Shredd, good I hope you have a great ride! When I ride back from Washington or Oregon, probably my favorite way is Rt 200 across Montana, North Dakota... to Duluth MN, then up and across Michigan's UP and down to Toledo, staying off the interstates. This avoids Chicago and Detroit which are both major PIA's, especially on a motorcycle.
If you're coming across further south riding through Indianapolis isn't as bad as St Louis IMO.

 

Sounds like a good route.. would love to avoid Chicago, but the little woman is flying in for a one week portion of the ride and she's joining us in Chicago. I've been there and I know the traffic is a pia, but after a week without her I'll be needin some suga. lol. She'll be on the run for 7 days then the last 9 will be just the boys again. I am going to try to incorporate route 200 for a spell though, since you suggested it. We were planning on our first night at Lolo, MT anyway to stay at Jacks Saloon. Evidently there's quite the party there on saturday nights and they've got a large field to camp in. Lolo is just a stones throw from Missoula where we can jump on hwy 200. Might detour down through Yellowstone and meander over through SD a bit and then head back up and get on 200 again.