Best way to York from New England

Isn't there an interstate that goes west from Hartford that connects with the Tappan Zee?  You could take the Tappan Zee, Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike to PA TP connection, to Harrisburg, and down 83 to York.

 

It's been so many decades since I've traveled those roads I won't hazard a guess as to what's best.

Gary, The best way for you to go to York is just like you said. 84 to Scranton. 81 to Harrisburg, and 83 to York. it's about 35 miles further that way, but if you hit traffic the other way it could be a lot longer in time. I have gone every way possible over the last 60 years.

Personally I avoid large metropolitan areas even if it takes a little longer. Also GPS assumes running the speed limit with no delays. Your old route would have minimal traffic. An Alternative would be to take 87 south after crossing the Hudson to 287 to 78. Then you have to deal with tolls. Your old route would have minimal tolls.

 

Pete

Hi SUPERWARP,

   I live about an hour north of YORK.   When my WIFE and I go up to Maine each year we go up I 81 to I84 and stay in Sturbridge Ma. for the night.  Easy and enjoyable trip, stay the night at the Publick House before going to Maine.  I didn't want to fight traffic going up I-95 that's why we travel that route.  Little more time but worth it. Hope you have a wonderful YORK trip.

Stick to your old route.  Avoid the NY Metro area.  GPS is for people who can't read a map,and are too lazy to think for themselves. ( Here come the flaming arrows.)

 

Richie

I'll echo the sentiments to steer clear of I95 and the NYC metro area.  We drive from the Phila Area to Boston frequently, and we never consider I95.  All the mapping programs and the GPS want to take you that way, but it's almost never a good idea!

 

 

we live here and don't take 95. From where you are 84 to 81 is the way to go...scenic and a spirited drive.

 

rat

We travel frequently from DC to NY.  The others here are not wrong, but if you want to go the most direct route, you can go through the NYC area if (and only if) you want to leave very early.  If you can get into and out of the NYC area before 6:30am (I try to clear it by 6am), you will likely have minimal delay.  The earlier you go, the less the chance of delay.

 

Other routes are also fine but the reality I have experienced is that you can also run into traffic on these alternates -- construction, odd accidents, etc.  -- and then you have gone out of your way to boot.  The best way to avoid such things in general is to drive early and take the most direct route.  Also, if there is rain in the forecast for the day of the drive then I would plan to drive a different day.  Driving in the rain interstate is a guaranteed disaster from my experience.  HTH.

Stay away from NYC and GWB. Use the Tap.  Thats the way I go when I go anyplace up north from NJ.  just my opinion. Enjoy your trip. Steve.

Depending from where in New England  I 84 downtown Hartford,CT,  usually by-passed by I 91 south, to I 691  to I 84. 

 

Just to tweak the interstate routing.  I 81 south from Scranton is restricted to 50 MPH for considerable distance, and is usually somewhat congested, or under construction.  You may do well using I 380 from I 84 as an alternate route to I 80 and then I 81 south.  

 

Also note that the I 84 to I 81 South, Scranton,PA., quickly, and easily accesses Steamtown, National Historic site.

 

One of my favorite get lost trips is US RT 11 along the Susquehanna River to Harrisburg.  Northumberland, PA., Weaver Models, can be accessed from this trip route.   Beautiful Pennsylvania farmland, along one of the great rivers, IMO.

 

Harrisburg, Rt 322 and the PA turnpike, I 76, should get you back to I 81 south.  The section of I 81 south from Harrisburg to York, is always busy and congested. 

 

Enjoy your trip. 

Mike CT 

 

 

You guys are stating what I've been thinking,  I'll continue the old way.  If I feel adventures Saturday on the way back I can try I-95

Hi Gary,

 

I regularly take I-91 to I-84 to I-684 to I 287 to the Tappen Zee Bridge and I-287 to I-78to Easton PA. Not a bad route, but the Scranton Route is much better.

 

In no case try the George Washington Bridge. You can get delayed there at any time of the day or night.

 

Have a fun trip.

As i said I have made that trip over 300 or more times. I'll tell you another way, but don't try it if you never have. at Hartford take 91 to New Haven, then 95 a few miles to the Wilber Cross Pkwy, that turns into the Merit Pkwy which then turns into the cross county Pky. from there it turns into the saw Mill R. Pky, and that turns into the Henry Hudson Pkwy which takes you to the GW bridge. Then the Jersey Turnpike to the Penn tpke to  rte 222 to rte 30. Total dist from Portland 498 miles.

  Going 84 81 83 is 540 miles. I know all those routes because I used to live in Westchester County & NY city. 

Keep in mind on your trip from New England to Pennsylvania somewhere you have to cross the Hudson River, which is an estuary.  As far north as Poughkeepsie, NY,  the Hudson river, due to tides, flows backwards at times.  I 84 bridge is the Newburgh-Beacon bridge, toll east bound.  Some say the headwaters of the Hudson have never been found. 

