Driving from New England. Any way around NYC ?

[eeyoresmom]

We may be driving to Disney over the kids April vacation this year. For some reason, I always plan the trip down very well and get through NYC late at night or early morning. The way home however has always been different, and I've had horrible luck from the New Jersey Turnpike through NYC ( both times I've driven home,the NJ Turnpike has been closed down once for fog and once for an accident) Is there an alternative to miss as much of this stretch as possible??? This stretch of the drive home really puts a damper on the whole drive for me, otherwise our family enjoys the drive.

 

[Maxie86]

Take the Garden State Parkway and go over the Tappan Zee Bridge. Goes around NYC.

 

[CarolAnnB]

We go the same route as Maxie, Garden State Parkway over Tappen Zee Bridge/rte 287.

 

[artesian]

Yep Mass Pike 84 91 merrit pkwy 287 tappan zee nys thruway garden state pkwy to the NJ tpk

 

[francie57]

Depending on where you are coming from there are a few ways to get through CT and around NYC. If you are coming down the Mass Pike, take the Sturbridge exit and come down Rt. 84 all the way through CT, then take 684 to the end and get one 287 over the Tappan Zee Bridge to the Garden State. If you are coming down 95 you can take 95 to 287 or take 95 to the Merritt Parkway to 287. We avoid NYC anytime we travel south no matter what time of day it is its a mess. Going the Garden State is a little longer but you make up the time by the fact that you keep moving - less tolls also.

 

[Detailor]

If you are coming down the Mass Pike, take the Sturbridge exit and come down Rt. 84 all the way through CT, then take 684 to the end and get one 287 over the Tappan Zee Bridge to the Garden State.

We go that way when driving to D.C., you pick up I-95/New Jersey Turnpike after about 45 miles on the Garden State Parkway.

Dick Taylor

 

[onyx8]

We go that way when driving to D.C., you pick up I-95/New Jersey Turnpike after about 45 miles on the Garden State Parkway.

Dick Taylor

Get off the NJT at exit 7 (Fort Dix) and switch to 295S. No tolls and less traffic.

 

[csarenz]

It sounds like you are asking about the trip back up to New England. Like the others have said, the most direct alternate is getting off of the NJ Turnpike onto the Garden State Parkway. Take the Parkway into New York onto 287 East over the Tappen Zee Bridge. From there you can either take the Merritt Parkway or 95 through CT into Mass or RI depending on where you're going.

Now this will add a few more miles onto your trip. But keep in mind that depending on when you go, the Parkway is bound to be just as bad as the Turnpike.

If you are willing to add even more miles you can get off the Turnpike at Exit 10 for 287N, take that all the way up to 684 (I think) to 84. This adds a lot of miles to the trip but can avoid traffic if you are hitting the North Jersey/NYC area during rush hour.

My best suggestion would be that when you get around exit 8a on the Turnpike, turn to either AM 1010 (1010 WINS) or AM 880 (CBS). Both stations have traffic every 10 minutes (1010 on the 1s, 880 on the 8s) and you can find out what kind of delay you are looking at for the GWB.

Hope this helps.

Chris