Commuting from downtown to Schaumburg - when to leave and how much time to allow? (Arlington Heights: 2013)

[Caldus]

I need to travel from downtown to Schaumburg for 2 days next week (it is right by the Woodfield Mall area). I need to be there at 8 AM each day. I would be traveling from Old Town to there. I was thinking about leaving around 6:20 AM and figure I would allow myself a lot of extra time just in case. Is there a certain time where i-90 becomes too congested in the morning or is it a crapshoot basically? Am I allowing myself enough time? Thanks!

[knitgirl]

Waze.

[chet everett]

The data from Waze is also used to build the info google maps uses to allow for their features that allow you to choose "plan future trip" and "arrive by"...

My experience is that leaving prior 6:30am ought to get you ahead of the worst traffic. Things build and probably peak after 7:30..
I probably would not leave so early for an 8am arrival, but if you don't like traffic and can busy yourself at a Starbucks or something before work getting a jump on traffic is smart...

[chicago0311]

As somebody who used to go to that exact location in Schaumburg from lakeview I wouldn't really ever take any other route than 90 unless there is a major accident. It will probably take you about an hour - hour ten at that time in the morning. If you leave around 4-5pm it will take you about an hour and a half to get home usually. Sometimes 2 hours on Thursday and Friday nights.

I've tried so many side street routes on the way back. Sometimes they will save you a few minutes, sometimes they will take a few minutes longer. Waze will just be more of a hassle than its worth in my experience on this route. Side streets always more of a hassle though with the stop and go and not to mention lots of cameras watching for speeding on Higgins if you go that way. Not really worth it unless there is some huge accident on 90.

[beaniemac]

Originally Posted by chicago0311

As somebody who used to go to that exact location in Schaumburg from lakeview I wouldn't really ever take any other route than 90 unless there is a major accident. It will probably take you about an hour - hour ten at that time in the morning. If you leave around 4-5pm it will take you about an hour and a half to get home usually. Sometimes 2 hours on Thursday and Friday nights.

I've tried so many side street routes on the way back. Sometimes they will save you a few minutes, sometimes they will take a few minutes longer. Waze will just be more of a hassle than its worth in my experience on this route. Side streets always more of a hassle though with the stop and go and not to mention lots of cameras watching for speeding on Higgins if you go that way. Not really worth it unless there is some huge accident on 90.

during that rush hour if you gotta use the kennedy, there is simply no fast way to drive from schaumburg to downtown. it's just brutal. and of course, the OP won't have the use of the express lanes either way on the kennedy since they point into the city in the morning and into the suburbs in the evening.

[andrew61]

Allow yourself a good hour and a half. In the mornings you will probably make it in somewhat less time than that, but just to be on the safe side.

I used to commute from East Lakeview to Hoffman Estates, would leave at 6:00 am and usually arrive within an hour. (Disclaimer: This was in the time period 1995-1999, and traffic might possibly be worse nowadays?)

[personone]

I've had to commute to Arlington Heights from Lincoln Park (where i live) a few times in the morning (needing to arrive by 8am). To be safe, I left around 6:15/6:20am, and I would get there pretty comfortably about 15 mins before 8am. So I think your plan is fine, but I'd probably leave a little earlier the first time, just to be safe and then you can adjust accordingly.

[deeman7]

Just to throw it in, I commuted from Lincoln square to Hoffman Estates from 2007-2010. Left at 630am and got to work around 730.

I commuted from Wicker Park to Hoffman Estates from 2010-2013. Left at 620am, got to work around 730.

[SidewaysLS4]

Don't forget to bring a tent with to camp out in Schaumburg. Getting back will be the 'interesting' commute

[ChiGuy2.5]

I commute from Lakeview East to Hoffman Estates once a week or so for work. It isn't that big of a deal. Plan on it being an Hour and 15 minutes there. Back can sometimes be a total crap shoot but hey that is to be expected. I like to leave around 3pm on the days I commute out to the burbs so that I am home at a decent hour.