Going around the G.W. bridge

[LovinPooh]

We are driving from NH. We normally go from I91-I95 all the way down. We are planning on hitting NY around 7pm ish. We both hate driving through NY (being small town folk lol) Someone told DH that we should take an alternate route that would let us skip the GW and the NJ turnpike. We are hoping to get to the VA border by midnight ish... would this route be a time saver? Or would we be better off just going straight through 95 through NY City?

 

[drew64]

I usually pick up the Merritt Parkway in CT - over the Tappan Zee and onto the Garden State Parkway to the NJ Turnpike at Woodbridge and avoid the Bronx Thruway, GWB, etc this way.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

If you want to completely avoid NY/NJ, you can take the Newburgh-Beacon bridge, skirt around NJ and pick up 95 South of Philly. Google says it adds 60 miles and 80 minutes. But you'll save a minimum of 30 minutes avoiding NYC traffic (you could save even more). So avoiding NYC will add some time, but less than an hour of driving time. Is it worth it?

If you just want to avoid driving in NYC, you can take the more direct route of the Tappan Zee Bridge to the Garden State to the NJ Turnpike. You'll still hit plenty of traffic, but at least it won't be driving in the city. Again, only you can decide if it's worth it.

Unfortunately, there is no magic route. Good luck!

 

[LovinPooh]

The northeast is a general pain in the rear no matter what. It was the Teppan Zee that his friend told him to take. We just couldnt figure out if it was worth the time to navigate that route, or just go for the GW and grin and bear it lol. We just get flustered driving through there, and coming off the bridge getting onto the turnpike and all that. Got plenty of time to play around with some maps and stuff thankfully. But like you said, its all about time and it being worth it all. Right now I just want to get to the VA border that night, so we can head out in the morning for the straight shot to FL.
I certainly appreciate all tips everyone has. If only there was a magical way to just jump over the hell of it all lol. Or if only DH wasnt scared of flying

 

[hockeygirl]

I would normally agree that it may be worth it to take the Tappan Zee Bridge to the Garden State Parkway...however, they are doing construction on the Tappan Zee Bridge and the traffic has been AWFUL lately! Although, I think the construction might be on hold for a few weeks, so it depends on when you are going. There has been raised plates on the Tappan Zee Bridge for weeks, and they totally slow down the traffic. They recently removed them, but I heard that there may be more after the holidays. So, as I said, it really depends on when you are going.

 

[KPtoys]

It's really not that bad! The section of the GW is short (unless of course there is a traffic jam ) Since shooting down 95 is the most direct way I would probably push back my trip by say an hour or so. Around 8-9pm it's usually a breeze! It's not as bad as you may think, even small town folk like my inlaws can handle it!

ETA: I am about 1 1/2 hrs from NYC on Long Island. It is about 5 hours from my house to DC down 95. I would stick with the major roads.

 

[Tozzie]

It's really not that bad! The section of the GW is short (unless of course there is a traffic jam ) Since shooting down 95 is the most direct way I would probably push back my trip by say an hour or so. Around 8-9pm it's usually a breeze! It's not as bad as you may think, even small town folk like my inlaws can handle it!

ETA: I am about 1 1/2 hrs from NYC on Long Island. It is about 5 hours from my house to DC down 95. I would stick with the major roads.

I am going to Disagree with you on this, it really is that bad to get to the GWB I work in the Bronx and pass that mess every day, there are times that at 9pm it is backed up to the throgs neck bridge. That is more the norm than the rare occurence. I leave work between 730 and 830 pm and it is by no means a breeze maybe on the weekends but during the week I would avoid if I could. While it is true that the Tappan zee is under major construction at the moment and for the foreseeable future that traffic is a piece of cake compared to getting to the GWB from 95.

 

[KPtoys]

I am going to Disagree with you on this, it really is that bad to get to the GWB I work in the Bronx and pass that mess every day, there are times that at 9pm it is backed up to the throgs neck bridge. That is more the norm than the rare occurence. I leave work between 730 and 830 pm and it is by no means a breeze maybe on the weekends but during the week I would avoid if I could. While it is true that the Tappan zee is under major construction at the moment and for the foreseeable future that traffic is a piece of cake compared to getting to the GWB from 95.

We go upstate to visit the IL's monthly. We ALWAYS leave at night to avoid the traffic in the city. The earlier we leave the more traffic. 90% of the time we leave or come home around 9ish the traffic is flowing. If we go during the middle of the night we hit the road construction there. It's a no win LOL! With construction on the Tap. I would risk some GW traffic!

