Can not decide between 95 and 81

[capecoddisneyfamily]

I have both routes mapped out and will be taking two days each way. On the way down we will leave on a sunday arrive on a tuesday. On the way home we leave on a friday and arrive home sat-or sunday depends how much we can push the kids. So my long winded question is should we take a straight shot 95 (over the Tappen Zee), or go the 81,77,95 route? Way home pretty sure blasting up 95 because mostly will be weekend travel.

 

[NJRRK]

I say stick with 95, you'll be going through the Balto-Wash DC area on a Sunday both ways, and it's definitely shorter than the I-81 way

 

[Red_Rider]

I would go 95 the entire way.....

 

[HeatherC]

I think it depends on when you are going. I posted a few questions about this as well because we are traveling over July 4th weekend. Because of that we are taking the 81 route. If it was a regular non holiday week, we'd probably stick with 95 too.

Have a great trip!

 

[Uncleromulus]

81 is scenic, but absolutely FULL of trucks--more tractor-trailers than you've ever seen on one road in your life. It's not a pleasant drive going that way.
Take 95!

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

Thank you....I am going with the straight shot down 95. We have the fastpass and its all loaded up ready for the tolls. We are going April vacation.

 

[Anal Annie]

The TRUCKS on 81 are just awful. When we lived in Frederick, MD we were not too far from 81 so we used it to FL once insead of 95. I felt like our little Mazda was gonna get run over!! And if you don't "run" with them then it just feels really dangerous & scary. It's a huge trucking route... I hate it.

 

[GranddadTom]

I'm with Uncleromulus on this. I've driven that section of I-81 many, many times and it's the only road I've driven on where at times I fear for my life (and, yes, I've even driven in Ireland!). I think that I-81 should be closed. One in every four vehicle is a tractor-trailer. The road is hilly and the trucks crawl up the hills (often side by side blocking the passing lane) and then speed down the other side of the hill. If you have to get to Virginia Tech, well then use I-81 - otherwise plan to get to Washington on I-95 at non-rush hour times.

 

[greatmemory]

95 is a better way to go

 

[HeatherC]

What about over July 4th weekend? Should we still do 95? I was thinking of doing 81.

 

[sharadoc]

Are the trucks just as bad on weekends? We found 95 to be so much better on weekends, with hardly any trucks until you hit late Sunday. Is 81 the same?

 

[pattibehan]

We come from near Albany NY, and drive straight down 95 every year..we meet up with it from the NJ TP. We have never had a traffic problem, since we start our trip at 10pm, and we are past DC before morning traffic starts. I love the drive!

 

[dis-happy]

What about over July 4th weekend? Should we still do 95? I was thinking of doing 81.

Over 4th of July weekend I'd do 81. Also, don't go crazy speeding on 81---keep it at 5 miles over and no more. They ticket heavily all the way through VA.

 

[mdinme]

which toll pass do I need coming from the Maine. EZ pass or something else?

 

[HeatherC]

Thanks! Think we'll take 81 over July 4th.

To the previous poster...you can use EZ Pass or Fast Pass all the way to Florida.