Driving from laguardia Airport to upstate
Jun 2nd, 2012, 12:11 PM
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Driving from laguardia Airport to upstate
Hi I am going to be driving from Laguardia to Orange county. I have driven in the city before but I am not not much a of city driver. How bad do you think the traffic will be? I am going to be flying in at 9am on a Wednesday.
Jun 2nd, 2012, 12:48 PM
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Chances are, you will leave LaGuardia onto the Grand Central Parkway and be on the Triboro (RFK) Bridge five minutes later crossing to the Bronx and directly onto major highways and other bridges to points north and Orange County. You probably won't be on any city streets, just congested highways.
Jun 2nd, 2012, 02:31 PM
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Agree with ellenem. Also, if your flight lands at 9am, you'll have missed most if not all of rush hour by the time you get in the car.
Note that google map's directions will send you across the top of Manhattan and the George Washington Bridge. IME, in an area where you'll likely hit traffic regardless, that is a singularly terrible route to take: the GWB to NJ's Routes 4 and 17 (the latter with shopping malls and traffic lights).
Instead, once over the bridge just follow signs for I-87 North. You don't have to pay for the Tappan Zee Bridge going northbound (it's $5 southbound), and despite looking geographically less appealing, it will be much more straightforward!
Note that google map's directions will send you across the top of Manhattan and the George Washington Bridge. IME, in an area where you'll likely hit traffic regardless, that is a singularly terrible route to take: the GWB to NJ's Routes 4 and 17 (the latter with shopping malls and traffic lights).
Instead, once over the bridge just follow signs for I-87 North. You don't have to pay for the Tappan Zee Bridge going northbound (it's $5 southbound), and despite looking geographically less appealing, it will be much more straightforward!
Jun 2nd, 2012, 05:19 PM
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To clarify the last post you need to head north through the Bronx (that is leave the airport, head over the Triborough bridge - but go t othe Bronx - not Manhattan. This will allow you to avoid traffic to and across the GWB.
Although if it were me I would go to Manhattan, get off right before the GWB and take the Henry Hudson and Saw Mill River parkways to 84 to the Tappan zee - as usually having less traffic. But these are parkways - and can be more challenging to drive if you aren't used to them. I prefer that way since you avoid all trucks and buses for most of the way.
Although if it were me I would go to Manhattan, get off right before the GWB and take the Henry Hudson and Saw Mill River parkways to 84 to the Tappan zee - as usually having less traffic. But these are parkways - and can be more challenging to drive if you aren't used to them. I prefer that way since you avoid all trucks and buses for most of the way.
Jun 2nd, 2012, 07:24 PM
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I like to drive as straight ahead as possible, so I put LGA to the Tap Bridge into Google maps/directions to get my directions. I haven't made the trip yet, but it seems very simple.
I can't drive over the GWB, but that's just me. I a little phobic about it, and actually shut my eyes when someone else is driving.
I can't drive over the GWB, but that's just me. I a little phobic about it, and actually shut my eyes when someone else is driving.
Jun 2nd, 2012, 08:30 PM
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Thanks, nyt: my post should have said Instead, once over the Triboro bridge towards the Bronx. (The Triboro is tri-directional; you'll have signs both towards Queens - most of the lanes - and the Bronx - two lanes on the right.)
And I agree that the truck-less parkways on the west side (the HH and the Saw Mill) are preferable to any interstate. But I'm not a fan of getting over to them! I'm sure I'm directionally prejudiced since I'm coming from the east side of the east river (as one would be from LGA)...
tuscan, when I put LGA to Orange County into Google maps directions, it made a route over the GWB into NJ - just like my Garmin GPS does! Maddening!
// I can drive over the GWB without an issue unless traffic slows; then I get antsy. But I did the Escape NY bike ride two summers ago and had to cross it coming and going on two wheels. Gawh, vertigo!!
And I agree that the truck-less parkways on the west side (the HH and the Saw Mill) are preferable to any interstate. But I'm not a fan of getting over to them! I'm sure I'm directionally prejudiced since I'm coming from the east side of the east river (as one would be from LGA)...
tuscan, when I put LGA to Orange County into Google maps directions, it made a route over the GWB into NJ - just like my Garmin GPS does! Maddening!
// I can drive over the GWB without an issue unless traffic slows; then I get antsy. But I did the Escape NY bike ride two summers ago and had to cross it coming and going on two wheels. Gawh, vertigo!!
