Best way to get to Route 81 from CT

[Shannon G]

Not a WDW question, but we are driving from CT to Charleston, SC over April vacation. I have already decided that we will take the inland route, so I need to get to Route 81, to head south through Pa & into Va (we are actually going to stop & spend a day in Va on the way down).

I have come up with two primary options for getting to 81, but I don't know which is better (better roads, less traffic, etc):

1. 84 to 684 to 87 to 287 to 78 to 81
2. 84 to 81 in Scranton, Pa

If it matters, we will be leaving on a Thursday evening, likely around 5, so I expect that we will hit traffic on 84 in CT (possibly in Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury), but I'm hoping that will be the worst of it. The plan is to drive as far as Harrisonburg, Va, then stop for the night.

Thoughts on which is the preferable route?

 

[rwdavis2]

Not a WDW question, but we are driving from CT to Charleston, SC over April vacation. I have already decided that we will take the inland route, so I need to get to Route 81, to head south through Pa & into Va (we are actually going to stop & spend a day in Va on the way down).

I have come up with two primary options for getting to 81, but I don't know which is better (better roads, less traffic, etc):

1. 84 to 684 to 87 to 287 to 78 to 81
2. 84 to 81 in Scranton, Pa

If it matters, we will be leaving on a Thursday evening, likely around 5, so I expect that we will hit traffic on 84 in CT (possibly in Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury), but I'm hoping that will be the worst of it. The plan is to drive as far as Harrisonburg, Va, then stop for the night.

Thoughts on which is the preferable route?

I would take which ever one is the shortest travel time. Personally I hate driving I-81 due to all the truck traffic.

 

[Shannon G]

Problem is I've never driven that way, so I don't know which is likely to really be the shortest travel time. According to mapquest / yahoo maps, etc, the travel time is not much different between the two routes, but those don't take into account which route is more likely to have potential traffic issues. I'm sure the maps would tell me that the fastest route to SC would be to take 95 rather than 81, but that doesn't account for the traffic I would hit in NYC, Philly, and DC.

 

[rwdavis2]

Google maps will give you drive time in current traffic conditions. I'm not familiar with traffic up to NYC. After than you have to avoid the Baltimore and especially DC beltways at rush hour.

If it's any help, when we drive to Vermont from south of Baltimore we avoid New Jersey at all costs. So that means (after the Balt. beltway) we take 83 to 81 to 84 to 87. But you would skip the I-83 route to Baltimore.

How much more time is the I-81 route vs 95? If it's anything longer than 60-90 minutes then I would consider the I-95 route. Or possible once you get to Harrisburg, PA take I-83 to Baltimore, the beltway and catch I-95 south of Baltimore.

Hopefully this helps.

 

[dantedisney]

I have done both routes in the past and found that 84-81 is easiest and less stressful. However, going through NJ (287-78-81) is shorter but potential for traffic is more. Since you are leaving CT after 5pm, rush hour traffic may be over by the time you hit 287 in NJ and should be fine.

 

[shafke]

If there is not a big difference between the two routes I would go through 84 to 81. The other route you may catch the tail end of rush hour on 287.

 

[rwdavis2]

I have done both routes in the past and found that 84-81 is easiest and less stressful. However, going through NJ (287-78-81) is shorter but potential for traffic is more. Since you are leaving CT after 5pm, rush hour traffic may be over by the time you hit 287 in NJ and should be fine.

I agree. Waaaay less stressful unless you encounter a lot of tractor-trailers on 81. That's why we go through PA to VT. A little longer, but less stressful and less potential for a traffic mess.

 

[Shannon G]

Google maps will give you drive time in current traffic conditions. I'm not familiar with traffic up to NYC. After than you have to avoid the Baltimore and especially DC beltways at rush hour.

If it's any help, when we drive to Vermont from south of Baltimore we avoid New Jersey at all costs. So that means (after the Balt. beltway) we take 83 to 81 to 84 to 87. But you would skip the I-83 route to Baltimore.

How much more time is the I-81 route vs 95? If it's anything longer than 60-90 minutes then I would consider the I-95 route. Or possible once you get to Harrisburg, PA take I-83 to Baltimore, the beltway and catch I-95 south of Baltimore.

Hopefully this helps.

According to TripTiks from AAA, the inland route will take about 80 - 90 minutes longer. But, since we're much less likely to get stuck in traffic, I don't expect it will actually take that much longer. Especially since we are not leaving really late at night or really early in the morning, which we would need to do to avoid NYC traffic on the 95 route. I also looked at google maps, and, based on current traffic this afternoon, the time difference between I-95 and going 84 to 81 is only 15 minutes. Plus, taking the inland route, we plan to take the second day to combine some sightseeing with the travel.

The difference between going 87/287/78/81 and going 84 to 81 is only about 10 minutes. Given the minimal difference, and the higher chances of hitting traffic on 87/287, I think we'll probably take 84 to 81.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[shafke]

As you get closer to your trip check for any construction that may be going on.
Many construction projects occur at night so you could get delayed by lane closures.

 

[artesian]

What time to you see hitting 287? Half way down in the Morristown area you will hit rush 430-6. It always backs up around there. I used to commute home that way

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Not a WDW question, but we are driving from CT to Charleston, SC over April vacation. I have already decided that we will take the inland route, so I need to get to Route 81, to head south through Pa & into Va (we are actually going to stop & spend a day in Va on the way down).

I have come up with two primary options for getting to 81, but I don't know which is better (better roads, less traffic, etc):

1. 84 to 684 to 87 to 287 to 78 to 81
2. 84 to 81 in Scranton, Pa

If it matters, we will be leaving on a Thursday evening, likely around 5, so I expect that we will hit traffic on 84 in CT (possibly in Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury), but I'm hoping that will be the worst of it. The plan is to drive as far as Harrisonburg, Va, then stop for the night.

Thoughts on which is the preferable route?

I drive 81 to 84, but into N6, not CT. I know from our end we send people 81 to 84 and never thought of any other way.