We're contemplating driving from Washington DC to Boston next August. Could anyone tell me what would be the most scenic route or if the scenery is not worth it. Time is not an issue.

For the part after NYC: Route 95, which follows the southern coastline, is much more scenic than the alternatives that travel inland, even though those are usually faster.

I've made the trip several times via a couple of different routes, and I don't think "scenic" describes any of them. Just drive and keep your eyes straight ahead:
I-95
NJ tpke
Garden State Pkwy
Tappan Zee Bridge
I-287
I-684
I-84
Mass. Pike

I think it's arguable that the Pennsylvania route is more "scenic" than going through New Jersey. You would take the 695 beltway around Baltimore to Route 83 north to Harrisburg then Route 81 north towards Scranton and all the way into New York. Then take 84 east to Hartford. Then you have a couple of choices which are obvious from the map.

And, I would suggest taking the Merritt Parkway instead of I84.

Strongly strongly recommend going up through Penna., through York, Lancaster and into Bucks County -- by all means spend a day in Bucks County (Doylestown, New Hope, etc.). Go around NYC by following 287/80 but the northern end of Palisades parkway is gorgeous but get off and use 9W over the Jersey line -- stop at Storm King Museum and go all the way up to the I-84 bridge across the Hudson and follow it into Connecticut (through Hartford to Mass Pike).

This by-passes some of the most unpleasant driving at the northern end of the NJ pike and -- sorry -- I95 in Connecticut, which can pass through an occasionally nice view of LI sound but is mainly a headache to drive w/much congestion and truckers. If you REALLY want to see something of the Ct. and RI coast, I'd drop down from Hartford (rt. 9) to Old Saybrook and drive east from there, stopping in one or another towns, esp. Mystic Seaport. If time is really not a problem, stay on US 1 after Westerley and go through RI over to Newport (a MUST if you've never been there -- needs 1.5 days, though) and then up through Providence toward Boston.

Through western Conn: I-95 is always heavily traveled, has trucks.

Merritt Parkway is scenic in that it runs among trees close to the road the whole way, no trucks, but very, very winding, hilly, and tightly packed 2 lanes each way against a formidable center barrier with little "shoulder" -- people travel quite fast along it and if you don't know the area, it can be a little hair-raising.

I-84 is pretty enough but less scenic than Merritt Pkway and will allow trucks but rarely as congested as I-95.

If you take it up to the Mass Pike, stop at Sturbridge Village just before the Mass Pike junction -- a reconstructed colonial village, a couple of nice restaurants.

ttt

Just hop on rt 202(north bound) out side of DC and stay on it till you reach rt 2(east bound in MA take a right and you will be in Boston

Could you possibly do it by train instead of having to drive? That commute is horrible.

ttt

Thanks for your help. We may rethink that part of our trip.

Just back from family vacation - same route. Most mapping programs send you over GW Bridge. I would avoid this (grew up in NY area) and follow route described by poster #3 - driver.

It is a solid 8 hours driving time, plus traffic and stops. If you try to make it more scenic and want to do it in one day, I think the day is too long. If making the trip on a weekend, will likely hit traffic around Sturbridge, MA and Jersey shore traffic. I95 is slightly more scenic, but much more likely to have traffic delays.

(noticing that you had asked about train in an earlier post) The train service between Boston and DC is actually one of the few routes Amtrak can be proud of. It's fast and it avoids some driving hassles.

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