Drive to Michigan Ave from Wester Springs / LaGrange (Chicago, Evanston: home, versus)

[Smellypete]

We are moving out to the burbs and considering either moving North or West. My office is on Michigan Ave which makes the Metra a very difficult commuting option and really leaves driving as the best choice. Based on my research, I'm surprised, but it seems like being in Wester Springs or LaGrange, with easy access to 55 might be faster (because you can look around to LSD) than taking 90/94 South from the western parts of Winnetka / Wilmette. This is opposite of what I would have thought prior to beginning my research on this commute. Does anyone drive this route from LaGrange / Western Springs and how bad are the drive times (say reasonably normal working hours). Am I crazy, is it much easier from the north? Any help would really be appreciated.

[Omoikane]

I would suggest taking a look at Evanston / Wilmette / Kenilworth / Winnetka and taking Sheridan Road - Lake Shore Drive - Michigan Avenue versus 94. The Edens and Kennedy commute is one of the worst in the nation (at anytime of day).

The western suburbs would be a more difficult commute.

[chet everett]

Contrary to what the above poster says the fact is western suburbs are an excellent choice for those that want / need to drive to work on / near Michigan Ave.

The ability to switch between either the Ike or the Stevenson as well as have options like super speedy BNSF service as well ease of access to surface routes like Ogden Ave make for a unique "quadruple threat" to combat congestion.

The choke points in towns north of Chicago as well as extremely crowded expressways & surface routes make the slog increasingly unbearable. The popularity of the CTA with younger people that have flocked to once crummy areas like Uptown make it all but impossible to get a seat in northbound trains back home after work which leads to a vicious cycle if more north suburban dwellers resorting to over crowded roads...

[Smellypete]

I appreciate both view points, and honestly I'm really trying to figure it out. Does anyone have actual drive commuting time experience they can point to? I think the bad news about Chicago, is that there really are just no good driving options if you don't work by the train stations.

Thank you both for the feedback, it's helpful.

[chet everett]

Ogden Ave is EXTREMELY consistent! Next door neighbor works at Rush and relies on sub 30 minute commute to get to surgery...

[Smellypete]

Excellent info, thank you!

[Alsgirl2002]

Pete, I am working on moving back from the east coast. You will find google maps drive times very helpful for a response to your question. Just google directions for your route, and google will give you the times without traffic and in current traffic. Do the search during your drive times a few times and you have your answer!

[chet everett]

The difficulty with google travel times in our region is that they are heavily biased by "average" times when the nature of both our weather and things like tightly clustered sports stadiums / music festivals all contribute to EXCEEDINGLY SPIKEY travel tie-ups. In plain language that means many of the routes that google has data on are OFTEN far slower than the google maps estimates...

[Lookout Kid]

The problem with driving is that you will have roughly the same commute 95 percent of the time, but then something like an accident or weather event will occasionally double the commute time. It helps to have a boss who is understanding of these things, but some people absolutely HAVE to be at work at a certain time every day. Train schedules are generally more reliable, but as we've seen this winter they can be a problem at certain times too.

[Smellypete]

Thanks guys. I have been using google map thing and fingers crossed it's okay. Yeah, I agree on the spikey travel times.. you just never know when it's going to bite you. I guess showing up a little late is easier than convincing the whole office to move towards the train!