I-88 tolls across Illinois

[noFanofCB]

I'm tentatively planning a trip to Chicago (Glencoe) to visit in-laws in a few weeks (to months).

I see that I-88 is a tollway. I see that several other connecting freeways (not free at all!) are also toll roads.

I've found the toll calculator application on the toll road website that hints at end to end pricing (though the 'click on the end point' doesn't actually work for me and the highway/plaza names don't match the map very well).

I've found a table listing the prices at all the toll plazas. Unfortunately the listing doesn't say this is the price to proceed thru and continue on the road or whether it's the price for an exit from the toll road. They seem to be sequential but without knowing which ones I have to pay and which ones I don't - it's not as useful as it should be.

My bottom line is this - How much coinage and what denominations will I need to carry accessible to me (the driver) in order to run this gauntlet? (I'm assuming that paper money may not work in some or all cases.)

My estimate is that it appears that it's on the order of about $12 so I'd need at least a roll of quarters and a roll of dimes each direction (assumes that any $0.05 can be overpaid with $0.10).

Advice please?

[Midwest Michael]

Since going to "Open Road Tolling" (i.e. no-stop electronic toll lanes), I believe Illinois has completely gotten rid of the change-booth toll stops. Now you are either electronic or are paying a human. The only exception is that most exit ramp tolls are unmanned change machines, however even there, if you don't have change, you can make note of the toll plaza and pay it online within 1 week (just don't forget!).

So you really shouldn't need to carry hardly any coins at all. Based on how I'm reading to Tollway's website, you should be looking at $12.10 if you are using I-88 to I-294 and then surface streets to Glencoe. That would go up to $14 if you also use I-94 East after I-294.

It's worth noting that with an I-Pass, your toll costs would be cut in half. It sounds like you don't get to Illinois all that often, so it might not be worth it, but if you travel to the East Coast with any regularity it would be worth considering, since it also works with the EZPass system. The I-Pass itself is free, although I believe you need to put down a $10 deposit.

[noFanofCB]

Since going to "Open Road Tolling" (i.e. no-stop electronic toll lanes), I believe Illinois has completely gotten rid of the change-booth toll stops.you can make note of the toll plaza and pay it online within 1 week (just don't forget!).

It's worth noting that with an I-Pass, your toll costs would be cut in half. It sounds like you don't get to Illinois all that often, so it might not be worth it, but if you travel to the East Coast with any regularity it would be worth considering, since it also works with the EZPass system. The I-Pass itself is free, although I believe you need to put down a $10 deposit.

The toll road around the east side of Denver has the electronic tolling deal but they send a bill to the registered address of the license plate if you don't have the pass. They took the humans out completely. Having to put my credit card number in Illinois hands within 7 days has at least 2 things with it that I prefer to avoid.

In 36 years of marriage we have not yet driven to Chicago so the ezpass deal is a no-go unless it is also compatible with my E470 (Colorado) pass. (no chance at all of that)

This is just a tentative plan so far.

Thanks!

[glc]

The main line tolls still have manned booths available. No exact change required. As Michael said, there are no longer exact change baskets on the main line, only at some entrance and exit tolls which are unmanned.

To get to Glencoe from I-88, you take I-294 north to Willow Road, go east to the first light (Landwehr Road), turn left and go north to IL-68 (Dundee Road), turn right and go east. Dundee dead ends at Green Bay Road about 3 blocks north of downtown Glencoe. Here are itemized cash tolls:

I-88 Dixon: $3.60
I-88 De Kalb: $3.60
I-88 Aurora: $1.50
I-88 Meyers Road: $1.50
I-294 Touhy Avenue: $1.90

No exit toll at Willow, all 5 of those tolls are mainline with manned booths available.

you should be looking at $12.10 if you are using I-88 to I-294 and then surface streets to Glencoe.

Correct. You are reading it correctly, Michael.

That would go up to $14 if you also use I-94 East after I-294.

There is no exit from northbound I-294 directly to eastbound I-94. Willow is your best bet.

Note - you can save $7.20 and not lose much time at all if you take US-30 from Rock Falls to Aurora. It direct connects to I-88 at both ends. It's Exit 44 going east on I-88. At the other end, when you pass the Aurora airport, there's an interchange with IL-47 and IL-56, just continue straight, do not take the US-30 exit. This merges you back onto eastbound I-88.

It costs $50 to open an I-Pass account - $10 deposit and $40 preloaded tolls.

Another note: The Dixon plaza is unattended between 10pm and 6am. You have to stop and pick up a form and pay the toll at the next plaza or online or by mail within 7 days.

[noFanofCB]

GLC-

Thanks for those details.

I like the US30 bypass. Seems like something the locals would know while the heavier truck traffic is running the interstate?

My wife knows the roads around Glencoe fairly well so the last 10 miles aren't an issue.

[glc]

Actually, I-88 is not heavily traveled at all west of DeKalb. US-30 is mostly 2 lane with some towns to deal with.

Consider me a local - I lived in the Chicago area for 30 years.

[Lifemagician]

I see that I-88 is a tollway. I see that several other connecting freeways (not free at all!) are also toll roads.

We call them payways, as opposed to freeways.

Lifey

[glc]

In Illinois they are called tollways, and the freeways are called expressways.