Alternate route from CT, I-84, I-81?

[cleblanc]

I have seen some alternate routes given here on the board. One is to take I-84 to I-81 to I-64 to I-95. The other is I-81 to I-77 to I-26 to I-95. Has anyone ever gone this way? Does it take longer? If it does, about how much longer? Is it worth not traveling I-95 the whole way. Thanks

 

[Tigger22]

I don't know all the routes exactly because I don't have a map right now and I'm from SE CT, so I wouldn't go I-84. That being said - I-95 drives me nuts! The worst part for us is just getting out of CT! We have had good luck getting off 95, taking the Tappan Zee Bridge and down the Garden State Pkwy to where it meets up with NJ Turnpike. Garden State does have tolls, but we have EZPass, and it makes it quicker to get thru. Is it longer - I guess so, but we avoid the NYC area, and it just seems like a nicer ride. I know that you can get to the highway we use to get to the Tappan Zee from the Merit Pkwy. We always take the Jersey Pike - as I95 in NJ goes in towards Philly. Not sure if there are tolls there, but Jersey Pike has one at the end.

So now that I got you (and Me!) totally confused, did I even answer your question

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

We always took 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. I would not recommend using I-64, as that includes the Washington Beltway, I believe. I know my Mom, who used to have a second home in VA told me to never take I-64.

It is a nice ride. Not sure how it compares to taking 95 straight down, but not one person I asked about that route (friends, family, coworkers) seemed too thrilled with 95.

That route bypasses the major cities, too. Except Charlotte. We always tried to hit Charlotte at an off-peak time.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

We always took 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. I would not recommend using I-64, as that includes the Washington Beltway, I believe. I know my Mom, who used to have a second home in VA told me to never take I-64.

Actually, it's I-66 that leads from I-81 near Front Royal east to DC and the beltway. I-64 goes east from I-81 near Staunton toward Richmond and Norfolk, well south of the DC area. It's been a while since I've been on I-66, but IIRC it's a zoo from Manassas on in to the beltway.

If you take I-64, I'd suggest taking Route 288 around Richmond to I-95 south. It gets you around the Richmond traffic and some roadwork being done on I-64

 

[dgaston]

We like to take the 84-81 77 26 95 route. It is prettier, love NC reststops, and more relaxing than the I 95 corridor. We hate DC traffic (got stuck at 3 am once!) It is longer and I would never take it in snow. We plan on going that way for our HH trip next month.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

mileage ways 95 is shorter, but there a ton of places to get hammered by traffic. CT, NY, Baltimore, DC, northern VA


That being said if you time it right you cant beat 95, with the NJTPKE thrown in for NJ. We have made it once from Hartford to Disney in 16.5 hours, with an average of about 19 hours.

Just be sure to get over the GW bridge before rush hour and everything else should be good.

If you cant get over GW early take 84-684-287 over the Tappen Zee bridge to Garden State Pkwy to NJ Tpke. Its about an hour longer that way, but can easily equal out with traffic on GW

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I'm central CT & prefer the 95 route. If you time it right it is the fastest. I take the parkway to 9A to the GW and then the Turnpike back to 95. If you don't go during rush hour it's fine.

 

[baileybelle]

From Ct we do 84-81-66-17-95-295-95-295-95-4. Have done 81-77-26-95 and found it added an hour on. Also hated the high mountains on 77.