@eddieras The drive from the NW suburbs of Chicago area is about 5.5 hours and my route is Rt 14 to Janesville, WI where you catch I 90/94 into Wisconsin. You'll make a split from the left lanes when you start to head toward La Cross on I 90. Once you cross the Mississippi River, you are an hour away from Rochester. There is a rest area right before you make the exit for Rochester.

My favorite place to stay is Candlewood Suites where you will find separate suites with full kitchens with a full size refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave. They also have lending for kitchen items like a crock pot, etc. There are basic pots and pans, plates, glasses and silverware, but you may want to bring storage containers for saving food you cook or serving utensils. There is free shuttle service to Mayo campuses and they have free parking so either will be an option. Many closer hotels charge for parking, and Candlewood are reasonably close, probably within a mile of the Mayo campus for the Gonda and Mayo buildings. I do think they have a pool and hot tub, but that had been closed with Covid precautions in the past, so call and ask. The rooms are nice and clean. This is a newer hotel and offers Mayo Clinic rates. This is right near the corn water tower in Damon Park on Broadway. If you drive to Mayo and pay to park, get there early. It is harder to find a spot after noon. There is a cafeteria on the lower level of the Gonda Building.

Candlewood Suites Rochester Mayo Clinic Area
1640 South Broadway, Rochester, Minnesota 55904 United States
Reservations
1 877 CANDLEWOOD (1 877 226 3539)
Front Desk
1-507-3616000

How soon are you going? It is winter as you know and in Minnesota winters are legendary, so please have extra warm clothing and blankets, food, water, charged cell phone, and a small shovel in your car in case of hazardous travel, and try to time your trip to avoid any snow or ice storms even if that means going a day earlier than anticipated or staying a day later before leaving. In case of bad weather, communicate with your care team, because they may be able to juggle your schedule if a weather emergency arises. If you need some warmer clothing, you'll find sweatshirts, and probably socks and gloves at the Mayo gift shops (lower level in the Gonda building). There is also a Trader Joes in town in you need groceries and also a Hy-vee grocery store.

Hy-Vee, 1315 6th St NW, Rochester, MN, United States

Trader Joe's, 1200 16th St SW, Rochester, MN, United States