Merrit to West 70th Street
 

Hi,

I've posted before, thanks for your replies. I drove from Boston to East 79th St on a Friday, and it was 3:30 door to door! This time I'll be driving on Sat morn. From the FDR, should I still take the 96th st exit to West 70th Street? Or is there a better exit to take? Thank you! PS. From I91, is the Merrit exit 17? I've lost my notes.

Yes - you should still take the 96th st exit. You can;t drive west across 70th street - Central Park is in the way from 59th to 110th sts. To get through the Park you need to use one of the transverses - coming from the north you could use either 97th st, 85th st or 79th st. I would go west as far north as possible since the west side is generally less crowded than the east.

And if coming back be careful - since the opposite side of the transverse often begins at a different st (for example from east to west you use 97th st while from west to east you enter at 96th st - even though it's a single road).

First, please tell us how you wound up coming and made such good time. Did you take the Saw Mill? Did you enter on the Triborough?

Next, I'm totally confused by your question. You have to tell us how you plan on going. If you're now going back to Boston from east 70th st., you take a local uptown avenue (York or First) to get onto the FDR. Get on the FDR going north at 96 st. Follow signs for the Triborough bridge to New England.

If, however, you're taking the Henry Hudson on the west side out of the city, you'd go through the park as nytraveler says.

yes, exit 17 if you are doing Merrit. I think you must go same way I do from Boston b/c I always average 3:30 - 4 hrs max door to door. I love the Merritt - coffee and restrooms and no trucks ! I think this is it:
Mass Pike to Sturbridge
84 West Hartford
(approaching Hartford: big split - sign 91 South NYC/New Haven: This takes you to 91 South Charter Oak Bridge)
Hartford 91 South (for about 20 minutes) heading towards New Haven on 91 South
DO NOT TAKE 5 & 15
TAKE 15 (Wilbur Cross Parkway – exit 17)
15 becomes Merritt Parkway - Merritt becomes the Hutch
Take Exit towards Manhattan/Randalls Wards Is/ Downing Stadium
Merge onto Triborough Bridge
Merge onto FDR Drive S
Exit number 14 toward East 96th Street

When you exit at 96th St. make the first right onto 97th St. Stay on 97th and you will come to the transverse through the park. When you exit the park go one block straight ahead to Columbus Avenue. Make a left onto Columbus and go straight ahead to W. 70. 70th is a one way street going from east to west. What to,do at this point depends on the address on W. 70th.

Sorry for the delayed response. I drove from Boston to NYC two weeks ago, and I'm going to NYC again this Sat. I took the Merritt, to the Hutch, to the Cross Cnty Pkwy West. Took that to the NY State Thruway and then followed signs to the Triboro bridge to the FDR, and then the 96th St exit. Yes, it was 3 1/2 hours, but I do have a lead foot :) Thanks for your posts!