 

There is a railroad bridge/walkway over the Hudson, old New Haven Railroad Bridge, New York State Park, that can be accessed, from Poughkeepsie, or Hide Park.  We spent 26 million on this project, it's worth the extra miles. IMO. 

 

Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, all, accept EZ Pass toll collection.  Welcome to the eastern United States.  

 

Trip from Western PA to Boston takes 12 to 13 hours. 

Most notable, last trip, was that I 80 truck traffic seemed to approach a solid train.  Night time, there are even more trucks.    

Stay away from the George Washington Bridge!!

 

That bridge has had the potential for major delays even as far back as George Washington's time.

 

I-84 and the Newburgh-Beacon bridge is the best choice.

Eddie,

I lived and was raised in Dobbs Ferry. Where did you live in Westchester?

Bob, my roots are New Rochelle.

Do Not, repeat DO NOT, take I-95 through New York City.

 

The section known as the Cross-Bronx Expressway was voted worst highway in America by a truck drivers association.  There is so much heavy truck traffic that grooves have been worn in the pavement.  When you try to change lanes you can go airborne!

 

From Hartford, the shortest route I would recommend is I-84 west, I-684/Saw Mill Pkwy/I-287 to Tappan Zee Bridge, I-287 south to I-78 West, US 222 south via Reading, US 30 west to York. (The route starting 78 west is the one I take from NJ.) 

  

Problems:  Expect a very rough ride on 684.  Saw Mill is narrow and winding. US 222 north of Reading is two lane with a few traffic lights. Enjoy the Kutztown bypass!

 

-OLDGUYFROMNJ

I agree.  Avoid I 95 thru NYC.

 

Train - Northeast Regional – 141

Depart Hartford, CT 6:35 AM

Arrive Philadelphia, PA 30^th Street Station 11:00 AM

 

Train - Pennsylvanian - 43 

Depart Philadelphia 12:42 PM

Arrive Harrisburg, PA 2:26 PM

 

Walk to Market & 5^TH

 

Bus to York, PA

Depart Harrisburg 3:32 PM

Arrive York, PA 4:51 PM

I have been on the OGR forum since the early 00s...and I have say that in some form or another this is the first time I have ever seen total agreement. Stay away from 95, the Cross Bronx the George Washington Bridge....

Since 1984 we were going south on The Palisades to the Jersey Tpke to the PA tpke. Just a flatout boring drive. About 2002 only two of us went and we hit a wall of traffic west of Philadelphia that we sat for an hour. That was the last time . Now we're on 287 to 78 to 222. Its about 3 hours. No drama, some scenic vistas, some bottlenecks. If there is no rain.....its a 3 hour tour.

 

rat

I have lived in New England for 25+ years, but I'm still a Type-A NJ/NY guy.  I'd drive through the streets of the Bronx if I thought it would save 15 minutes.  (But it doesn't, so I don't.)

Everyone here seems to be saying not to take the GWB, but from 10am until about 2pm and from 8pm-5am, the GWB will likely save you 20 minutes over any other approach.  Yes, there can be a traffic jam during those hours, but it's the exception not the rule.  During the morning rush, the Tappan Zee (and I-287 that feeds it) can be almost as bad.  

 

Since you live north of Hartford, I would do the following:

1. IF YOU WILL BE DRIVING THROUGH NY METRO DURING RUSH HOUR, the I-84 bridge into Newburgh, NY might be your best bet.  My rule is to avoid NY Metro during the morning rush, not just any one bridge.  
2. IF YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH NY METRO OUTSIDE THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, almost as soon as you get in your car, turn on WINS 1010 AM and switch between it and WCBS 880 AM.  One station has traffic reports "on the ones" (i.e., 8:01, 8:11, 8:21, etc.) and the other has traffic reports "on the eights".  You're never more than seven minutes from a "bridges and tunnels" update.
3. Take I-84 to I-684.
4. By listening to the traffic reports, you can make the last-minute call concerning getting off 684 and onto 287 and going over the Tappan Zee or continuing south and going over the GWB.  Remember, all other things being equal, the GWB will save you 20 minutes over any other crossing.
5. Once you're south of NYC, how you get to York is up to you, but I personally prefer I-95 -> I-78 -> I-81 -> I-83.  I find this to be the fastest way from the North.

Having said all that, here's how I've done it the past few years with great success:

1. Take Amtrak to Philadelphia
2. Rent a car at the Hertz office inside 30th Street Station.
3. Drive 90 miles to York (I-76 -> Rt 222 -> Rt 30).

The advantage of the train is, well, it's a train.  More to the point, you can sit with your laptop and get several hours of work done as you ride versus clenching the wheel white-knuckled as you bomb across the Cross Bronx.  There's a 2pm-ish Saturday return train that you can easily catch after the Halls close.

 

HTH.

 

Steven J. Serenska

 

 

Hey, I recognize that route from a trip to CT a long time ago.

