Ozarksbill

In October the two of us are heading south for a Road Scholar program in Savannah. The direct route from Boston would be I-95 right through NYC and Baltimore and DC and Richmond. This might mean heavy traffic and lot of tense driving. But it sure looks like the shortest route. Another alternate route is going around the urban areas on I-84, I-81 which is a scenic route through the Appalachian Mnt., then down I-77. That looks to be out of the way and yet our daughter and her DH take that route going from Montreal to Florida.

Maybe the I-95 has lighter traffic through NYC etc. mid day? What about construction? Anyone have advice?

But as we are older why not fly or even go by bus? Or how about train? Avoiding traffic might be wise don't you think...although we'd miss some sightseeing.

Bill in Boston

aloha

Well, i freaked out at the heavy traffic on 95 in Georgia, so i definitely would not want to drive it from Boston to Savannah. But then, i would pretty much always rather fly for anything more than a few hundred miles. I do think avoiding traffic is a good thing!

gail

First - cost. It is about 2000 RT Boston-Savannah. At 25/mpg that is about $300 for just gas - plus tolls and unmeasurable wear and tear on the car and you. Since it is a 16-20 hour trip, you will need a hotel - figure $150 since it would be around VA/DC area plus 3 meals each day, I'll estimate $50/day/person or an additional $200. Total cost to drive about $650.

Airfare is $300-400 per person BOS-SAV (I just checked figuring Fri-Fri, return being over Columbus Day weekend. So the costs to drive or fly are close.

Your routing is certainly out of the way, and I81 thru Pennsylvania is far from scenic. There are plenty of big scary trucks. And even if you take this route until south of DC, you really have to pick up I95 to Savannah after that. This part of I95 is really fine.

Routing - depends on how you feel about highway driving. I have driven this trip at least a dozen times while son was in school in Savannah. Take Tappan Zee Bridge (Mass Pike to I84 to Tappan Zee Bridge - you can figure out details. GPS and routing programs do not take you this way. The Garden State Parkway to NJ Turnpike.

There are several ways to get thru/around Baltimore/DC metro area; I prefer to just time it to avoid rush hour. That means leaving Boston very early - like 5 AM. But if you are included weekends, especially Columbus Day holiday, traffic will likely start earlier in the afternoon. This avoids Boston, Hartford, NY Metro and DC rush hours. Our preferred stopping point was to get thru DC before stopping for the night (going south) - around Fredericksburg there are lots of reasonably priced hotels. Going north, same concept and we stopped around Aberdeen, MD.

But I would fly.

Ackislander

Flying makes sense, unless you want to make a trip of it.

In that case, your proposed itinerary is a fine one, a route I have driven many times as far as Charlotte.

Another would follow Gail's route to the garden State Parkway, then take the Cape May ferry to Lewes, DE, and drive the DELMARVA peninsula to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. From the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area, you could follow US 17 all the way to Savannah, you could cut back to I 95 near Rocky Mount, or you could pass through the Outer Banks.

Gretchen

From the NYC area you can take a western route across PA and down I81 in Virginia to I77 to Charlotte. it is a scenic route and easy driving and virtually "city free" and toll free.
At Charlotte you can head toward the coast--I can give you our route to the Florenc area from which you can intersect with I95 and continue on to Savannah.
The drive time we have done on this route is about 12 hours to Charlotte from NYC area, and probably 4-5 to Savannah from charlotte.
Yes, it would require a motel--somehow I don't think that is the $150 range and particularly if you choose a place and book on hotels.com for example==which you could even do en route as you get close.
If you fly you will of course have a car rental tacked on, I think.

Dukey1

This might mean heavy traffic and lot of tense driving. But it sure looks like the shortest route. Another alternate route is going around the urban areas on I-84, I-81 which is a scenic route through the Appalachian Mnt.

Sorry, but you've made a couple of assumptions here that may or may not be true.

Heavy traffic and intense driving obviously depends on the time of day AND your own degree of flexibility.

I am sorry but I-81 is NOT some "scenic route through the Appalachians"...there ARE sections which are prettier and less boring than others but if you want really scenic you would be MUCH better off doing the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkways and there would be none of those many semis that are on I-81. You could go all the way to Asheville and then make your way to Savannah.

Ozarksbill

Thanks for all advice...we are still mulling it over. DW is really leaning toward flying at our age. (Not even thinking about motel expenses and wear on car). BUT something important I left out...after the Road Scholar program Oct. 20-25 in Savannah we are signed up for a 2nd one at Charlottesville, VA, Oct. 27-30. So is it still feasible to fly to Savannah or perhaps Atlanta or somewhere...and then rent a car there for a trip to Charlottesville...and then fly back to Boston from there or Richmond or DC? Sorry to present a complicated puzzle but advice is needed. And how does fly to Savannah anyway, direct or by way of Atlanta?

Gretchen

Why wouldn't you just drive back to Charlottesville. Dear heavens link up the days and the cost of flying--have you flown recently!!
PuhLEEZZ, wear on the car. You have a car. It "wears" when parked in Boston, or whatever.).
Of course, explore other ways of travelling, and depending on how close these are together. BUT be sure you aren't trading one "cost" for another. And air travel plus car rental may not be it.
You don't say when you are going to c'lttesville.