We are leaving on Thursday, Dec 22 about 7am from Durham, NC for Cornwall, NY (Hudson Valley area). From reading all these messages, I take it that we should avoid the DC-Balt-Philly-NY area on I95. Correct?

I don't mind a lot of traffic as long as it is moving, I just want the FASTEST route.

We're planning on hopping over to I78 at some point but not sure when that should be. We'll hit DC around noon, should we:

Is it realistic that we could make this drive within 12hrs? I've got a toddler, so I'm maybe out of my mind for even asking the question....

1. avoid DC altogether and take 64 from Richmond to Charlotesville to 81 (that seems like it would add considerable time)?

2. take 66 from the DC Beltline to 81?

3. take 270/70 from the DC Beltline to 81 Frederick (and, if so, from there do we continue north on 15 or go all the way to Hagerstown?

4. try to make it to Baltimore and take 83 up to York and then 30E to Lancaster/Reading/Allentown?

5. any other suggestion?

Many, many thanks!

I have lived right in DC for the last 5 years and my job requires me to drive 4000 miles per month covering VA/DC/MD. I have never had a problem with 95 or the Beltway around DC unless their is an accident or you are going the wrong way at rush hour.

If you are coming North on 95 and hit Richmond anytime from 9:00 on you should be fine going through DC. I would stick with 95 the entire way, get on the NJT in NJ and then switch to the Garden State Parkway and then as you hit the end of the GSP which is in Northern NJ you will find signs for 87 North which is the Thruway in NY that goes all the way North through NY. From there you can exit to the Hudson area.

I also travel to NY quite a abit and it only takes me 4 hours from DC to Central Park. It all depends on when you hit the cities for rush area.

Freetrip.com shows the trip using I-95 up to the Garden state pkwy and on to Cornwall as 536 miles, 8:45 hours. This is probably your best bet. Getting on to I-81/84 would add about 2 hours to your trip.

If we went through DC at noon, that would put us in the NJ/NY area sometime between 4-6pm. Is that a nightmare - as in gridlock or a standstill - at that time? Again, we don't mind a lot of people on the roads, just the time factor.

And what of all this talk about sitting in toll lines for miles? It is too close for us to buy a EZ toll pass. Suggestions?

Many thanks!

Hve you checked freetrip.com?
The Garden State Pkwy is about four hours from DC, and from that point, it is an hour to Cornwall. You could avoid the DC area by taking route 301 from north of Richmond to Baltimore and then get back on I-95 there.

Traffic around DC at noon shouldn't be too bad. It's not going to be gridlock. And 301 around DC, or other alternates to the Garden State Parkway in NJ aren't without traffic either.

Great, thanks!

When does gridlock begin in the NJ/NY area?

How long can we expect to be sitting in toll lines?

I don't think you will see much traffic in the NJ/NY area. You are not "in the city".

Tolls - yes you could have lines due to tolls but many of them have "exact change" booths so make sure you have about $30 in dollar bills. The GSP has four .35 tolls so again have quarters and dimes.

I think it is to late to get an EZ pass unless there is someplace you can go and pick it up. They sure do save time.

If you get around DC around noontime you shouldn't have any problems but they do occasionally happen.

What I would suggest to you is to turn your car radio on as you get past Richmond and tune in 1500 am on your radio dial. It gives all the highway problems and lets you know where the gridlocks are.

If it mentions "the mixing bowl" which is I-95 and I-395 interchange area, or other areas on I-95 then you might be better served to get off I-95 at Bowling Green and come up 301.

Have a safe trip and enjoy the holiday.

I would avoid the greater NYC metropolitan area from 4-7 PM if at all possible...including the GSP...you will sit in traffic. Nevermind the typical rush hour (which, if you get too close to NYC may be further snarled by the transit strike that seems to be making a mess of all the roads around here) add to that the shoppers hitting the malls in/around Bergen County in Northern NJ, and people who are off Friday and heading on longer road-trips Thursday evening. It may not be city gridlock but it won't be pretty.

To cut down on your time near the NYC metro area you could follow the 83 North route to York, PA, up to Harrisburg, PA, then North to catch 81 N to 84 East over to the Hudson Valley.

Listen to the poster who said take the Garden State to the NY State Thruway. Take the thruway north to the Newburgh exit,sorry I don't remember the exit number. Follow signs for US 84 East.Very easy on and off. Take 84 east for just a few miles to exit #10, Route 9W south. It is the last exit before the bridge. Take 9W south through the city of Newburgh for less than 10 miles and you will be in Cornwall. I live in the Hudson Valley and know exactly where you are headed. There are a few quicker ways but I couldn't possibly describe them. If your first stop is West Point there is another way. Good luck, any questions feel free to ask.