Hey there, I need to travel from Hartford,CT to a meeting at Newark Airport and flying is ridiculously expensive. I need to be at the meeting at 9 am on a Wednesday morning. I am planning to leave Tuesday night, around 8pm, but will be returning after the meeting ends at 6 pm on Wednesday. The Tues night drive should not be too bad, but am concerned about leaving at 6pm Wednesday. Any tips out there? Thank you!!

Well, you could take 95 to the Palisades Parkway or 9W and head over the Tappan Zee bridge to 15/Merritt Parkway, if traffic looks heavy toward the GW Bridge as you approach.

Something to consider, at least. Conn Tpke (I-95) is most direct, but I loathe it. Frequent traffic jams. You might consider something like 91 south to wilber cross, to merritt pway and across the tappan zee. or maybe 84 to 684 to tappan zee. Check these out on a map--I don't want to mislead you. but i wld do anything to avoid Conn Tpke. you are right that tues night should be ok. but you're also right that leaving at 6 p.m. wed might be a problem. i'd stick with tappen zee. the GWB at that hour is almost certain to be congested. Best radio traffic stations are WCBS-AM 880, and WINS-AM 1010. I would listen to them carefully. Updates every ten minutes. Might want to consider eating at airport after meeting to get a later start and let traffic die down.
Peter Yerkes

Not much you can do if there is traffic, especially as traffic around NYC can occur anywhere at anytime. Plan your best route but keep an alternate in mind.

The only other possibility, if you would really rather not drive, is to take Amtrak from New Haven on the NE corridor line. The Newark airport rail station (or Newark Penn Station) would remove your need to change trains in New York.

Leaving Newark at 6 pm it can take you 2 hours to get across the GWB - or not. You need to have a good map, have all the alternate routes mapped out and listen to the traffic radio - 1010 am - to see what route is least bad at that hour.

I think pyerkes advice is really good based on my experience. You are going to have to stop to eat, and doing it before you get on the road makes a great deal of sense.

Rush hour traffic on the Merritt and Wilbur Cross can be brutal, but by leaving Newark at 7 rather than 6 and taking the Tappan Zee, you will minimize your exposure.

Take 84 across the Tappen Zee to the Garden State. I just did that on my trip to Baltimore. Had no traffic issues whatsoever.

The Route 84/684/Tappan Zee Bridge/Garden State itinerary is definitely the best route.

I "third" the 84/684/GSP route. I travel somewhat regularly between NJ (15 miles west of the airport) and northern NH going through Hartford on the way. I think your drive home shouldn't be so bad, especially if you leave a bit after 6:00, as this will be the tail end of rush hour.

Paul

I agree with Ryan that Amtrak is something to consider. pretty good service from new haven to newark, and the newark rr station is very good. and check the schedules--i'm pretty sure you can get an amtrak train that stops at newark airport. from there, you can take airport monorail to on-airport destinations. try amtrak websire, or www.panynj.gov (port authority operates newark airport). or cab ride from newark to airport shouldn't be too expensive. amtrak is always a crap shoot. but you don't have to worry about traffic.

Absolutely, avoid I-95. Tappan Zee may be a few more miles but I always feel I save minutes. Lately I've been taking Tappan Zee up to the Merritt Pkwy, which is gorgeous, then at Trumbull I cut up Route 8 through the CT valley, then 84 into Hartford. That route is better during the day, though. There is usually no one on that rte 8.

I think the meeting already took place, Fitz

I'm always a few steps behind.....