I am taking my daughter to school in Boston this week, and would love to hear your opinion on the best route between Baltimore and Boston.

I'm from Baltimore, live in NH, and we've done this every which way for years and years.

Our favorite route is I-95 to the GW Bridge, to I-87, to Cross Country Parkway, to Hutchinson River Parkway, to Merritt Parkway, to to Wilbur Cross Parkway, to I-91, to I-84, to the Mass Turnpike and on into Boston. Sometimes, we go farther north on I-95 to the Tappan Zee Bridge, if the GW Bridge traffic appears heavy, then over I-87/287 to the Hutchinson River Parkway.

Two recommendations: Try your best not to be around NYC or Hartford during rush hour. Going around Hartford, you'll swear you're on a reckless speedway. Watch the signs carefully.

Have a really good map along in case of unexpected construction, an accident, heavy traffic...so you can take an alternate route. Not usually necessary, but you just never know.

We've also done I-95 all the way without incident, maybe because everyone advises to avoid I-95 in Connecticut. Or, I-95 to I-91, to I-84 to the Mass Pike. Often we've gotten off I-84 and onto I-95, due to heavy traffic, and sailed along I-95. You just never know.

One of our favorite places to break up the trip is Le Jardin, 1257 River Rd
Edgewater, NJ (201) 224-9898 (they have a website). This is a beautiful place with a gorgeous dining room and a piano player. Food is excellent and a good value. There's a huge outdoor deck (you can order off the regular or bar menu there if you like) with fabulous views of the GW Bridge and pricey waterfront condos. About a mile south of Exit 74 of I-95. Free valet parking. Reservations recommended on weekends. A very relaxing place to break up the trip.

No matter which way we go, distance/time are about the same with no slow-downs.

In our younger days, sometimes now taking turns driving, we'd always leave Baltimore around 3-6PM, whereupon you can take any route you like and make really good time. For us, it's heading "home", so we like to get an early start to get the trip underway and get home sooner. But, leaving later in the day might work nicely for you with Boston as your destination. Traffic around NYC and Hartford can be dreadful during a weekday.

FYI, the Hutchinson, Merritt, and Wilbur Cross are all the same parkway; the latter two are also known as route 15 in CT. A bit wind-y and hilly, but no trucks is a bonus, and my preferred route NYC to Boston. However, I'd advise against taking the parkways if it's raining heavily and visibility is poor because of the wind-y, hilly road.

Also, taking I-95 the entire way puts you way out of the way in eastern CT, Providence, and SE Mass. If you end up not taking the CT parkways, go Hutchinson Parkway to I-684 to I-84 in Danbury, or I-95 to Route 8 in Bridgeport to I-84 in Waterbury (or I-95 to I-91 in New Haven to I-84 in Hartford...).

As you can see, there are a lot of different routes in and around NYC/CT! Part of your decision will have to do with traffic; get a good map or maps of the area, and listen to the traffic reports. CBS AM 880 has "traffic and weather together on the eights" (i.e., 1:08, 1:18, 1:28, etc.). AM 1010 WINS has traffic "on the ones" (1:01, etc.). They'll give you traffic for the NJ, NY, CT tri-state area.

We have done the Phil-Bos trip many times and prefer a variation on djkbooks.
NJ Turnpike to GW bridge (love the trucks vs cars split). I-87 (Major Deegan) N to Cross County to Hutchinson Pkwy. Then we go I 684 to I84 thru central Ct and Hartford (stop at Reins Deli just north of Hartford for a meal and pickles to take home). I84 to Mass Pike into Boston.
If you don't have it get EZPass to save time at all the tolls.

As you can see, no consensus. I prefer NJ Turnpike to GS Parkway, over Tappan Zee Bridge, 684/287/87 to Hartford, Rte 84 to Mass Turnpike.

I think everyone will agree on getting EZ Pass or Fast Lane transponder - but you may not have time to get one unless there is a MD office where you can pick one up. If not, order on-line, using EZ Pass NY website - they only charge a $10 deposit which is waived if you pay with a credit card and you do not have to be a NY resident to do so.

EZ Pass is a great convenience and huge time saver!