We are considering driving from Philadelphia to Boston. Can anyone tell me if this is a bad idea? Is the traffic awful between the two. We are driving from Illinois to Philadelphia, so will have the car anyway.

Depnds on the time of day. I would plan the trip and make a stop or two, as needed, to avoid the morning and evening rushes around the big cities.

We have made this trip several times and find it best to avoid route 95, which is the way Mapquest will take you. Try the route which is 81 north to 84 east across Connecticut to the Mass Pike in Massachusetts and you will find less traffic that way.

Fine idea - just pick hours and route cautiously. Get a map - but you want to go Garden State Parkway to Tappan Zee Bridge (avoiding New York City), then 687, 84 thru CT, picking up MassTurnpike -details from there depend on specific final destination in Boston area.

Trip is roughly 6 hour drive - but can vary a great deal with traffic issue. Trick is to avoid rush hours in PA, around NYC, Hartford, Boston. You could leave PA around 9 AM and arrive in Boston area at about 4, with a brief stop for lunch. Or if you are really a morning person (I am, but my family refuses to do this(, leave PA at 5 AM, get past NYC metro area, stop for breakfast and continue on.

Now, time to worry about what to do with car while in Boston - unless you have that worked out, do a parking in Boston search and see the zillion ideas.

I 3rd the route recommended by thomas and gail. And, yes, the time of day and the day of the week are important.

Avoid Fridays -- they're always bad.
Probably the best time is leave Phila about 10 am. That way you'll avoid rush hour and be through Hartford before 3, when the traffic there gets bad. If you go on Sat., rush hour is no concern, obviously.
The drive is tolerable, but not like cruising the wide-open spaces of much of the Midwest. You're near major metropolitan areas for almost the whole trip, and so traffic and delays are always a concern. BTW, EZ-Pass will make the trip a lot easier.

Yes, traffic is awful.

I've done it a few times, and preferred driving in the middle of the night to avoid traffic. I left around 10/11pm and drove through the night.

Thanks everybody. We haven't worked out all the details, but will probably be driving weekdays. We don't mind leaving early a.m. We were thinking of driving from Philly to Goshen NY for a stop at the hall of fame there, then on to Boston. Would this be reasonable? And any suggestions where to stay once in Boston. We thought we might stay out a little ways and take public transportation and do the Freedrom Trail, etc. But we didn't know how far out we could stay. Also we have somebody who doesn't get around too good. Does any of the public transportation have room for the 3-wheel scooters? Thanks again everybody!

Your question reminds me of the visit NYC/stay in NJ threads.

If you want to see Boston, stay where the action is. Personally, I like the Faneuil Hall area as a place to stay.

Thanks BarryK. I'll read that post. We were considering the Faneuil area. Is it expensive or reasonable?

Virtually all lodging in prime areas of Boston is expensive - and virtually all lodging on public transportation is much less and a moderate pain to commute in. If you choose the save money route, make really sure promised "shuttle" from hotel to MBTA is real - do not just rely on info on website, call hotel directly.

Many commuter lots to MBTA fill on weekdays prior to 7:30 AM - so factor that into your plans.

What is a "3-wheel scooter"? Are you talking about an adult 3-wheel bicycle (then the answer is no), a kids "big wheels" - then the answer is not likely, but possible, or some sort of assistive device for a disabled adult - then the answer is no, but I think they have to let it on.

Thanks Gail.
The 3 wheel thing is for handicapped adults. It's like the things you see at Wal-Marts, groceries stores, etc. My husband walks most of the time, but he has one, which we'll probably just leave home.
We really appreciate all your input.

The train might be a fun, relatively stress-free alternative between Philly and Boston if you're nervous about the drive; a little over 5 hours on the Acela. Amtrak would have priority boarding for someone in a 3-wheel scooter.

If your husband has mobility issues, then I strongly urge you to stay right in Boston - while the MBTA has made great improvement in past years regarding access for those with disabilities, there is still room for improvement. Elevators at some stations are still non-functional often enough to be at least annoying, and at times dangerous.

The hop-on, hop-off trolleys might be a good idea as a way to see Boston. Some of the older historic areas still have authentic cobblestone-like surfaces, making walking a challenge for mobility-impaired. In some other areas they have put modern cobblestone-facsimilies - no easier to walk on.

A Boston Harbor cruise or a Duck Tour are also ways to see things without miles of walking.

ditto j_999_99 on leaving around 10am to (attempt to) avoid traffic at the major points along the way.

I've done the trip a bunch of times and it's roughly 6hrs, but then again, this is always on a weekend, so I'm not sure about weekdays...

Ditto gail - while the T can certainly accommodate your 3-wheel scooter, many of the stations are not accessible as they should be. The mbta website should note which stations have working elevators, but I wouldn't even trust that 100%.

I make this drive about once a month and almost always leave Philly Friday night around 7 or 8 and go New Jersey turnpike north then across the GW Bridge (lower level is usually quicker). At the end of the GWB take the Hudson Pkwy (Route 9 I believe) North. The Hudson Pkwy becomes the Saw Mill. Take Saw Mill to the Cross County Pky. The Cross County becomes the Hutchinson and finally the Merritt Pkwy. The Merritt rund paralell to 95 through Connecticut, but is much less traffic. Follow the Merritt until you see sign for I-91 North. Take 91 North to i-84 toward Boston. Thsi usually takes me about 5 and a half hours. It is an easy route and rather nice drive on the whole.

We live in Illinois and visited Boston last year (we flew). Took a cab from the airport to the hotel and cabbie got lost. Hotel provided a ride downtown and driver got lost. Started taking the subway which worked great (my wife hates subways, but this was fine for her). http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/accessible_services/. Toward end of vacation we rented a car for a day and night. Made a wrong turn more than once and kept paying bridge tolls. During the day we were lucky to find on-street parking, but had to return early before meter expired. Boston is great (our third trip - '72, '92, '06)! Ducks were great! Freedom Trail is a must.
Hope this provides some insight.

Thanks for all the helpful advice. We really appreciate everyboyd taking the time to help us out.