Interesting towns along I-90 between Cleveland and Eerie
July 11, 2016 10:52 AM Subscribe
My parents will be driving this weekend from Chicago to Ithaca, New York. They'd like to spend the night somewhere between Cleveland and Eerie, PA. They are hoping to find inexpensive lodging and something interesting to do, see, or walk around.
In previous trips, my parents have stayed in Cleveland, where they've enjoyed walking along the lake and visiting the farmer's market. But this year they want to avoid the RNC, so they'll need to get further along!
(Bonus points if you drive this route sometimes and can tell us anything about how to avoid the I-90 construction project around South Bend, IN.)
In previous trips, my parents have stayed in Cleveland, where they've enjoyed walking along the lake and visiting the farmer's market. But this year they want to avoid the RNC, so they'll need to get further along!
(Bonus points if you drive this route sometimes and can tell us anything about how to avoid the I-90 construction project around South Bend, IN.)
Seconding Buffalo - we're awesome here, and not far from Erie at all.
I drove home from Chicago along the 90 last weekend and didn't hit much construction at all, though we expected to.
posted by okayokayigive at 11:00 AM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I drove home from Chicago along the 90 last weekend and didn't hit much construction at all, though we expected to.
posted by okayokayigive at 11:00 AM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Buffalo is a bit out of their way, the shorter route is to take rte 17 in New York, an exceptionally beautiful road through hills and valleys. They could stop in Chatauqua, NY.
posted by mareli at 11:07 AM on July 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by mareli at 11:07 AM on July 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
I've lived in both Erie and Buffalo, and driven that route many, many times - and they are definitely not an hour apart. Closer to two. I noticed you asked for a place between Cleveland and Erie though, so I don't think your parents would want to go as far as Buffalo anyway.
I can't offer any suggestions for the area between Cleveland and Erie, but if they can make it to Erie, it's a pleasant little town with tax-free shopping and some good stuff to do, including Presque Isle State Park.
posted by yawper at 11:08 AM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I can't offer any suggestions for the area between Cleveland and Erie, but if they can make it to Erie, it's a pleasant little town with tax-free shopping and some good stuff to do, including Presque Isle State Park.
posted by yawper at 11:08 AM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I drive the 90 from Cleveland to Buffalo fairly regularly, and let me tell you, there is... very little between there. Geneva on the Lake is really your only choice for charm. Mentor is a suburb of Cleveland that's nice and far enough away from the city to avoid the RNC crowds. Other than that, your options in Ohio are Ashtabula and Conneaut, and few people have ever used the words "something interesting" in conjunction with those towns. As far as I'm aware, Erie is the only real city/largish town on the 90 in PA. I haven't spent a lot of time there, but it seems like a nice enough town. You should, at least, be able to find plenty of affordable lodging there. Beyond that, the suggestion of Chatauqua in New York is probably your best bet between Erie and Buffalo. There's also a Chatauqua community west of Cleveland in Lakeside, Ohio, which is wonderful and one of my favorite places, but probably not worth it if they're just going to spend one night.
In terms of the 90 in South Bend, you could stay on the 94 coming out of Chicagoland into Michigan, then take either the 69 (mid-Michigan) or the 23 (eastern Michigan) back down to the 90. Google Maps thinks it will only add about a half hour to the trip. The 80/90 in northern Indiana is pretty boring, and I think Michigan is prettier, so that might be a good option.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:33 AM on July 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
In terms of the 90 in South Bend, you could stay on the 94 coming out of Chicagoland into Michigan, then take either the 69 (mid-Michigan) or the 23 (eastern Michigan) back down to the 90. Google Maps thinks it will only add about a half hour to the trip. The 80/90 in northern Indiana is pretty boring, and I think Michigan is prettier, so that might be a good option.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:33 AM on July 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's a "wine trail" in Geauga and Ashtabula Counties (link to brochure PDF). Don't expect any amazing vintages--we're talking about Ohio wine here. But I've heard it's pleasant enough if you're just interested in visiting some quaint vineyards and having a nice meal along the way.
posted by mcmile at 11:53 AM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mcmile at 11:53 AM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't think you'll find much interesting between Erie and Cleveland, but Erie is an ok town to spend the night in. As mentioned above, your parents might enjoy Presque Isle State Park, for some nice views of Lake Erie. There's also a casino in town if that's their thing.
