Hi,

We're going to be traveling to Easton, MD (to the Hampton Inn) for a wedding in St. Michael's the weekend of the 10th. We plan to drive from downtown NYC. Can anyone recommend the best way to go? We've put it in in Mapquest, and it shows it's about a 3 hour drive, and we planned to leave around 2. Seeing the map though and all the back roads, we're wondering if it might be easier to drive to Cape May and take a ferry. Any thoughts? Any help is much appreciated!

New York City to Easton, MD would be closer to a six hour drive.

I agree with Waldo, I live outside of Baltimore and it's about a 2-1/2 hour drive from here. I don't know about the ferry, never taken it. Sorry.

It would NOT IMO be easier to drive to Cape May and then take the ferry to Lewes.

What you MIGHT consider doing is taking I-95 south to just below Wilmington and then take Rte 896 to 301, cut over to 50 and go from there.

"Back" roads? You've been in New York TOO long, Baby...

I think the "direct" route will take you more like 3-1/2 to 4 hours with no stops. Longer if there's traffic along the way.

But, to drive via Cape May and take the ferry would add at least an hour to that. You have to get to the ferry early, wait for the next one, and it takes a bit of time for loading and unloading vehicles.

We often take that route on our way home to New England from Baltimore, even though it is farther. We love to stop along the Jersey Shore, find crab cakes for lunch or dinner, and the ferry ride is really pleasant. But, it may be too chilly to enjoy the ferry ride outdoors.

It's 200 miles. Mapquest says 3:38, Google Maps says 3:45.

Of course, you can be stuck at the Holland Tunnel for half an hour before getting out of NY.

Or another 10-15 minutes getting through the toll on the NJTP before Delware Memorial Bridge. [I'd jump off the NJTP sooner and switch to I-295, always.]

Thanks everyone - sorry, by back roads, i meant it looks like we get off the highway and end up on some local roads, which I expect will be slower.

So is it really 6 hours? Are the internet maps just plain wrong? Is that the timing when you adjust for traffic? Yikes.

If you look at the Mapquest map, you'll see that reaching Eatson from Baltimore require a circuitous route around the bay.

Most Mapquest times are based (optimistically) on the posted speed limits.

I'll be traveling from Cape May to Washington DC myself next week. I learned that the ferry crossing itself takes over an hour and then as noted above you have to arrive early, make a reservation and not miss it, etc. So it might save effort and gas, but it probably won't save any time or money.

Hi

I've taken most of the trip you're planning (except I haven't started in NYC). You do N OT need to go to Baltimore. When coming down past Wilmington get off on the road to Rt 301. That will take you on a pleasant drive through Maryland countryside (not slow either) and then you'll get onto Rt 50 for a short distance and then Rt 213 into Easton. It should take about 3 1/2 hours with no backups - possibly 4.

Rt 301 is a pleasant escape from NJ tpke, 295, I95 etc.

As to the ferry, you may have to wait until the scheduled departure time and/or if the day is windy there's a good chance of a strong chop on Delaware Bay. As you can guess, it's pretty chancey.

Have a wonderful time at the wedding and in St Michaels. St Michaels is a delightful town and is one of my faves.

You can take Route 213 at Elkton(which is on Route 95) and take that down to Route 50. Route 213 is a pleasant drive through the farmland of the Eastern Shore.

This is very helpful, thank you. I'm looking forward to the drive through the farmland! Thanks!

I've been meaning to update this - the directions were very helpful. I am including a little bit more detailed directions below. We were a bit confused when we got off the Delaware Memorial Bridge and got specific directions from the rest area that worked out great. I thought maybe someone else might want them too:

Once you're over the Delaware Memorial Bridge:
- I-95 to Exit 1A (which is after Exit 1B and before the toll) onto 896S.
- 896S becomes 301S.
- Follow 301S to Centreville Wye Mill/213S (bear left at exit, will see sign for 213S).
- Take 213S to 50E to Easton.