Driving from NYC to Montreal
Oct 4th, 2003 | 12:49 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
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We do it twice a year and it has always taken us about 6 hours. In the summer, the worst traffic can be around Saratoga and Lake George. After Lake George, you can fly. The speed limit is 65, the Yankee drives much faster than that. It is a lovely drive, whatever time of year, I love the Adirondacks!
We usually stop in or around Scroon Lake for a sandwich stop..if you leave really early, you will be out on the sidewalks of MOntreal around 3 in the afternoon
We usually stop in or around Scroon Lake for a sandwich stop..if you leave really early, you will be out on the sidewalks of MOntreal around 3 in the afternoon
Oct 4th, 2003 | 01:59 PM
#4
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 41
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I have driven from Maryland to Montreal and it is a peaceful drive with a great view. I have made the hump twice and it was clear sailing, past Albany many times there were only a few cars. When you see the french highway signs your there...
Oct 5th, 2003 | 02:03 PM
#5
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 76
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Thank you all for your replies. I have yet another question... I have heard that the driving in Montreal could be pretty bad and that parking may be a problem... is it true? I have also heard that is no worse than Manhattan, but I wouldn't know because I use the subway or taxis in NYC.
Oct 5th, 2003 | 03:22 PM
#6
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
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We find driving in Montreal easy and not quite as 'threatening' as in Manhattan, where I usually feel that all buses and cabs are aimed right at me.
Actually, not long ago, my husband was in a taxi on the West side, and a bus decided he liked that lane better, so he sidewiped the taxi.
Nothing like climbing out of a wrecked car to hail another
But seriously-driving in Montreal is easy-they have the streets laid out pretty well, we use Streetwise maps that are very accurate.
We usually leave our car with the hotel valet and don't use it again. Last year we drove to Mt Tremblant, that was cool! Next year I am considering driving to QC for a night, just to break up the stay in Montreal~
Actually, not long ago, my husband was in a taxi on the West side, and a bus decided he liked that lane better, so he sidewiped the taxi.
Nothing like climbing out of a wrecked car to hail another
But seriously-driving in Montreal is easy-they have the streets laid out pretty well, we use Streetwise maps that are very accurate.
We usually leave our car with the hotel valet and don't use it again. Last year we drove to Mt Tremblant, that was cool! Next year I am considering driving to QC for a night, just to break up the stay in Montreal~
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Nov 20th, 2003 | 09:42 AM
#8
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 29
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We drive from central Connecticut to Montreal in six hours to visit our daughter, who is in school there. After Albany, it's about 4 hours. Just watch your speed on the northway (I-87). We have found the New York state troopers tend to be rather inflexible.
Nov 20th, 2003 | 12:28 PM
#9
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,944
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DRIVING IN MONTREAL
Further to a question asked ...
In Montreal pedestirans and drivers do not trust each other to follow the law; Red lights mean "walk" to most pedestrians, but they are good at dodging out of the way of cars. The speed signs are understood to mean minimums, not maximums. And do not trust turns signals nor the lack thereof.
Yellow traffic lights mean "speed up"
Compared to the rest of Canada, Montreal has the worst, in the sense of "don't follow the law," drivers in Canada.
In contrast to the rest of Canda, it is probably (maybe the law changed) illegal to make a right turn on a red light, even if you do stop first. Outside Quebec, this is legal.
And the traffic signs are in French, which adds to the confusion.
And traffic is awful, lots of the time, on many of the roads.
And then there is the snow and ice.
SO, WHAT TO DO????
Get a good map, and plan your drive carefully before you get there, and perhaps make some notes in big print that you leave where you can see them easily while driving. Do not try to look at a regular map while driving in Montreal traffic.
Check web sites for directions to your hotel.
Make a little list of French traffic words you need to know.
Nord is North
Sud is South
Est is East
Ouest is West
Gauche is left
Droit is right
Pont is Bridge
Rue is Road or Street
With this info, you can probably navigate your way to your hotel without too many problems.
