My soon to be 24yo daughter, who is an LP nurse, has decided an adventure is needed. As such, she wants to move to St John, New Brunswick. From Saskatoon, Saskatchewan...I'm not sure why, so don't ask.
Anyway- We are headed out with a small U-Haul trailer in a couple of weeks, and I'm trying to figure the least troublesome route. There are 4 ways to cross Ontario- 1- North route, 2- south route that runs along the great lakes, 3- cross the border down into the States, coming back up at Sault St. Marie, or 4- head right down south, through Chicago, up to Detroit, and then up the 401.
Purely mile-wise, there isn't really a great deal to choose. The Canadian routes are at most a couple hundred miles shorter, but you drive forever through the middle of nowhere, with a thousand dollar tow bill to wherever you might find someone to fix your busted car. South through Chicago is interstate, and based on my experience, I90/94 is berkeleying busy once you get near Madison, and I can only assume it stays that way to Detroit, and then the 401 is a zoo as well, but we will still make pretty good time in the right hand lane.
Now, the other thing, which is a complete crapshoot- What's going to happen when we pull up at the US border with a Uhaul? I presume proof of a place to stay in St John would be a big help, but I really don't want to spend a day at the border proving there's no bales of dope hidden in the trailer, and I'm not moving her down to work as a fruit picker in the fields of Michigan...
Opinions? (unrelated to her choice of town
)
Aw too bad I could tell you something about the town, I have some family there.
They'll search the Uhaul pretty quick with dogs or an X-ray scanner. Do not stand in the beam of the X-ray scanner.
Sell all on Saskatchewan kijiji. Replace with similar bought on NB kijiji.
Fly.
From what I understand moving large things across the boarder, I get the impression that it will actually be harder to go back into Canada. Like a long list of stuff that you didn't buy in the US and plan to sell in Canada.
I'd risk the tow bill rather than deal with I-90/I-80 traffic through the midwest and the $40 in tolls in NY state.
Chicago traffic may be bad at times, but once out of that area, it won't be bad again until you hit Detroit. And then, prolly not too bad, depending on the time. I wouldn't worry about it, unless you're in the C or the D from 7-10 am or 4-6 pm. We Americans speed more than you Canadians, so you can maybe make up some time doing 75 mph (unknown KPH). Or not with a uhaul trailer.
A friend takes his rally car across the border. He said it's not that bad. Be honest, show license, registration and uhaul contract and you shouldn't be too inconvenienced.
Guys I know who frequently take enclosed race car trailers to Mosport and back say it's no biggie. I've not been there yet so no personal exp. Although having an actual race car in the trailer helps with the purposefulness of the visit, I imagine.
I'd likely stay in CA and fork over the extra fuel money to avoid it if I could.
I think the fact you would be only passing through the US on your way to New Brunswick should make it pretty straightforward at the border crossings.
mtn
UltimaDork
9/17/14 3:13 p.m.
Between borders, tolls, Chicago, and Detroit, I'd probably just stick with the either the Canadian routes or the Sault Ste. Marie route, unless you can time your passing through Chicago and Detroit correctly.
I would stay in Canada. Heck I didn't want to leave when I was up there last month. I imported a car without having it even glanced at. Not sure what they would do with a trailer, but no inspection on my 25 year old van from Asia through Canada.
YMMV,
Chris
She's 24?
Have fun sweetheart, be sure to call once in a while. She's the one that want's an adventure, moving is part of it.
Toyman01 wrote:
She's 24?
Have fun sweetheart, be sure to call once in a while. She's the one that want's an adventure, moving is part of it.
Funny. I was fully prepped to give her a kiss on the cheek and send her on her way, but I had to rescue her from my exwife, who insisted she couldn't possibly drive across the nation alone. She thought it would be much easier to travel with someone who can't drive a stick, can't lift anything heavier than a cola, whines after being in the car for more than 2 hours... and can't read a map for E36 M3.
mtn wrote:
Between borders, tolls, Chicago, and Detroit, I'd probably just stick with the either the Canadian routes or the Sault Ste. Marie route, unless you can time your passing through Chicago and Detroit correctly.
She's a nurse, who often works the night shift. Last time I went by Chicago, it was around 2:30 am. Traffic was a breeze, so we may try to figure that into the schedule somehow.
golfduke wrote:
I'd risk the tow bill rather than deal with I-90/I-80 traffic through the midwest and the $40 in tolls in NY state.
Looks like it will be easier to head back north at Detroit and take the 401 past T'ronna. Any tolls in Michigan? I don't remember anything in Illinois.
JohnRW1621 wrote:
Sell all on Saskatchewan kijiji. Replace with similar bought on NB kijiji.
Fly.
