Cutting against the idea of trips to Indiana for cheap things is the fact that you have to go to Indiana. Crossing out of Chicago into Indiana on the Skybridge sets you back something like $6 each way, and the toll-free route is much longer. Then there is the stench that stretches between E. Chicago and Gary. Even with the AC set to recirculate, the stench always finds its way into the car on I-80/90.

One thing worth mentioning: traffic in Chicago is very unpredictable. You can be on the freeway on a Sunday and it will take one hour to go 5 miles. Then there is winter, followed by "patch the potholes" season. And lets not get started on local roads with their 6-way intersections.

I always found Chicago driving to be far more hellish compared to Houston. At least Houston traffic follows some vague kind of pattern of if you leave at time X it will take Y minutes on average to get to your destination. And then there is Chicago residents' love of using their horn and screaming.