 

I'm very good with maps but it is almost impossible to find paper maps anymore.  Gas stations want big bucks for them, if they even have any In stock.  State Tourism offices are too often out of free maps.

 

I like my GPS since it offers alternate routes I may not have thought about.  Also gives tips for shopping and dining.  

 

Guys at work call me Mr GPS not because I rely on the little screen, rather they think I have all the maps memorized in my head. 

If you belong to "AAA", you can get all the maps and travel guides you want for free.

There is also MapQuest, for the few of us without GPS. 

Noted experience last fall, our Scout trip to the Grand Canyon. 12 passenger van, 4 adults, 5 scouts and more electronic devices than imaginable.  Some one did bring a multiple 12 volt outlet but still the number of cords from the Dash board outlets look like some of the underlay wiring pictures posted on the forum.   GPS was great.

 

We did pick a significant weather event from National news, northern Nevada into Utah that had effected traffic on I 15. Detour and construction work didn't appear on any of the GPS devices.  Always a good idea to check the news events and weather reports.  

 

There are restricted speed zones.  Road Construction season is well under way in Pennsylvania.  Use caution, drive safely.   

I've done all of the routes mentioned. Problem with Scranton is road repairs, single lanes, and often snow or sleet in the higher elevations.  

 

Another option that most would say don't take (but we often do) is 222 from Pt Jervis through the Delaware Water Gap, then across 80 for a very short distance, down

33 to Bethlehem, across 78 to 222, down 222 to Lancaster then over 30 to  York.  Most of this route is now divided highway and reasonably fast, particularly around Reading (which was once a nightmare).  Still, Route 30 into York can be slow, and there are sections of 35- 45 mph speeds but little traffic. This route enables you to miss most of the trucks, cross the Hudson at Newburgh, avoid Scranton and Harrisburg, and see some beautiful scenery.

 

Lew Schneider

Woops.  It's 209 through the Delaware Water Gap from Pt Jervis to  East Stroudsburg.

 

Lew Schneider

Steve,

 

interesting sugestion on the GWB.  Things to ponder.  

 

I plan on leaving the house in Southwick 8-8:30 am my GPS is a smart GPS that receives traffic updates and adjusts accordingly.  more tha likely I won't decide until I punch in the hotel address before I leave, see what options it gives me.  I am leaning 84 to 81 in Scranton as Eddie and others have suggested But thanks for all the input everyone

 

for those going earlier than Wednesday could possible give us a heads up on road conditions

Interesting comments. I think we will continue taking Amtrak on our 4+ yearly trips from Phila to Boston.

I'll have to consider the train in the future.  Have way to many side trips planned on the way back Saturday.

One more thing, remember, "better safe, then sorry".

 

Richie

Gary:

One other way I avoid NY Metro traffic is to leave late the night before.  I don't know if you're doing anything in particular on Wednesday, but leaving your house at 5pm-ish will put you in York late at night, but you'll sail straight through the NYC area.

For many years, my routine was to leave New England at 5-6pm on Wednesday night and drive straight to York, arriving at approximately 11pm.  You can sleep in on Thursday morning because the halls don't open until noon.  At times, I also stopped in the middle of nowhere in PA (e.g., Kutztown), found a Super 8 or a Motel 6 for <= $50, and drove the rest of the way on Thursday morning.  This also has the advantage of making one of the hotel nights a cheap one.

One last item: On your trip home on Saturday, if you're thinking about the GWB, check to see if the Yankees are at home.  They play on Saturday afternoons and you can get clobbered coming off the bridge if 50,000 extra people are rolling up the Deegan after the game.

If the Yanks are away or the game is still in progress, you're likely to sail across the GWB on a Saturday afternoon.  Again, the radio is your friend and, if there are any issues, you can divert to the Tappan Zee fairly easily if you hear about any problems prior to the junction of I-78/I-287.  On the drive home, I normally tune in beginning in Allentown, PA so I can understand the dynamic of the NY traffic patterns well in advance.

 

Enjoy it.

 

SJS

>> It's 209 through the Delaware Water Gap from Pt Jervis to  East Stroudsburg.

 

Excellent alternative!  209 avoids the Water Gap.  It's 2-lane, but trucks are banned on that section.  Some very scenic spots on 33 and an amazing view where it joins 78.

 

According to MapQuest it's only 27 minutes more driving time than Tappan Zee/287/78, and you avoid that rough section of 684 and the twisty Saw Mill Parkway.

You do know the average speed limit on  rt.209 from PT. Jervis to the Del water gap is 35-40 mph (with limited passing and lots of cops). I'd take RT. 84 to 81 (And I do!)

In my opinion the best route to anywhere is what Google Maps says.  Running GM on your phone in the car gives you real-time traffic info and is amazingly accurate due to the millions of sensors Google has on the road.   Those sensors being every phone that is powered on, in a car and has GM installed. Driving a long distance without real-time traffic updates is just asking for trouble and delays in this day and age.