BF and I are going to Nashua, NH this weekend so I can finally meet his parents. Since we are leaving from Suffolk Cty (Smithtown) and going to Nashua sometime tomorrow night, we're trying to find the fastest route since there's so many options. He's worried about rush hour traffic on I-95. Does anyone know of another way that would take less time or should we just leave later and take I-95? Thanks in advance....

Are you taking the Bridgeport-Port Jeff Ferry, or going around to one of the bridges, or maybe I don't know where Smithtown is? Personally, I hate I-95 at all hours. I'd find my way to Hartford (maybe 15 from Bridgeport? or I-91 from New Haven?), and then take I-84 to the Mass Pike. Go east to I-290. Take 290 to I-495 north, then get on route 3 north in Lowell, MA.

You are still subject to rush hour traffic, possibly in Hartford, or Worcester, or Lowell. Depends on where you are at what time. But this route avoids Providence and Boston for the most part, and I think it would be better.

Just wondering why we would need to avoid Boston??? We wouldn't be near Boston anywhere on the route as far as I know. (It's about an hour east of Nashua, NH) Smithtown is in Long Island, which is about an hour and a half east of Manhattan.

Take the Bridgeport or New London ferry over to CT. It is worthit to avoid driving into the city and doubling back on I-95. Call for reservations if you decide on the ferry.

missjanna, even being an hour north of Boston, all of southern NH gets thrown in to the Boston rush hour exodus. Statistically (according to local TV's Fritz Weatherby) 2/3 of the NH households that are within 25 miles of the Mass border, commute to work in Mass. It is certainly true on my street.

You don't want to take I-95 all the way, it becomes RT. 128 it can be a parking lot at rush hour, really 3pm to 7pm when motorist can drive in the breakdown lane.

I go the same way china_cat posted.

After you look at a map and discover that I84 to Mass Pike to Rte 290 to Rte 495 to Rte 3 to Nashua looks out of the way - ignore your concerns and use that route.

I95 up coast is a nightmare, and during rush hour (which on Friday starts about 2 PM) it is worse. While there is not a guarantee that traffic on the more inland route will be easy - it is more likely to be tolerable than the coastal route.

Same issues if you are returning Sunday. Weather this weekend is predicted to be first decent weekend in several weeks - lots of people heading out of NYC and smaller eastern cities.

We take the Tappanzee bridge over to Rt 95, then Rt 91 up thru Hartford. When a friend from CT told me how much time it took her to get to Keene NH, I used her route to continue on Rt 91 to VT and take the exit for Rt 9 to Keene and then take Rt 101 to Nashua.
Rt 3 from 495 to Nashua is a nightmare during rush hour. Personally, I hate the Mass turnpike. Let me explain rush hour this way - I was on Rt 93 north from Boston to NH. Massachusetts allows the use of the breakdown lane during rush hour. That means you have two lanes of traffic PLUS entering traffic at every entrance ramp vying for the same road space. This was around 5pm and I didn't relax my grip on the steering wheel until I got off the highway in Salem NH. Rt 91 is a much less traveled road than Rt 93.

I live in Nashua and we travel to and from NYC often.

We use Gail's route, taking I-91 to I-84.

Two excellent places to stop for a meal: Athena II diner just of Exit 12 on I-91 (a beautiful, upscale, diner with extensive menu and low prices), and the Sturbridge Bisto (gourmet with moderate prices, website) just off Exit 3 of I-84 (about a mile and a half west on Route 20, opposite the Holiday Inn).

Between 4-7, I-495 will be quite busy. Route 3 may be slow (construction underway to add additional lanes). In addition to the usual rush hour traffic, folks will be heading points north for the weekend.

So, you may want to stop in Sturbridge for a very nice, leisurely, dinner to miss the Friday night traffic.

Gail's route gets my vote, and I'm a frequent commuter to Nashua from south of Boston. Her route has you on the Mass Pike for just a few exits - I-290 cuts the hypotenuse through Worcester and saves 10-15 minutes of waiting at the Pike/495 exit.

One caveat: while the traffic won't be a picnic for any part of the trip, the last leg up Route 3 from I-495 in Lowell to the New Hampshire border is a 10-mile-long parking lot from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. You'll want to time your arrival at that location for after 7 p.m.

A better suggestion is to be very early risers on Saturday morning, which would allow you to take I-95 with very light traffic (we travel to NYC on weekends; the traffic through Fairfield County and New Haven is surprisingly light until about 10 a.m.). You could likely make the trip from Smithtown in four hours or less, versus 5-6 hours Friday evening.

Thanks for all the suggestions!! I'm going to print this up and show it to my BF since he said there's different ways to go, but he usually sticks to I-95. (Why, I don't know, I try to avoid it unless absolutely necessary!)

Also turns out we will not be leaving until after 7:00pm tonight. Will that make a difference traffic wise?

BTW we're staying in the Radisson in Merrimack (exit 11 off Rt. 3). Hey Djkbooks, if you live in Nashua, you might know the store his parents own. I think it's called Absolutely New Hampshire or something like that.

Should be clear sailing with no traffic problems after 7PM (can't vouch for I-95).

I would agree with avoiding I-95 in its entirety.

"Absolutely New Hampshire" is a fabulous shop right on Main Street in the center of Nashua (a terrific street for strolling, dining...)

You should be aware that they are doing night work on Route 3 North in order to get it done. Don't know when or where but we have been stuck after having everything reduced to one lane. Have a great trip.

Missjanna, lots of folks just like your BF don't look beyond I-95. It seems easier since you just stay on the same highway all the way. But as many folks have confirmed, this is not necessarily the fastest. I've been driving back and forth from New York to the Boston area for a lot of years, and have driven a lot of different routes. I never, EVER take I-95 anymore.

FYI...not all Mass highways allow driving in the breakdown lane during rushhour, just a couple of them. 95/128 for sure, and maybe 93? It is a nasty thing, I agree, but the alternative is even worse traffic jams.

Fortunately, after 7PM you'll have smooth sailing. You will likely run into nighttime road work on 495 as well as route 3, but at that hour it should be okay.