Any NJ drivers use 81 from Harrisburg PA

[Brook1099]

Every year we drive 95 around the dreaded Beltway to Disney, I am looking to get some info on another route. My DH thinks its a waste of time, but I do not like that part of the trip:eek. Would it add alot of time to our already 16 hours drive. I was wondering if anyone has suggestion on how to take 81 from harrisburg pa and what other highways to get back on 95 somewhere further south!! Any info would be greatly appreciated. Brenda

 

[SevrenLuna]

Try US 301 S out of Delaware and reconnect just north of Richmond, VA. I live in Annapolis, Maryland and I use it when we go to VA Beach and trying to to avoid the Northern VA & DC nightmare in the summer. It is a more scenic route, but its flat. It will not add allot of time maybe an hour or so b/c you will encounter stop lights as it runs through small towns. 81 is to far west and you will waste allot of time trying to rejoin 95 from there. Plus that road can be stressful with all the trucks on small lanes through VA. 301 is pretty much parallel to 95 on its east side without the Baltimore & DC beltways. I know they can be rough. I commute to DC daily. I hope this helps.

 

[Megs114]

Every year we drive 95 around the dreaded Beltway to Disney, I am looking to get some info on another route. My DH thinks its a waste of time, but I do not like that part of the trip:eek. Would it add alot of time to our already 16 hours drive. I was wondering if anyone has suggestion on how to take 81 from harrisburg pa and what other highways to get back on 95 somewhere further south!! Any info would be greatly appreciated. Brenda

I've driven on 81 for a few years now from Central NJ to Carlisle, PA since my college roommate lives there. It takes me 3 hours to get to Carlisle from my house and I am right by the NJ Turnpike so I'm not sure if this way would really help you. However, if you want to talk to your DH about it, you would take 81, to 78 East, to 287 South, to the NJ Turnpike which would lead you to 95. Hope this helps!

 

[DCTooTall]

I did Google Maps to time it for you....


Coming from more northern NJ (Newark area), Taking 81 adds about 1hr to the estimated drive time.

From southern NJ (Philly Area) it adds about 2hrs.


As for the best route utilizing 81 back to 95, It'd probably recommend just keeping on 81 till you meet up with 77 where you can shoot south through Charlotte and join back with 95 outside of Columbia, SC.

 

[Muhlenberg]

We don't live in NJ, BUT, we always take 81-77-26-95. For us, according to Google Maps, it supposedly adds an hour. (Otherwise we'd be taking the Blue Route down to 95.) HOWEVER, I look at it like we could SIT in traffic for an hour around Balt./DC. Yes, there's only 2 lanes on 81 in VA, and there's a lot of hills and trucks on those hills, but we find it to be much more relaxing. I'll take the "supposed 1 hour extra" over the traffic in Balt./DC anytime.

It depends on your preferences. And it may be different with living farther east.

 

[Uncleromulus]

That's the essential problem--the farther E you live, the farther W you need to travel just to get to I-81.