At the end of June I am driving to Florida. I am leaving on a Thursday at about 3 pm. This unfortunately puts me going through NYC at 6:15. I don’t want to get stuck in traffic and I don’t know the area at all. Any suggestions welcome.

It only that but in a couple years I’ll need to drive my guns to Florida and it appears impossible to avoid the commie states but I may especially want to avoid NYC.

90W (Mass Pike) to 87S in Albany, NY to 84W to 81S in PA. That will at least get you around the NY/NJ Metro Area.

ETA - This is how I suggest you go if traveling w/ firearms. If NOT traveling w/ firearms:

90W (Mass Pike) to 84W to 91S to Wilbur Cross Pkwy/Merritt Pkwy to 287W cross the Tappan Zee Bridge. This will avoid NYC AND 95 altogether (Both SUCK Big time!), and it is the most direct route. After that I'd take the GSP South (Garden State Pkwy), and then you're on your own.

I drive south from Mass often. I always take 287 off 95 (just south of Stamford CT) to Tappan Zee bridge. From there take the Garden State Pky south back on 95 well south of NYC.

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Originally posted by 6guns:
I drive south from Mass often. I always take 287 off 95 (just south of Stamford CT) to Tappan Zee bridge. From there take the Garden State Pky south back on 95 well south of NYC.

You know, years ago someone told me to do this too. Somehow on the off ramp/on ramp I got all screwed up, totally missed the Tappan Zee.

Of course I only had a mapquest printout back then so I'm sure these days Waze will figure it out for me.

ETA: Just found the route on Google and it works. Thanks to both you guys! I will note the other route for when I have the guns!

I was firearms focused earlier, so I edited my previous post. I've probably made the trip from NH to NJ over 100 times...Take the Merritt!

It can be confusing, but with GPS it's a lot easier. You still deal with NJ, but at least not NYC and the GW bridge.

As nh (I used to live in Temple ) says, better to go further west if traveling with a bunch of goodies.

Yes, the Merritt can really help getting through damn Stamford. The last time I went through Stamford, just this past Tuesday, I sailed right through. Depends on the time of day.

Okay, looking at the Merrit route now too. Thanks guys. This really helps. Also, I think we are going to leave earlier in the day. I'm gonna take half day of work, maybe do a 6-10 AM so we are on the road at 10. Be through all these areas before rush hour.

If you stay on 95, it's not terrible, unless it's totally rush hour. The Merritt does add confusion first time through.

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Originally posted by nhracecraft:
90W (Mass Pike) to 87S in Albany, NY to 84W to 81S in PA. That will at least get you around the NY/NJ Metro Area.

And then I continue down 81 through PA, across little bits of MD and WV to VA. Go all the way down through VA to below Roanoke where 77 diverges to go through Charlotte to Columbia SC. From there 26 to 95 and on down into Florida.

I will gladly trade time and extra miles to avoid the NY, NJ, greater Philadelphia and Baltimore, DC and Richmond 95 corridor. The chances of a significant time delay somewhere along there are probably 4 in 5.

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Originally posted by Blackmore:

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
90W (Mass Pike) to 87S in Albany, NY to 84W to 81S in PA. That will at least get you around the NY/NJ Metro Area.

And then I continue down 81 through PA, across little bits of MD and WV to VA. Go all the way down through VA to below Roanoke where 77 diverges to go through Charlotte to Columbia SC. From there 26 to 95 and on down into Florida.

I will gladly trade time and extra miles to avoid the NY, NJ, greater Philadelphia and Baltimore, DC and Richmond 95 corridor. The chances of a significant time delay somewhere along there are probably 4 in 5.

This is the way I prefer, also.
It's a little longer distance but the traffic usually is less and you avoid the major cities.

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Originally posted by WaterburyBob:

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
90W (Mass Pike) to 87S in Albany, NY to 84W to 81S in PA. That will at least get you around the NY/NJ Metro Area.

And then I continue down 81 through PA, across little bits of MD and WV to VA. Go all the way down through VA to below Roanoke where 77 diverges to go through Charlotte to Columbia SC. From there 26 to 95 and on down into Florida.

I will gladly trade time and extra miles to avoid the NY, NJ, greater Philadelphia and Baltimore, DC and Richmond 95 corridor. The chances of a significant time delay somewhere along there are probably 4 in 5.

This is the way I prefer, also.
It's a little longer distance but the traffic usually is less and you avoid the major cities.

I'm working on mapping this out because I'm sure I will have to fight the navigation. It is working though. I was following this to 81 and it had me getting back on 95 through Washington DC area. I moved it back to 81 and it cut a half hour off (total time is almost 2 hours more, but worth it if I'm moving guns and avoiding city traffic.

Actually just mapped this out completely and it only adds about 1 hour and avoids all the crap cities. Love it. I may do this route even without guns.

Or maybe I bring some guns to keep in my Florida house this time?

Merritt Parkway is a very good alternative to 95 but tends to have a lot of traffic during rush hour (4-7). 50 MPH limit-no commercial trucks due to low bridges.
Tappan Zee--swing west to 78/81. This is the preferred truck route--lot of 18 wheelers. No formal rest stops --so plan your gas fill ups ahead--identify BJ's or Costco for pit stops.

An alternative is the Amtrack Car Train. Departs Lorton VA at 5 pm arrives Sanford ,Fl at 8 AM next day. Hotel room, gas, mileage vs Amtrack.

I have done this route (81 South) numerous times and recommend it. The other thing I do is make sure your fuel is full before leaving. It precludes needing to stop in these blue states.
I have done PA to NH for decades and don’t like stopping in NY, CT or MASS. if at all possible.
I have done 84W from Hartford to 81S.

quote:

90W (Mass Pike) to 84W to 91S to Wilbur Cross Pkwy/Merritt Pkwy to 287W cross the Tappan Zee Bridge. This will avoid NYC AND 95 altogether (Both SUCK Big time!), and it is the most direct route. After that I'd take the GSP South (Garden State Pkwy), and then you're on your own.

I always used this one.

I did this twice last year and this route worked very well - no tolls and kept us off I95 as much as possible.

I 91 South to Hartford
I 84 West towards Scranton
I 380 North towards Scranton (short section)
I 81 South at Scranton
I 77 South near Fort Chriswell.
Pass through Charlotte, depending of the time of day, probably better to take the bypass Around Charlotte
I 26 South on South side of Columbia
I 95 South

I'm actually doing this in reverse in June. From Augusta GA area to Acadia in Maine. I'll do the I-81 option as above to miss I-95, which as others have stated is a nightmare.

Years (well, decades now) ago, I used to go from Reading PA to NH, and did the I-83 to I-81 and up route, and it worked well then. Aside from that deer and my Ford Pinto....

I also prefer the 81S route described above.

Remember when you are in Florida that 95 designates the interstate number as well as the speed you're supposed to be going.

As well as the temperature, humidity level, and sum of Florida Man’s and Florida Woman’s IQ.