Going to the Dragon Run from western mass and don't want to go through NYC and the GW bridge any suggestions?


Paul

 

For long road trips through potentially high traffic areas, I try to plan my trip so that I can pass through the bad areas in the middle of the night. . . .

Just an idea

 

Thats part of me plan, going down Thursday afternoon.

Paul

 

I drive 95 and the GW bridge every week. You definitely want to avoid the area btw. 4-7pm. I often do like Yucca, drive in the middle of the night.

Have you checked driving directions from all of the major sources; Expedia, Mapquest, Yahoo Maps, etc.

 

can't you cut though northern NY and then take 287 in Ramsey NJ to either 80 or 78

 

I'm sure I could take that route. But seeing as I have no experience with the roads I was looking for input from people that have driven the roads. Is that route ok?

I not clueless, I see all sorts of alternates on the map, but I need some real life info. Construction, crappy roads etc.


Paul

 

Paul, Try his route. I did this in February and the raods are not that bad. Go down 91 S to the Wilbur Cross Parkway which will turn into the Merrit Parkway which will turn into the Hutchinson River parkway. Take the Cross County Parkway ( follow the signs to the GW) to the Henry Hudson Parkway. After the toll booth, still follow the signs to the GW and it will deposit you right on the upper level of the bridge. Sounds alittle complicated but it really isn't.

The roads are much better than on 95 and there is not as much construction going on.

The only other way to miss the NY construction is to go through PA via 84 then 81 but the roads in PA are not very good!

Hope this helps,

JD

 

I have started bailing on I-95 south at I-287 in Westchester, it's the first exit in New York. Take I-287 across Westchester to the Tappan Zee Bridge, like the GWB, there's no toll Westbound across the river.

Once you cross the Hudson you have several options, I usually take I-287/I-87 to the Palesades Interstate Parkway and down to Fort Lee. If you follow the signs for the Turnpike as you approach Ft Lee you will now get on the Turnpike south of the I-95/I-80 merge in Leonia, but just before the Turnpike split in the Meadowlands. It's well signed and easy to follow. (BTW this is new, you used to get on I-95/I-80 just after the GWB toll plaza. ) If you expect to be around the GWB area between 3PM and 7PM you'll still hit traffic but at least you won't have to deal with The Bronx

Option 2, instead of getting off I-287/I-87 at the Palesades Interstate Parkway, follow the road instead to the Garden State Parkway, follow that south until it meets with the Turnpike at exit 142 on the Parkway (I believe that's in Cateret) you will get on the Turnpike at Exit 11. The downside, lots of tolls...

OPtion 3, stay on I-287/I-87 past the Garden State Parkway to the I-287/I-87 split, you will get on the Turnpike at Exit 10. No tolls until you get on the Turnpike, but this may be a longer drive becuase of the circuitous route that I-287 follows...

BTW on your way back, the toll on the Tappan Zee is cheaper than the one on the GWB...

 

Western MA, eh? I lived in the PV for years and drove regularly to DC...so I know the trip (at least as far as DC) well.

As several have said, there's really no reason to avoid the GW bridge unless you plan on going through NYC at rush hour. I cross it regularly at other times and I'm fine. I would, btw, go (from Chicopee) 91 to 84 to the Saw Mill to the GW bridge...picking up 95 there (and NOT take 91 to 95 through CT). I don't know anyone who does the CT shore piece of 95 unless they must.

One alternative would be the 91 to 84 through PA route. That takes you to (more or less) Scranton where you can pick up 81 to Harrisburgh and then 83 down to Baltimore (where you can get 95 again). When I was in college in Amherst, that's the route that many mid-Atlantic folks took. This is a bit longer than the via-NYC route, but somewhat more scenic if you don't like the regular Northeast Corridor views. Another advantage to this routing is that it'd be easy to stay west (in PA) and that would allow you to miss even DC as you head eventually for Western NC. But I suspect that that would be a VERY time-consuming route.

Have fun!

 

Thank you everyone. I'm going to print out this thread and figure out which route I will take. It all depends on the time my co pilot gets out of work thursday.


Paul

 

I always do 95 through CT, from the NY/CT border, right on up to 395, and back down again. It's not that bad.

Anyway, as jsun said, there is no reason to avoid the GW bridge unless you're driving through there at a bad time. And if you are, the best move is as mbab. suggested to leave 95 at 287.

Though the Merritt and Hutchinson are fun and scenic, I've done it a few times, and it just makes more sense to me to stay on 95. I've been making this trip weekly for a year and a half now.

Good luck and have fun at the Dragon!

 

Actually I try to avoid I-95 through the Bronx in general lately. Last time I went through there, it was torn up from right where you cross into the Bronx until you get on the Cross Bronx Expressway. Plus I seem to be a traffic magnet on the Cross Bronx Expressway. In the last 3 years every time I've been on it I've gotten stuck in bumper to bumper traffic all the way across it...

 

My 2 cents on this (I grew up in NJ, and have tried many of the routes mentioned here.)

The most obvious answer would be to take the Tappan Zee instead of the GWB. You'll be going a little bit out of your way, but it might be worth it. Once you get across, you'll come to the GS Parkway in short order.

I'm also a big fan of the I-84 route. It avoids all of the NYC traffic at both the Tappan Zee and GWB. It's probably the best choice at peak times, although it has lots of commuters at peak times too.

That being said, I've also done the GWB/Cross Bronx Expwy route. It's a crap shoot, really. The Cross Bronx is a terrible road, but it's the shortest route mileage wise. If you can avoid rush hour, and Yankee Stadium traffic, it could work out for you.

As an aside, listen to one of the NYC AM stations with regular traffic updates, like 880 WCBS or 1010 WINS. That way you could wait for the last minute to pick between the GWB or Tappan Zee, or potentially take 84 if both bridges are messy. :smile:

 

I'm in agreement with the Tappan-Zee / Route 287 people... Sure, it's a bit out of the way, but it's a much less congested ride. The extra miles you'll drive (and who doesn't want to drive a few extra miles in their MINI) has to be weighed against the time you may spend in bumper-to-bumper traffic going through Bronx/Manhattan/GWB.

Rock On,

-Joe

 

Just take a ferry from Boston to Wilmington, NC and avoid the whole I-95 thang!

 

>>Going to the Dragon Run from western mass and don't want to go through NYC and the GW bridge any suggestions?

How far west and how far north in MA? If I-91 works for you, you can take the Merritt and go to the alternate route to the GW or to 287 and the Tappan Zee options. Another I-91 option is to take I-84 in Hartford or via 691 near Meriden. If you are in SW Mass. you could take Rt. 8 south to I-84 and then follow I-84 to I-684 and on to 95 or 287 or stay on 84 to 81. If you are close to the NY border, look at NY 22 and/or the Taconic south to 287 or at cutting over to I-87 south. Whatever way you go, the parkways are more fun in the MINI, but avoid the Merritt, 95 in Conn., and the GW during commuter hours like the plague.