The most confusion comes in getting over the bridges and onto and off of the expressways, expecially on the few where the exit ramps run off the left side rather than the right.
Once you get parked at a hotel, chances are pretty good you can walk or take the Metro (subway) to a lot of places. And after a day of just getting the feel of the city by walking,you can get the car out for a longer drive to areas of interest.
And if you miss a turn because you were busy translating to or from French, just go to the next street and turn around.
Compared to New York, Montreal has vastly more civilian drivers, compared to NY professional cab drivers, etc.
If you avoid trying to drive to the suburbs at evening rush hour, or go downtown at morning rush hour, and have already learned what exits you want, you'll be fine.
And don't trust anyone else to stop at a stop sign or red light.
Downtown parking in the heart of the city is expensive, as in any major city. There are a million parking ticket giovers, so be careful of the parking meters, and make sureyou understand that there are tow away zones if you park later than allowed.
Outside the core, there's often lots of reasonably priced street parking using coin operated meters. There are mid-priced garages in Old Montreal in old warehouses if you can't find street parking. In a lot of cases, a long walk somewhere will be interesting, take a cab back, and it will be the same price as driving and then parking but you will have seen more.
You need (well, it's easier)to drive to St. Viateur to buy bagels, to ATwater Market and surrounding area for antiques, to the Biodome and insectarium.For small town pople, Montreal is scary driving.
For Bostonians, it's no big deal, just a little worse.
BAK
Further to a question asked ...
In Montreal pedestirans and drivers do not trust each other to follow the law; Red lights mean "walk" to most pedestrians, but they are good at dodging out of the way of cars. The speed signs are understood to mean minimums, not maximums. And do not trust turns signals nor the lack thereof.
Yellow traffic lights mean "speed up"
Compared to the rest of Canada, Montreal has the worst, in the sense of "don't follow the law," drivers in Canada.
In contrast to the rest of Canda, it is probably (maybe the law changed) illegal to make a right turn on a red light, even if you do stop first. Outside Quebec, this is legal.
And the traffic signs are in French, which adds to the confusion.
And traffic is awful, lots of the time, on many of the roads.
And then there is the snow and ice.
SO, WHAT TO DO????
Get a good map, and plan your drive carefully before you get there, and perhaps make some notes in big print that you leave where you can see them easily while driving. Do not try to look at a regular map while driving in Montreal traffic.
Check web sites for directions to your hotel.
Make a little list of French traffic words you need to know.
Nord is North
Sud is South
Est is East
Ouest is West
Gauche is left
Droit is right
Pont is Bridge
Rue is Road or Street
With this info, you can probably navigate your way to your hotel without too many problems.
The most confusion comes in getting over the bridges and onto and off of the expressways, expecially on the few where the exit ramps run off the left side rather than the right.
Once you get parked at a hotel, chances are pretty good you can walk or take the Metro (subway) to a lot of places. And after a day of just getting the feel of the city by walking,you can get the car out for a longer drive to areas of interest.
And if you miss a turn because you were busy translating to or from French, just go to the next street and turn around.
Compared to New York, Montreal has vastly more civilian drivers, compared to NY professional cab drivers, etc.
If you avoid trying to drive to the suburbs at evening rush hour, or go downtown at morning rush hour, and have already learned what exits you want, you'll be fine.
And don't trust anyone else to stop at a stop sign or red light.
Downtown parking in the heart of the city is expensive, as in any major city. There are a million parking ticket giovers, so be careful of the parking meters, and make sureyou understand that there are tow away zones if you park later than allowed.
Outside the core, there's often lots of reasonably priced street parking using coin operated meters. There are mid-priced garages in Old Montreal in old warehouses if you can't find street parking. In a lot of cases, a long walk somewhere will be interesting, take a cab back, and it will be the same price as driving and then parking but you will have seen more.
You need (well, it's easier)to drive to St. Viateur to buy bagels, to ATwater Market and surrounding area for antiques, to the Biodome and insectarium.For small town pople, Montreal is scary driving.
For Bostonians, it's no big deal, just a little worse.
BAK
