Mark_Olson

Given the unbelievable "epidemic" of bed bugs in NYC (widely reported by various web sources) we have decided to bypass NYC, as an overnight on our way north, and drive straight through to Plymouth, MA. Travel sites say we should take I95 all the way, which goes through NYC, and we can plan on driving 5.75-6.0 hours, without stops. How much time will traffic add? Is there a way around the congestion?

For example, in SoCal, if I want to get to Burbank airport from Thousand Oaks, I'd take the 118 and stay off the 101, even though the 101 is more direct according to maps/miles-driven; taking the 118 to Burbank would take me 40 minutes, instead of the 60+ on the 101.

Or is I95 the best, and what can I expect? We're willing to leave at 'O-dark-:30 or whenever is best to make the trip enjoyable.

Thanks for your help!

SusieQQ

Once in New Jersey you can get onto the Garden State Parkway and take it the whole way to the end and then cross over the Hudson on the Tappan Zee Bridge.

SusieQQ

Forgot to say that You can get onto the GSP at exit 11 on the NJ TPK.

Ackislander

That's what I was suggesting in my reply to your previous question.

Listen to 1010 AM radio to see about congestion on the George Washington Bridge and Cross Bronx Expressway. There is unlikely to be congestion between 10 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon, so you can stay on the New Jersey Turnpike to the bridge, then follow I-95 all the way to I-93 just outside Boston.

If there is congestion, follow SusieQQ's advice. Take the Garden State Parkway to I-287, then I-287 across the Tappan Zee Bridge and to the intersection with I-95 beyond White Plains. Then you stay on I-95 all the way to its intersection with I-93 in Canton, MA.

Turn onto I-93 toward Boston, and exit to Quincy after the major junction with MA 3.

Plymouth is another 30 miles or so south of Quincy on MA 3, and there is no good way to get there without going to Quincy first. US 44 from Providence looks good on a map but it is congested with traffic and strip malls for significant portions of the route.

Do not be tempted in New Haven to take I-91-I-84-I-90 toward Boston and then circle down on I-95. It is a bad idea for more reasons than I have time to go into here, though it would be best if your destination is in the center or north of Boston.

As I wrote before, buy fuel at the Montvale rest area before you leave New Jersey. It is much cheaper than in NY or Connecticut.

tchoiniere

If you go the Tappenzee, I may be tempted to head up 684 to 84 then to the MassPike. 95 thru CT is a nightmare on Friday afternoons

ggreen

I agree, NYC at rush hour is congested no matter which way you put it. So is 95/93 south of Boston. If you really want to go directly to Plymouth, I'd suggest I-95 to I-195 in Providence to Route 25 to Route 6 to Route 3. It sounds convoluted, but Route 3 can be a nightmare between Plymouth and Boston, and this route is relatively traffic-free.

As an alternate to I-95 in western CT, consider taking the Hutchinson Parkway in NY which becomes Route 15 (otherwise known as the Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway) in CT. It's parallel to the highway, narrower and twistier but no trucks.

Another suggestion is if you're reluctant to stay over in NYC, stay in a hotel in CT. For example, Mystic has a lot of options, a great place for breakfast called Kitchen Little, and easy on/off I-95...

Mark_Olson

Thanks! Anyone know how long the drive will be? If I start at 5am? 4 am? some other, better time?

ggreen

NYC to Boston in moderate traffic is usually just shy of 4 hours. I believe Philly to NYC is 1 1/2 to 2 hours... Your times should be a little shorter if you leave at that time of day, but I wouldn't shorten the estimates in case you run into lane closures for overnight construction.