Massachusetts Route Advice Please
 

I will be driving from the Berkshires to Gloucester, Mass the 3rd week of June. I would like to avoid the Boston traffic is one of my thoughts. Is Interstate 90 across the South prettier or preferable to a more northern route going west to east across the state? I am hoping for a scenic route. Thanks for any help!

It depends on where in the Berkshires you are starting from and you won't really be in Boston traffic in any case because you will take 128 to Gloucester.

If you are in the northern part of the state, you could take route 2 all the way to 95/128 and then continue on 128 to Gloucester. Parts of this are pretty but it does go through small towns which will have stop lights etc. As you approach Orange it becomes sort of a divided two lanes in each direction road and the farther east you go the busier it becomes. It eventually intersects 95/128 and you continue on 128 which splits to the left after a while. 95/128 is always busy, but usually moves along above the speed limit unless there is an accident, construction etc.

If you are in the southern part of the state then taking I-90 to 95/128 makes sense. You might hit slower traffic near Springfield (I-91 Crosses), Sturbridge (I-84 crosses), Worcester (I-395/290 crosses) and as you approach 95/128.

Both routes have pretty spots in the west, but somehow I always find them prettier going west than east. You can drive much faster on 90.

Thanks, emalloy! It seems like it will boil down to how much time we want to spend driving across the state. My thoughts are we will want to get to the coast asap. Thanks again!

Shorter version of the above (which is correct). You have 2 choices. Mass Turnpike to Route I95/Rte 128 North. This goes right into Gloucester.

Second choice - Route 2 to 95/128.

A part that guaranteed will be confusing. Interstate 95 and Rte 128 are the same road for most of MA. No one in Massachusetts calls it 95. However, there is a stretch north of Boston in Peabody where you will find the road splits into 95 and 128. Take 128. Do not take 95 or you will end up in Maine. If you look at a map it will make sense.

Rush hour on 95/128 is terrible in parts and heavy traffic in others. Try to avoid it.

"No one in Massachusetts calls it 95"

- Gail has never met my Uncle Norm. And he calls pizza "pizza pie".

Thanks, Gail. Yes, I think we should be able to avoid rush hour. We will be driving thru on a Saturday, so that should help!

Haha, DebbieDoesDulles! Does he eat it with a fork? As a native New Yorker, you're killing me!