VA to Montclair NJ in January
 

In Jan 2004, I am taking my 12 yo daughter to visit friends in Monclair NJ and then spend a couple of days in the city. I'm just in the preliminary stages of planning but have a question about getting there from my hometown, Williamsburg VA.

I'd prefer to drive. Mapquest says it's a 6+ hour drive to Montclair. Does that sound realistic? I'm all too familiar with I95 to DC which can be a nightmare but how about north of DC on I95 and on the NJ Turnpike? Potential nightmares there too?

The second option would be the train, most likely from Richmond to....what's the closest station to Monclair?

Any opinions on which is the faster way to go? Any help and/or from the experts would be appreciated.

Your best bet if you are to take the train is to get an Amtrak train from Richmond to New York City - Penn Station. From there you can get a second train on the Montclair-Boonton NJ line right into Montclair. Overall the train and driving are both going to be about 6 hours each. I would say the train may be a bit longer due to the connecting train in NYC to Montclair. It is not more than an hour longer but much less hectic than driving.

There are people on this forum who absolutely despise I-95, and go to great lengths to avoid it. I've driven back and forth from DC to NJ on I-95 for many years and, frankly, people make it sound worse than it actually is. If you can, avoid rush hour. If you leave Williamsburg at around 9 or 10 AM you should be in Montclair by 3 or 4, and you should have no problem on I-95.

6 hours sounds realistic. Figure about 4 hours from DC to Montclair.

Driving will be faster, significantly cheaper and more convenient if you time yourself to avoid rush hours around DC, the Delaware Memorial Bridge and northern NJ. This would mean hitting DC at about 10 am. You should then arrive in Montclair by 2 pm or so and would avoid the major traffic. In NJ, I would take take the Garden State Parkway North to Montclair (you access the GSP from 1/95/NJ Turnpike at about Exit 11 or 12. Get directions from your friends.

The main drawback to driving in January is the potential for snowstorms which worsen traffic and will make for a long tedious trip. You might want to keep your options open to take the train if it looks like snow.

If you take the train, take Amtrak to Newark NJ and have your friends pick you up there. (The Newark train station is called Penn Station just like in NYC, very confusing). This will save you probably 2 hours over taking the train all the way into NYC and then having to take the local commuter train back out.

I'd drive and avoid rush hour, like was said. The turnpike shouldn't be too bad on off hours. I think people make 95 (and the turnpike, for that matter) worse than it is.

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks to all for such quick replies. I knew I could count on fodorites!

My preference is to drive. I agree that wnter weather could be a factor but if it's THAT bad, I'll postpone the trip. I can navigate DC to miss rush hour but what constitutes rush hour at the Del Mem Bridge and northern NJ?

Thanks again guys for your help.

obxgirl - while a bit out of the way from Wbg, I've often taken Rt13 up the DelMarVa peninsula, as well as taking Rt 17/301. The area around LaPlata/Waldorf on 301 is a pain, but most of the remaining trip isn't so bad, as long as it's not the beginning or end of a long holiday weekend (MLK ?) BTW, tried the Sleep Inn on Bypass Rd this past week (thought of inviting you to lunch at Cheese Shop) and I give it a big Thumbs Up.

Traffic starts to build in Northern NJ (i.e. rush hour) by around 4PM, so if you hit the Del Memorial Bridge by 1PM, you should be in Montclair before rush hour.

If you elect to take the train, your friend can pick you up at the Amtrak Metropark station which is less than 15 miles from Montclair.

From Montclair, it is easy to get into Manhattan by train and -- given the cost of tolls and parking in the city these days it's also probably cheaper.

jaydreb5, Thanks for the rush hour bench marks. I should be able to miss all of the trouble spots (fingers crossed0.

vcl, Appreciate the advice about not driving into the city. My parallel and garage parking skills have deteriorated since moving from an urban area.

rb, I can pick up 17 pretty easily from here. Would I save time doing the 17/301 route over I95/Beltway/Woodrow Wilson Bridge path? Forgot about MLK holiday...fortunately I'm planning on going a week later. Thanks for the tip on the Sleep Inn. I"ll add it to my visitor file. Love those Cheese Shop sandwiches!

Something unorthodox, but think about taking the Bay Bridge Tunnel from Norfolk and then 13 through Delmarva to I-95 in Delaware. It's not an interstate highway, so I'm not sure you'd really save time, but it would be a far less stressful drive and you'd arrive more relaxed.

Another unorthodox suggestion: Take US 13 to Port Royal and then US 301 north to the DC beltway. When we drive from our home in Penna. to Williamsburg, the traffic on the interstates is so horrid that we always go this way. Again, I'm not sure we're saving time, but the trip is far more pleasant, and we arrive much more relaxed.