Driving from Mass - NJ Question

[dkddis]

This will be our second time driving from MA and we will leave at around 5:00 AM on Saturday of Feb vacation week. I cross the Tapanzee and last time immediately got on the Garden state parkway, but this year my Trip-Tik says to take 287 all the way to the end until it connects with the Turnpike. Is this necessary on a Saturday? Should I just go the regular way. I am not familiar with any construction going on in the state. Thanks.

 

[Jamesbyr]

Look at a map: 287 makes a wide detour around the NY Metro area. It also has no tolls. I have never driven that stretch, but I believe it is popular with trucks. The Parkway is more direct. Your call.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

287 will take you WAAAY west then loop south/southeast until it hooks up with the NJ Turnpike at Exit 10. That sounds like a major time waster to me.

If you're leaving MA at 5 AM, I'm guessing you'd hit the Tappan Zee mid to late morning?? I think it would be much quicker to take the Garden State Parkway south to the NJ Tpk.

 

[Mark P.]

Got to love those .35 cent tolls on the northern part of the Parkway...More direct route than 287, but man those are a pain!

 

[Amii]

Trip-Tik sometimes sends you out of the way because of road work. You may want to check out if there is road work going on at the Tapanzee or Garden State Parkway. We have driven from MA several times using Tirp-Tik. One time we thought it was easier to take a more direct route than was on the Trip-Tik. Boy were we wrong. We sat in traffic for almost 5 hours going nowhere due to raod work in NY. Good luck!

 

[Mike_Ma]

I also live in the Metrowest MA area and drive through NJ several times a year. If you leave at 5 AM you should get to the Tappan Zee by 8:30-9:00 AM. On a Saturday morning, traffic should not be a problem.

To become informed of traffic on the Tappan Zee bridge, or Garden State Parkway, I tune into WCBS radio (880) and listen to the traffic reports that are given every 10 minutes. If the traffic is reported to be very bad, I will take an alternate route.

Alternatives include, taking 9W south through Fort Lee to get to the New Jersey Turnpike after crossing the Tappan Zee, or taking 287 to the Turnpike as stated in the original post. I would only take 287 during a weekday rush hour (After 4 PM). The traffic on the Garden State can be brutal during rush hour.

Good Luck.

 

[cranbiz]

My last couple of trips, we have left at 5pm and 6pm. I have just gone straight thru NY using the GW bridge.

The traffic has been light with no delays. On a Sat i would not expect many problems and I just don't like the wide circle around NY, it takes too much time (unless I'm driving there during rush hour)