OK, I've called AAA for a Triptik. I know; no one uses those things since we've all got GPS now. Only problem is I don't have GPS 'cuz I normally don't have much use for it...maybe until now.

Me and my MINI are traveling from western NY to Great Neck, Long Island. When I start mapping out a route, it gets to be a squiggly mess pretty quickly east of the Mountain Lakes / Parsippany area of NJ. I think with some work I can make out a decent route, but I wonder if you folks might be willing / able to help me.

I'm looking for the easiest way to get to Great Neck even if it's a little longer (remember, I'll be in my MINI so driving a little out of my way is not a problem ).

Google Maps sends me via I-80 E to I-95 N to I-295 S across the Throngs Neck Bridge and then the Cross Island Parkway.

Any advice? Does this sound reasonable. Is there an easier / less congested / safe way to get to the same general area? Any tips would be appreciated!

Thanks.

 

That is the way I'd do it, there isn't really a more optimal way of getting over there verses the other directions you could go. Time your trip carefully otherwise you'll have fun sitting in traffic on the George Washington and Throngs Neck bridges.

 

Avoid the GWB (between 6:30am -10:00am ,3:00pm -6:30pm weekdays)
(sundays evenings inbound 4:30 -11:pm during summer till Oct)
Check the baseball schedules and sunday football schedules
Those are the heavest traffic times
A 20 min delay is considered normal.

 

Thanks folks. I'm not familiar with the area at all. GWB? I'm going to guess Geo. Washington Bridge ('cuz it sounds familiar) but I'd welcome the right answer. And where is it?

Just for a guage on time, about how long would it take to get to Great Neck from the Mountain Lakes area?

Thanks again!

 

~30 minute from mountain lakes to george washington bridge (gwb) Bridge located in FortLee NJ rt 80 becomes 95 North not sure of time from there.
Try google maps or msn maps and you can print more detailed maps then what you get from AAA

 

Depends on day and time. Starting early (7 or 8 am) on a saturday or sunday will be the best. The GWB route described is the most direct and heavily traveled.

Avoid potholes! Or you will end up with mushroomed strut towers at the very least.

 

Thanks heyduard. Right now my plan is to avoid a weekend entirely. Thanks for the headsup on the potholes (hopefully the MINI is small & agile enough to do so).

Still would like to get a guage for time. How long should it take to get to Great Neck from GWB?

Thanks.

 

In theory about 30-40 minutes. In reality getting from the GWB to the Throgs Neck may take and hour in itself (total of about 5-6 miles on the Cross Bronx Expressway). Weekdays are not necessarily better as rush hour lasts most of the day and truck traffic on that stretch is brutal.

Another option is to work your way further east in maybe rt 17 or the Thruway to the Tappan Zee, 84, 684, Hutchinson Pky, Whitestone or Throgs next bridge, cross island. I try pretty hard to avoid the Cross bronx when I can go another way.

Where exactly are you coming from in western NY. I'll gladly look at a map an give some options.

 

Thanks blueheat; I'm coming from so far in western NY that it's almost Erie PA! So I will definately be on 17 (now I think I-86 for its entire length). I have no problem overshooting if it takes me out of some of the congestion etc. After all, I want my MINI to have a good ride also!

 

On Google Maps, Hutchinson Pkway is labeled with both North and South. Logic would tell me that's because traffic is restricted to those directions where so labeled, but in reality it's hard to believe that's the case because of distance covered and convenience of the parkway.

Can anyone confirm whether the entire length of Hutchinson Parkway allows travel both north and south?

Thanks!