Chicago to Erie is an easy day's drive - probably about 6 hours, with plenty of rest stops between. They will, however, be changing time zones, so that eats an additional hour.
posted by hydra77 at 1:01 PM on July 11, 2016
Chicago to Erie is an easy day's drive - probably about 6 hours, with plenty of rest stops between. They will, however, be changing time zones, so that eats an additional hour.
posted by hydra77 at 1:01 PM on July 11, 2016
I drive the 90 from Cleveland to Buffalo fairly regularly, and let me tell you, there is... very little between there. Geneva on the Lake is really your only choice for charm.
Geneva is only an hour from Ithaca, not exactly a logical midpoint to break up a long drive. Also, that's the northern route via Buffalo, which looks to be a bit longer than the I86 route through Chatauqua. I haven't driven the stretch from Eire to Buffalo, but I've driven Buffalo to Ithaca many times, and it's really not a very interesting drive. The I86 route will take you through the Allegheny mountains and, at the end, through Watkins Glen, which makes for a more scenic as well as slightly shorter drive. And if they've got time for a short detour, there is the Glenn Curtiss museum in Hammondsport, and a spectacular view from and of several winery restaurants overlooking the west shore of Keuka lake.
posted by mr vino at 1:22 PM on July 11, 2016
Geneva is only an hour from Ithaca, not exactly a logical midpoint to break up a long drive. Also, that's the northern route via Buffalo, which looks to be a bit longer than the I86 route through Chatauqua. I haven't driven the stretch from Eire to Buffalo, but I've driven Buffalo to Ithaca many times, and it's really not a very interesting drive. The I86 route will take you through the Allegheny mountains and, at the end, through Watkins Glen, which makes for a more scenic as well as slightly shorter drive. And if they've got time for a short detour, there is the Glenn Curtiss museum in Hammondsport, and a spectacular view from and of several winery restaurants overlooking the west shore of Keuka lake.
posted by mr vino at 1:22 PM on July 11, 2016
I've traveled that stretch a few times, and yeah, if by "between Cleveland and Erie" you mean "excluding Cleveland and Erie," there's not a whole lot, but Geneva-on-the-Lake is probably your best option. Geneva State Park has some nice, relatively short trails. (There's also a very nice lodge in the park itself, but given your criterion of "inexpensive lodging" I can't recommend it — definitely not inexpensive. Try some of the motels in the town.) And there's at least a few decent restaurants there.
If "between Cleveland and Erie" potentially includes Erie, then yes, definitely Erie.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:28 PM on July 11, 2016
If "between Cleveland and Erie" potentially includes Erie, then yes, definitely Erie.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:28 PM on July 11, 2016
Geneva is only an hour from Ithaca
I think you're confusing Geneva, NY with Geneva (and nearby Geneva-on-the-Lake) OH.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:30 PM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think you're confusing Geneva, NY with Geneva (and nearby Geneva-on-the-Lake) OH.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:30 PM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Correct, I was referring to Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, only I didn't include the hyphens.
posted by kevinbelt at 1:44 PM on July 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by kevinbelt at 1:44 PM on July 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
There really isn't much to do along that stretch other than a couple beaches / parks on the lake. As others have pointed out the Chataqua / Jamestown area is pretty and there (at least used to be) a couple decent lunch places there.
Buffalo is a bit out of their way, the shorter route is to take rte 17 in New York, an exceptionally beautiful road through hills and valleys.
Speaking as an Ithaca resident who drives across the country on I-90 every year or so to visit relatives, I recommend Rt 17 as well. It seems a lot shorter to me to go that way, though google insists one only saves like 1/2 hour. I find Rt 17 a prettier drive than I-90. They should make a point to gas up in Erie, however, as that stretch from Jamestown to Corning is pretty sparsely populated and especially at night finding a gas station can be anxiety-provoking if you find yourself getting low.
