Driving info needed for I-84 vs. I-95

[Robert P]

I need some help from my fellow DIS'ers from the North....

I have 2 major drives coming within the next 5 weeks (one from NC to Providence, RI, then the return trip back). We will be going up from NC through Virginia using the 77-81 route up to Harrisburg, PA. In the past, from there we have cut across 78 by Allentown, PA, then up 287 to the Tappenzee, and back down to I-95 just past White Plains, NY. Then it's I-95 North until Providence, RI (where we then get off of I-95 the last few miles). This time, the planned travel times will drop us back onto 95 North, just after 5:00 p.m mid-week, near White Plains. My experiences with running I-95 the length of CT have never been great, especially so anytime near rush hours.

I have seen mention on the boards of some of you driving down via the 84-81-77-26-95 route to WDW. My question is: How does heading East (or West even) across 84 compare to the 78-287-95 route I usually take (referring mainly the I-95 part vs taking I-84)? I am looking to avoid the traffic problems that seem to abound on I-95 from outside of White Plains, NY all the way up past New Haven, CT. If 84 is less congested, I am willing to make a change to our usual route, but if it the same old traffic mess along 84, I don't know if that is such a good idea for us (more miles + same traffic congestion = bad move).

If we were driving off hours like usual, it wouldn't be so much of an issue, but work and travel plans have dictated when I can leave, so I have to take what I can get, time of day wise.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Robert P

(note: we are definitely taking the 77-81 route, vs. 95 all the way from Richmond, VA. I've done both routes, more than once, and the 95 route is only fractionally shorter for us, and brings alot of tolls and city traffic into play. My possible deviation from the norm this trip is focused on the traffic mess along I-95 in CT).

 

[MrsToad]

I can't compare 84 to 95 during rush hour, as I haven't been on 84 during that time, however, 95 can be awful even during mid-afternoon hours. I've driven home from NJ on week-days, hitting 95 around 2-3 pm to find the traffic terrible, especially through exit 14, then again closer to Bridgeport. I would be very tempted to avoid 95 if there was another way that would't take you too far out of your way.

 

[Robert P]

bump

 

[Robert P]

re-bumping

 

[luvmy3]

I would avoid any route out of Westchester at rush hour. There are alot of commuters that come out of that area and the traffic will be probably be very heavy.

I don't know much about the traffic on 84 west of the Hudson. There are some places that have heavy congestion at rush hour. Any route leading from NYC that meets with 84 will be bad and definitely the Hartford CT area. We take 84 when we head East and have had easy trips like our last one to NH. There habe also been times where a normal 3 1/2 trip took over 5 hours due to congestion and construction.

 

[Robert P]

I would avoid any route out of Westchester at rush hour. There are alot of commuters that come out of that area and the traffic will be probably be very heavy.

I don't know much about the traffic on 84 west of the Hudson. There are some places that have heavy congestion at rush hour. Any route leading from NYC that meets with 84 will be bad and definitely the Hartford CT area. We take 84 when we head East and have had easy trips like our last one to NH. There habe also been times where a normal 3 1/2 trip took over 5 hours due to congestion and construction.

Thank you for the info. I couldn't find much on the 84 route anywhere else, so that helps alot. If we swing up and go that route, I'll post info when I get back, so anyone else can use it.

Thanks,

Robert P

 

[Shelly S]

We are from western MA and I cannot recommend I95 north or south in CT and NY anytime close to rush hour am or pm. It is an extremely irritating route with traffic at a complete stop sometimes. We have always been stuck in traffic and no longer travel that route. I84 is usually not bad unless there is an accident or construction. It sometimes backs up a little into hartford but it is nothing like I95. I'm not sure exactly where your routes bring you but many times in the past coming back from Atlantic City we usually cross over the George Washington Bridge lower level around 5pm (just did this yesterday) with no wait. We then take I87 (Deegan),there is usually some slow downs at the merge, to Saw Mill Parkway to I684 to I84. Saw mill does have a few traffic lights but it also has two lanes each way and we have not hit traffic on that route yet except when it was closed for flooding one time. I think speed limit is 55. Sometimes we take I87 to Cross County Parkway to 15, the merrit parkway (speed limit 55) to I91. Sometimes there are a few slow downs but then traffic moves fine. Best part about the parkways is no trucks. We travel these routes about 10 times each way per year so I'm sure you will get info from those who travel your routes more. Best of luck.