I suggested that, when she was talking about spending $5k to have someone move her. I've talked her down to a 4x8 uhaul, and I think she could take what she REALLY needs in the trunk of her car.
"They probably have furnished places available there, honey."
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Toyman01 wrote:
She's 24?
Have fun sweetheart, be sure to call once in a while. She's the one that want's an adventure, moving is part of it.
Funny. I was fully prepped to give her a kiss on the cheek and send her on her way, but I had to rescue her from my exwife, who insisted she couldn't possibly drive across the nation alone. She thought it would be much easier to travel with someone who can't drive a stick, can't lift anything heavier than a cola, whines after being in the car for more than 2 hours... and can't read a map for E36 M3.
Ahh, the ex-wife. Enough said.
If that's the case, take the fun route. The one with all the cool stuff to see and really make it an adventure.
I can't help with the routing, I've never been north of DC.
Toyman01 wrote:
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Toyman01 wrote:
She's 24?
Have fun sweetheart, be sure to call once in a while. She's the one that want's an adventure, moving is part of it.
Funny. I was fully prepped to give her a kiss on the cheek and send her on her way, but I had to rescue her from my exwife, who insisted she couldn't possibly drive across the nation alone. She thought it would be much easier to travel with someone who can't drive a stick, can't lift anything heavier than a cola, whines after being in the car for more than 2 hours... and can't read a map for E36 M3.
Ahh, the ex-wife. Enough said.
If that's the case, take the fun route. The one with all the cool stuff to see and really make it an adventure.
I can't help with the routing, I've never been north of DC.
I've heard the Museum of Science and Technology is cool. I presume Henry Ford Village or whatever its called is also cool.
NGTD
SuperDork
9/17/14 6:37 p.m.
If you have time, the highway 17 route through Ontario is beautiful. A good stretch of it runs along the north end of Superior and Huron.
Big ass hills, so most truckers stick to 11.
Any problems, I am in North Bay at junction of 11 and 17.
From North Bay continue on 17 through Ottawa, stay the hell away from Toronto.
Streetwiseguy wrote:
golfduke wrote:
I'd risk the tow bill rather than deal with I-90/I-80 traffic through the midwest and the $40 in tolls in NY state.
Looks like it will be easier to head back north at Detroit and take the 401 past T'ronna. Any tolls in Michigan? I don't remember anything in Illinois.
There is one toll booth as you leave Illinois, otherwise nada. That's a fun trip!
I have yet to find a way through Chicago with a trailer that doesn't cost $30-50 in tolls.
If you are thinking about coming south through ND, be aware that there are no motel rooms in the west half of the state under $200/night these days. In eastern ND you might as well plan on avoiding Minneapolis and stopping by my place.
The north side of Lake Superior is really pretty if you like trees and rocks and water and what not. Having driven that way and having driven back and forth way too many times when I went to school in Waterloo, I'd take the north route. Besides, if you stay north you can stop in Sudbury and see the Big Nickel
mtn
UltimaDork
9/17/14 7:37 p.m.
Streetwiseguy wrote:
golfduke wrote:
I'd risk the tow bill rather than deal with I-90/I-80 traffic through the midwest and the $40 in tolls in NY state.
Looks like it will be easier to head back north at Detroit and take the 401 past T'ronna. Any tolls in Michigan? I don't remember anything in Illinois.
oldopelguy wrote:
I have yet to find a way through Chicago with a trailer that doesn't cost $30-50 in tolls.
If you are thinking about coming south through ND, be aware that there are no motel rooms in the west half of the state under $200/night these days. In eastern ND you might as well plan on avoiding Minneapolis and stopping by my place.
I can route a way that would only cost about $20. But still, that is berkeleying expensive.
Oh wait, that is with an IPass. Look into Ipass/EZpass/etc, not sure what the options are--I load $50 up on it at a time when I do it as I go back and forth through Chicago at least 10 times a year.
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Toyman01 wrote:
She's 24?
Have fun sweetheart, be sure to call once in a while. She's the one that want's an adventure, moving is part of it.
Funny. I was fully prepped to give her a kiss on the cheek and send her on her way, but I had to rescue her from my exwife, who insisted she couldn't possibly drive across the nation alone. She thought it would be much easier to travel with someone who can't drive a stick, can't lift anything heavier than a cola, whines after being in the car for more than 2 hours... and can't read a map for E36 M3.
Please tell me that her travel partner is a chihuahua.
NGTD wrote:
stay the hell away from Toronto.
I would take the northern route if I were you. It's boring, but it's not busy. The 401 is the busiest highway in North America so I would avoid it if at all possible. You can bypass most of the busy part on the 407, but it's a toll road, and it's not cheap.
I am a few hours east of Detroit.
