Advice on Driving to New England from D.C. at Thanksgiving
Nov 10th, 2006, 04:51 PM
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Advice on Driving to New England from D.C. at Thanksgiving
Hello,
I am a newbie to this but wanted to solicit some advice. I may be crazy but I am planning to take the family and the dog in the car and drive to Grandma's house in Massachusetts from the D.C. area for Thanksgiving. I am thinking of the following but solicit any ideas people might have: 95 to the Del. Mem.Bridge, then either the NJTpke. or 295 on up to the exit for the Garden State, then up to the Tappan Zee and across onto the Merrit Parkway and up through the middle of Ct. on 684 and then 84, picking back up to 95 and thence to 91 up through Hartford and on in to Mass. I am halfway thinking of taking the Outerbridge crossing and the Verazano Narrows, and through Brooklyn and Queens on the BQE, then cross on the Whitestone bridge and get 95 that way. Anyone ever do it that way? I should have said, I am planning to get on the road by 5:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Many thanks for any ideas and advice!
Babydog
I am a newbie to this but wanted to solicit some advice. I may be crazy but I am planning to take the family and the dog in the car and drive to Grandma's house in Massachusetts from the D.C. area for Thanksgiving. I am thinking of the following but solicit any ideas people might have: 95 to the Del. Mem.Bridge, then either the NJTpke. or 295 on up to the exit for the Garden State, then up to the Tappan Zee and across onto the Merrit Parkway and up through the middle of Ct. on 684 and then 84, picking back up to 95 and thence to 91 up through Hartford and on in to Mass. I am halfway thinking of taking the Outerbridge crossing and the Verazano Narrows, and through Brooklyn and Queens on the BQE, then cross on the Whitestone bridge and get 95 that way. Anyone ever do it that way? I should have said, I am planning to get on the road by 5:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Many thanks for any ideas and advice!
Babydog
Nov 10th, 2006, 05:01 PM
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DO NOT DO the Staten Island/Queens route - you will run into hundreds of thousands of people going out to Long Island to see relatives with bigger houses for the holidays. That route will be MOBBED.
Stay out of any part of the city at all cost.
Stay out of any part of the city at all cost.
Nov 10th, 2006, 05:32 PM
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Where in Mass. are you going?
Your route through CT is confusing me, and I live there.
The best route to central Mass is Merritt Pkwy which turns into the Wilbur Cross Pkwy (both are route 15) to 91 north, through Hartford, and north into Mass. No need to be on 95 in CT.
If you're going to eastern Mass, take 84 east in Hartford and go into Mass. that way.
Your route through CT is confusing me, and I live there.
The best route to central Mass is Merritt Pkwy which turns into the Wilbur Cross Pkwy (both are route 15) to 91 north, through Hartford, and north into Mass. No need to be on 95 in CT.
If you're going to eastern Mass, take 84 east in Hartford and go into Mass. that way.
Nov 10th, 2006, 05:37 PM
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You are crazy, but if sanity does not overtake you and you still make this trip, then the route thru Hartford is better. I would modify it a bit and take Tappan Zee Bridge to 684, 87, 84 to Hartford rather than 91 (thru White Plains, Danbury). Do not go anywhere near NYC.
Mass Turnpike and 84 are disaster areas around Thanksgiving, but you have no other good option - most of the traffic on Mass Pike tends to go in opposite direction, though.
Other issue is return trip - when will that be?
Mass Turnpike and 84 are disaster areas around Thanksgiving, but you have no other good option - most of the traffic on Mass Pike tends to go in opposite direction, though.
Other issue is return trip - when will that be?
Nov 10th, 2006, 07:20 PM
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I hope you are staying for a few days and not doing this trip again on Sunday !! - you say take the family and the dog.......and while 5am is at least an early start, you will still hit traffic spots and have a loooong drive ahead of you - last time my cousin did it from DC he left on Wednesday around 6am and had over 10 hour drive....you just never know.... don't know ages of the 'family' your are taking, but hope they are up for it !
I know Grandma will be happy though
any way you can get off on Tuesday????
I know Grandma will be happy though
any way you can get off on Tuesday????
Nov 11th, 2006, 04:14 AM
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Dick has the best advice yet - on Garden State Parkway there is a $.35 toll seemingly every few miles. But it also will help with every toll you encounter along the way. Don't think you have time to get one by mail, but each state has service centers where you can pick one up. EZpass.com gives info.
Nov 21st, 2006, 05:51 AM
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When conditions are good, Tappan Zee to Merrit to 91. But the Merritt sometimes gets overwhelmed.
As you approach the greater NYC area,
tune your radio to 880 WCBS for the traffic report. If the eastbound Merrit Pkwy is mentioned as bad, take the 84 route instead.
Nov 21st, 2006, 09:00 AM
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After an 9-hour ride from Northern NJ to DC ten years ago on the Sunday after T'giving, we will NEVER take I-95 again during that holiday weekend.
We still travel to NJ but we take the back way thru' Harrisburg, PA via Route 15, then up I-81 and I-78 to Route 287 in New Jersey. Pretty country and a small fraction of the traffic on a holiday weekend.
You could take I-287 north, cross the Tappan Zee Bridge, and connect with I-684 and then I-84 thru' Connecticut.
It's a longer distance to travel but it will take less time overall and the ride will be more pleasant.
We still travel to NJ but we take the back way thru' Harrisburg, PA via Route 15, then up I-81 and I-78 to Route 287 in New Jersey. Pretty country and a small fraction of the traffic on a holiday weekend.
You could take I-287 north, cross the Tappan Zee Bridge, and connect with I-684 and then I-84 thru' Connecticut.
It's a longer distance to travel but it will take less time overall and the ride will be more pleasant.
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