Once they get past Corning they might be eager to finish up the drive and get to Ithaca, but if not there is a lot of stuff to do (the glass museum and the western art museum are both worthwhile, an aircraft museum in Horseheads (or maybe Painted Post), a number of worthwhile wineries around Keuka and Seneca Lakes.
Geneva on the Lake is really your only choice for charm.
Geneva is only an hour from Ithaca,
Actually I think the other commenter meant the Geneva beach park west of Erie, not the fancy venue in Geneva, NY.
posted by aught at 1:56 PM on July 11, 2016
Buffalo is a bit out of their way, the shorter route is to take rte 17 in New York, an exceptionally beautiful road through hills and valleys.
Speaking as an Ithaca resident who drives across the country on I-90 every year or so to visit relatives, I recommend Rt 17 as well. It seems a lot shorter to me to go that way, though google insists one only saves like 1/2 hour. I find Rt 17 a prettier drive than I-90. They should make a point to gas up in Erie, however, as that stretch from Jamestown to Corning is pretty sparsely populated and especially at night finding a gas station can be anxiety-provoking if you find yourself getting low.
Once they get past Corning they might be eager to finish up the drive and get to Ithaca, but if not there is a lot of stuff to do (the glass museum and the western art museum are both worthwhile, an aircraft museum in Horseheads (or maybe Painted Post), a number of worthwhile wineries around Keuka and Seneca Lakes.
Geneva on the Lake is really your only choice for charm.
Geneva is only an hour from Ithaca,
Actually I think the other commenter meant the Geneva beach park west of Erie, not the fancy venue in Geneva, NY.
posted by aught at 1:56 PM on July 11, 2016
On the topic of gas, I always fill up before leaving Ohio. It's usually cheaper than PA gas, and much cheaper than NYS gas. There's a Love's station at exit 241 in Ohio, a couple of miles from the border. GasBuddy has it at $1.93 now; PA and NYS are in the $2.40s.
posted by kevinbelt at 2:03 PM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kevinbelt at 2:03 PM on July 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Nth-ing Presque Isle State Park in Erie. There is a campground called Sara's right on the beach, if your parents are tent people. I think Sara's was also the name of a diner right outside the beachfront campground that had delicious food.
posted by thewestinggame at 8:02 PM on July 11, 2016
posted by thewestinggame at 8:02 PM on July 11, 2016
Hotels in Erie above the level of, say, Red Roof Inn struck me as weirdly overpriced the last time I had to plan a stay in the area. Check the usual resources (like TripAdvisor) for recommendations.
I like exploring the dinors in the Erie area (that's how they spell 'diner' there). There are a lot of mom-and-pop places, some of them operating since the 1920s, and some of them just plain funky.
Erie was the site of some minor military fortifications during the American Revolution and was the Great Lakes port for the U.S. fleet during the War of 1812. Erie's own role in history had mostly to do more with the depredations suffered by the soldiers and sailors stationed there (any momentous events tended to take place elsewhere), but there are a number of small historical museums and sites in the area that are worth visiting if you have time to kill.
posted by ardgedee at 3:34 AM on July 12, 2016
I like exploring the dinors in the Erie area (that's how they spell 'diner' there). There are a lot of mom-and-pop places, some of them operating since the 1920s, and some of them just plain funky.
Erie was the site of some minor military fortifications during the American Revolution and was the Great Lakes port for the U.S. fleet during the War of 1812. Erie's own role in history had mostly to do more with the depredations suffered by the soldiers and sailors stationed there (any momentous events tended to take place elsewhere), but there are a number of small historical museums and sites in the area that are worth visiting if you have time to kill.
posted by ardgedee at 3:34 AM on July 12, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks for all he answers! My parents will try Geneva-on-the-Lake, with Eerie as a backup if their motel there falls through. We will keep the camping suggestions in mind if we bring a tent on a future trip.
posted by wyzewoman at 7:20 PM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by wyzewoman at 7:20 PM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
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