 once in Normal if headed to DeKalb or Rockford first). I used to go regularly to the Bloomington/Normal and Peoria areas on I 55 to visit clients, but if it was going to snow in a significant way, I would always reschedule. I did get caught in some storms that just came up out of nowhere and it turned a 2.5 hour drive into an adventurous 6+ hour drive whether going north on 55 or 39.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by wjj

Anything can happen at any time in Illinois in the winter with regards to ice and snow. For the most part, in my experience, the north/south interstates seem to fare worse since the wind is often blowing from the west pushing snow from farm fields across the roads. Interstate 65 in Indiana seems to be the worst road in the area and is always getting shut down. A close second would be I 55 and I 57 in Illinois. Coming up from STL would mean I 55 if you are going to stick to the interstates (or I 39 once in Normal if headed to DeKalb or Rockford first). I used to go regularly to the Bloomington/Normal and Peoria areas on I 55 to visit clients, but if it was going to snow in a significant way, I would always reschedule. I did get caught in some storms that just came up out of nowhere and it turned a 2.5 hour drive into an adventurous 6+ hour drive whether going north on 55 or 39.

^^^^^This is your best answer, the winter condition of the interstates in IL are highly variable. Typically, within a few days of a storm, the northern part of the state has salted the roads into submission, and barring sustained winds or single-digit or below temperatures, they stay pretty clear, until the next storm rolls through.

Per Wikipedia, Chicago only gets eight snowy days during an average January. So assuming it takes a day or two after each storm to get the roads cleared, you've got a 50/50 chance of randomly driving through the metro area and having clear roads in January. However, you can greatly increase your odds if you watch the weather forecasts and plan your trip accordingly. I typically make at least one winter trip to Peoria each year to see friends, and have had very good luck by watching the weather and being flexible on when I go. Plus, an inch of snow probably counts as a "snowy day" just as much as a six inch (or greater) storm. The latter is what you're trying to avoid, the former is simply a minor inconvenience. Bottom line, the state (at least north of 74) spends a lot of money on plowing and salting roads, and a greater amount to repair the road damage caused by plowing and salting come summertime.

[DamenVChicago]

Originally Posted by aga412

There’s not a lot in Illinois worth seeing.

Generally true, though I-55 from STL to Chi on I-55 mirrors Route 66, so there's actually a lot of cool Rt 66 historic attractions along that route which are worth checking out.

Scenery-wise, not much on the road itself, but one *could* detour to I-39N from Normal, IL to Peru/LaSalle Illinois, and check out Starved Rock or Mathiesen State Park, which are surprisingly very cool state parks to visit. Though not sure how practical that would be in January compared to warmer months.

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by Curly Q. Bobalink

^^^^^This is your best answer, the winter condition of the interstates in IL are highly variable. Typically, within a few days of a storm, the northern part of the state has salted the roads into submission, and barring sustained winds or single-digit or below temperatures, they stay pretty clear, until the next storm rolls through.

Per Wikipedia, Chicago only gets eight snowy days during an average January. So assuming it takes a day or two after each storm to get the roads cleared, you've got a 50/50 chance of randomly driving through the metro area and having clear roads in January. However, you can greatly increase your odds if you watch the weather forecasts and plan your trip accordingly. I typically make at least one winter trip to Peoria each year to see friends, and have had very good luck by watching the weather and being flexible on when I go. Plus, an inch of snow probably counts as a "snowy day" just as much as a six inch (or greater) storm. The latter is what you're trying to avoid, the former is simply a minor inconvenience. Bottom line, the state (at least north of 74) spends a lot of money on plowing and salting roads, and a greater amount to repair the road damage caused by plowing and salting come summertime.

The Illinois Road Builders Union, gives millions every year to Madigan and his criminal buddies, to make sure this same cycle goes on and on and on and on...

[MarianRavenwood]

For several years I traveled to remote downstate towns all over the state and frequently hit the back roads in mid-winter. I never had a problem, although I used my street smarts. I didn't travel during the snowstorm--I gave the plows time to do their job. I watched my speed and allowed for extra time. I made contingency plans in case I needed to hunker down for an extra night. I made sure my car was serviced before my trip and never let the tank get below half.

But as others said,Illinois is pretty bleak in January. Evidence from one of my trips: https://imgur.com/S8HjoX4

[CatsDogsSun]

I once drove a U-Haul from North Carolina to Chicago in mid-February and had no trouble and no delays. But I had to relocate in winter for work or I would have waited until April or May.