Another NY to FL alternate driving route question

[drewc]

I'm know this has been covered before, but I'm looking for more recent experiences/opinions.

We are travelling from upstate NY to FL in a couple of weeks (leaving Thursday 4/5). We're leaving early enough on Thursday that I know we'll run into a lot of traffic on the NJ Turnpike, and also on 95 through Baltimore. So, I'm planning on heading over 84 to Scranton, PA, and down 81. I'm considering two routes from there:

1. 81 - 17 - 95 (picking up 95 at Fredericksburg, VA)
2. 81 - 64 - 288 - 95 (picking up 95 south of Richmond).

Option 1 only adds on about 60 miles to our normal 95 route, but I've heard that 17 has lower speed limits and some traffic lights.

Option 2 adds more miles (about 120 extra) but is supposedly all highway.

My guess is that either of these routes will get us to Richmond quicker than going through NJ, DE, MD and the beltways. My question is which of the two will be the quicker?

We'll be towing our camper also (in case that makes a difference). Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Moomduck1]

I live near Scranton. What time will you be passing through, approximately? There are some definite times to avoid 81.

That said, we always take 81 when we go to FL, but we don't get on 95 til much further south. We get on I81 at approximately exit 168 (Wilkes-Barre) and we try to make sure that we do not hit the Harrisburg area around 8 or 9am, noonish, or after 3pm. I would also avoid the Scranton area around 8 or 9am and after 4pm.

I81 has a lot of off and on construction. There is a good chance that you will hit it on your way home near the WB/Scranton area but probably not on your way there. The last time I was near Hershey (both ways) there was construction as well. Just keep it in mind, and try to avoid the busy times of day, and you should be fine.

 

[Alexander]

If you are leaving from Upstate why would you get on the NJ Turnpike? Where are you leaving from? We travel frequently from Syracuse. We always take 81 to 17 and 66 which puts you on 95 just above Richmond.

In February DH was heading down via the above route and had to get off 81 at Clarks Summit because 81 was closed near Scranton. He took the NE extension and got on 95 near Philly. It took him quite a bit longer to go that way. Granted the weather was horrible (the Valentine's Day storm) but, he was insistant that it was better to go the way we usually do.

 

[Moomduck1]

Granted the weather was horrible (the Valentine's Day storm)

He was lucky to get through at all! 81 and the PA turnpike were all closed for HOURS that day!! Cars were stuck for over 10 hours in some parts. Glad he made it through ok.

 

[drewc]

We're coming from north of Albany, so the most direct route is to go down 87, to 287, to Turnpike/95 and then right down 95 (495 around DC being the exception). However, we'd be getting to NJ around 8pm, and in the past we've gotten stuck in some very slow moving traffic all the way down to DE at that time. So, I'm thinking we'll head on 84 west and then down 81 to avoid all the Jersey, Baltimore and DC backups.

 

[higgyman]

We drive at least once a year from Albany to either FL or Myrtle Beach. I'm surprised to hear you have trouble when you hit NJ around 8:00 PM. That's about when we always get there and have never had a problem. We take 17 to the Garden State to the NJ Turnpike. That time of night also puts in Baltimore and DC late enough to breeze right through.

However if you do want to try 81, I would suggest using 88 to Binghamton to pick up 81. Good luck on the trip.

 

[kretsebr]

I've traveled the 88-81-17-95 to Fredericksburg a number of times and found that as one of the quickest routes. Yes 17 does have some stop and goes, but I've never seen it backed up. As for I95, do not even go near it in the DC area.

But the question to you, would be, what size camper and towing vehicle are you using. The I88 and I81 can be tough on some vehicles because of the hill/mountain climbs and descends. There are some really big ones between Binghamton and Scranton.

 

[dis-happy]

You can stay on the 81 south all the way to NC. Have you looked at that? I live in Clt. and when I drive to DC I take the 81 all the way to the 66---it sure beats the 95 from either Fredricksburn or Richmond. The more of I-95 you can avoid, the better.
From 77-S you can catch the I-26 in Columbia, and meet up with the 95 in SC. Travel time to WDW from there is ~6 hours.

 

[strmtroopr96]

I've traveled the 88-81-17-95 to Fredericksburg a number of times and found that as one of the quickest routes. Yes 17 does have some stop and goes, but I've never seen it backed up. As for I95, do not even go near it in the DC area.

But the question to you, would be, what size camper and towing vehicle are you using. The I88 and I81 can be tough on some vehicles because of the hill/mountain climbs and descends. There are some really big ones between Binghamton and Scranton.

Just wanted to say hi! My hubby works in Johnstown. He's originally from Mayfield but we live in Herkimer County (Ilion). Glad to see you on the Dis!!

 

[shafke]

We're coming from north of Albany, so the most direct route is to go down 87, to 287, to Turnpike/95 and then right down 95 (495 around DC being the exception). However, we'd be getting to NJ around 8pm, and in the past we've gotten stuck in some very slow moving traffic all the way down to DE at that time. So, I'm thinking we'll head on 84 west and then down 81 to avoid all the Jersey, Baltimore and DC backups.

Another option is to take 87 to 287 to 78 and then to 81. This will avoid the Scranton area where I have had nothing but bad luck going through. You would be passing through Allentown which I feel is a better option than Scranton. Mileage wise both routes appear about the same.

 

[Moomduck1]

You can stay on the 81 south all the way to NC. Have you looked at that? I live in Clt. and when I drive to DC I take the 81 all the way to the 66---it sure beats the 95 from either Fredricksburn or Richmond. The more of I-95 you can avoid, the better.
From 77-S you can catch the I-26 in Columbia, and meet up with the 95 in SC. Travel time to WDW from there is ~6 hours.

I agree. This is the route we take from PA.
I'd have to look at a map for the other suggestion about avoiding 81 near Scranton. I would look into it. I try to avoid 81 in Scranton as much as possible, and I live near it.

 

[drewc]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think we're going to to do the 287-78-81-17-95 route. On my side-by-side comparison with the straight 95 route, that only added about 40 miles (each way) to the trip. That will also allow us to completely bypass all the tunnels and bridges, which I was wary of with our camper anyway.

Thanks!