North Jersey to Columbus Ohio. What route would you suggest for someone who has a GIANT fear of bridge heights? Thank you got your suggestions..my coworker will appreciate any ideas

Moved to US board

It depends on the limits of that fear. I assume that overpasses are no problem. I80 has one bridge by Shroudsburg, less imposing that the bridges near Philadelphia. If that is too much, the driver can go up NJ/NY 17 to Binghamton and from there I86 west. The rivers are smaller in that area of NY state so the bridges should also be smaller.

First time poster-hope they come back for the advice. First choice: Hire a limo with dark tinted windows, blindfold when appropriate. Second choice: take the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited overnight to Cleveland and then rent a car to Columbus.

If not driving, close your eyes.
If driving, keep your eyes on the road.

The 3 bridges over the Ohio River in or near Wheeling WV ranked by height: the I-470 bypass highest, I-70, and the suspension bridge in the city proper. But the 2 lower bridges are also older and narrower, so creepier.

That is a great idea 💡
will let her know

Lake Shore Limited.

Leaves NY Penn station 3:40pm
Arrives in Cleveland 12hrs later, at 3:30am (assuming it's on time).

Not sure what rental car locations nearby are open at that time of the morning.

THis is the google maps view of the I80 bridge over the Delaware River, by Stroudsburg PA.
Not what I would consider a high bridge.

thank you for the information

The only available car rentals I could find when arriving in Cleveland east or westbound on the train are at the Cleveland airport. You have to take a taxi from the Cleveland Amtrak station to the airport and the car rentals may not open until 8AM or later. Plan on finding a 24 hour restaurant for a good breakfast.
I do remember turning in a car at the Cleveland airport before 10PM and getting a taxi to the Amtrak station. We slept on the seats leaning over our luggage in the Cleveland station waiting for the LSL which arrived as the sun was coming up. We were in Chicago only an hour late.

Good Plan. Hanging out for several hours at a 24hr diner in downtown Cleveland at 4am is right up there on TA's top things to do in Ohio

Timing:
Leave home northern NJ ~1pm.
Find a way to get into NYC. Maybe pick up a train in Newark.
Ride for 12hrs on Amtrak, overnight, with a good night;s sleep.. maybe....
Arrive in Cleveland at 3:30am, find a 24hr diner near the Amtrak station, or not Maybe just hang out near the Amtrak station for a few hours until the sun comes up.
Take a taxi to the airport car rental
Pick up a rental car.
Drive to Columbus.
Arrive Columbus by 11am.

Total travel time, ~22 hrs
Cost: Train to NYC, LSL to Cleveland. Taxi to that 24hr diner in Clevland. Taxi from that diner to the airport. Car rental..

Or drive, and get there in 8-9hrs, arriving on the same day..
Cost. Gas, some tolls in Ohio.

Covid Exposure
Train: Penn Station/Cleveland amtrak station, Cleveland diner, Cleveland airport. And whoever is in the train with you for 12 hrs.
Car: gas/rest stops, and whoever else is in your car, assuming you known them

You can do your own cost/time/risk/benefit analysis.

Good point

I was going to suggest I-80 to I-76 to I-71 to Columbus, but there is a high bridge over the Allegheny River on I-80. I'm not a fan of high bridges either, however this one has never bothered me.

Let us know what route was taken, and how it went.