Driving from north of Boston

[Tigger7570]

Hi:
We live on the North Shore and have driven a couple of times. However, we don’t want to go straight 95 because we hate going over the GW bridge. A friend mentioned he goes 287 And then picks up 95 in NJ. Wondered if anyone goes this way and where do you pick it up coming from the North Shore.

 

[mousefan1972]

I’m also from the MA north shore. Assuming you are close to route 95 (we are), I would do: 95/128 south to the mass pike to 84 west to 287. However, we drive 25 minutes to Logan and fly. LOL.

 

[Tigger7570]

We usually fly but we are driving this time. Have you gone this way before?

 

[npatellye]

287 will take you over the Tappan Zee, or whatever it is now called (I’ve known it as the Tappan Zee since I was a little kid). We drove it this past fall and it was as busy as ever. Depending on the time of day, you could hit quite a bit of traffic on 84, 684, and 287. Another option is to take 95 down and take 287 from Port Chester. Again it all depends on the time of day as 95 in CT can have heavy traffic.

We live along the 95 corridor in CT and, as much as I don’t love the crazy traffic near the GWB, that is the fastest route south for us so we still end up taking it 95% of the time.

 

[Tigger7570]

We always hit a lot of traffic on 95 in CT. We stopped by AAA to do a trip tik which we have done in the past and they route us to 84 which they say is AAA’s recommended route. We just thought we might want to try 287.

 

[npatellye]

287 is definitely less traffic than 95 to the GWB. If I’m driving that way really late at night or very early in the morning (before 5 am), I like to take 287. If you take it all the way to 95, you’ll cut around the less congested area of NJ and will hit 95 in the Edison/Metuchen area. Have a great trip!

 

[Tigger7570]

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

 

[Donna M]

Hi:
We live on the North Shore and have driven a couple of times. However, we don’t want to go straight 95 because we hate going over the GW bridge. A friend mentioned he goes 287 And then picks up 95 in NJ. Wondered if anyone goes this way and where do you pick it up coming from the North Shore.

Looks like you could just get onto 90.
We head south from NH and get onto 90 to 290 to 84 to 15, (the Merritt Parkway in CT, Hutchison River Parkway in NY)
to 287 West to (Watch carefully for that exit) The Tappan Zee (Gov Cuomo) Bridge to Garden State Parkway to 95. The parkways don´t have the traffic or trucks.

 

[Tigger7570]

Thank you.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

NY local here to chime in! There are 3 Hudson River crossings:

Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (84)
Mario M. Cuomo Bridge/Tappan Zee (287)
GWB (95)

Honestly any one of them can have traffic depending on the time and day, you’re better off taking 84 through CT which will one way or another lead to all 3 and then throw on the GPS around Danbury to check traffic and see what your best bet is.

 

[Tigger7570]

Thank you.

 

[MICKIMINI]

NH here...90 to 84 to 684 to 287 to Garden State Parkway to NJ Turnpike. We try to leave at 2 or 3 am so we miss Hartford and NYC traffic. We always fill up and get food in NJ as the rest stops are convenient. Happy trails!

 

[Tigger7570]

Thank you. Lots of great suggestions. I appreciate everyone.

 

[JulieODC]

We are in MA and haven’t done the drive to WDW, but many times to DC. We use the GPS to tell us which way to go - have seen nightmare traffic on the Tappan Zee or the GW Bridge, it’s hit or miss!

 

[Mousemom234]

Yes, it depends on traffic and/or accidents. We used to take the MassPike to 84, and cross at Newburgh onto the Thruway south (87), merge into 287, and pick up 95 at the other end of 287.

If you aren't in a hurry, though, MassPike (into NY) to Taconic Parkway (exit B2), to Saw Mill Parkway (exit 3) Take exit 22 and veer left,then exit right to 287 west which will put you onto the Cuomo Bridge and drop out at exit 15 to stay on 287, and circle around NYC. The far end of 287 exits directly onto the NJ Turnpike/95.
The Parkways are usually a little slower, a lot more scenic, and free of heavy trucks.

If you want to bypass more of 95, I can suggest taking 78 west from 287, (Eaton exit), which merges into 81 south - then cloverleaf onto 77 south at exit 81.
Loop around Charlotte on 485, get back on 77, and merge into 26 east south of Columbia and pick up 95 south in Bowman.

Safe travels

 

[Tigger7570]

Thank you.