 

[LovinPooh]

ughh... if only DH would fly
going to have to run all this by him. He drives. I would be a mess driving through any of this. The Carolinas I can handle, but thats about it lol.
We are leaving in February. So we are also hoping for good weather as well.
Are there huge tolls for the Teppan Zee route?

I cant thank everyone enough for all the help!

 

[TheWog]

The northeast is a general pain in the rear no matter what. It was the Teppan Zee that his friend told him to take. We just couldnt figure out if it was worth the time to navigate that route, or just go for the GW and grin and bear it lol. We just get flustered driving through there, and coming off the bridge getting onto the turnpike and all that. Got plenty of time to play around with some maps and stuff thankfully. But like you said, its all about time and it being worth it all. Right now I just want to get to the VA border that night, so we can head out in the morning for the straight shot to FL.
I certainly appreciate all tips everyone has. If only there was a magical way to just jump over the hell of it all lol. Or if only DH wasnt scared of flying

We too live in NH and when we head south take the Tappan Zee.

 

[TheWog]

ughh... if only DH would fly
going to have to run all this by him. He drives. I would be a mess driving through any of this. The Carolinas I can handle, but thats about it lol.
We are leaving in February. So we are also hoping for good weather as well.
Are there huge tolls for the Teppan Zee route?

I cant thank everyone enough for all the help!

If I remember correctly the toll is only coming back.

 

[ktpc2005]

If I remember correctly the toll is only coming back.

You are correct. The tolls are one way.


Other tolls that are one way on the trip down South:

Delaware Memorial Bridge
Tydings Bridge in Maryland

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The northeast is a general pain in the rear no matter what. It was the Teppan Zee that his friend told him to take. We just couldnt figure out if it was worth the time to navigate that route, or just go for the GW and grin and bear it lol. We just get flustered driving through there, and coming off the bridge getting onto the turnpike and all that. Got plenty of time to play around with some maps and stuff thankfully. But like you said, its all about time and it being worth it all. Right now I just want to get to the VA border that night, so we can head out in the morning for the straight shot to FL.
I certainly appreciate all tips everyone has. If only there was a magical way to just jump over the hell of it all lol. Or if only DH wasnt scared of flying

I just discovered a new feature on mapquest.com. Once you enter your start and end addresses, it will show the recommended route on a map highlighted in purple. You can click on the purple line and drag it to the road that you'd rather drive on. It will recalculate a new route and directions. You may have to do this a few times to get around all of NYC but it may be worth it. I agree with you on avoiding NYC traffic and I'd always prefer driving 2 hrs. south than 2 hrs. north. I think I'd rather have root canal.

 

[artesian]

Tappan Zee all the way I avoid the GWB like the plague.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The northeast is a general pain in the rear no matter what. It was the Teppan Zee that his friend told him to take. We just couldnt figure out if it was worth the time to navigate that route, or just go for the GW and grin and bear it lol. We just get flustered driving through there, and coming off the bridge getting onto the turnpike and all that. Got plenty of time to play around with some maps and stuff thankfully. But like you said, its all about time and it being worth it all. Right now I just want to get to the VA border that night, so we can head out in the morning for the straight shot to FL.
I certainly appreciate all tips everyone has. If only there was a magical way to just jump over the hell of it all lol. Or if only DH wasnt scared of flying

http://www.takingflight.us/

good luck!!

 

[Donna M]

We just returned from PA. and live in NH. We never take 95 over the GW bridge and we're on the road a lot with family down there. We pick up the W.Cross Parkway then called Merritt, then called Hutchison River Pkwy.(15) south of Hartford then 287 over the Tappan Zee to the Garden State and NJ Turnpike. 287 is much better now that a lot of the construction is complete (not all!) The bridge was fine. The NJ tpk was a parking lot but this was at Christmas.

Good luck!

Do you have an E-Z Pass? Well worth it with all the tolls. You should be able to use the NH one down there too.

 

[LovinPooh]

http://www.takingflight.us/

good luck!!

DH is such a baby I told him to take a sedative, but no go so we will enjoy the 20 hour ride

Thanks for the tips. I run them all by my scaredy cat DH.
I have used Mapquest on our last trips, but I didnt know they had added that feature. I will go check that out now. We were able to suck it up and get through the GW in past trips. But when someone got rear ended right beside us on the bridge, he got a bit nervous. I am not a bridge person to begin with. I hate hate HATE bridges. And I actually close my eyes through the tunnel in Baltimore. The Delaware bridge freaks me out too, but I manage lol.

I dont have an easy pass. We are in southwestern NH. Very rarely do we go where we need one. Doesnt stop me from griping from having to scrounge up change when we go to Maine though.

 

[HeatherC]

You could also come down and take the Mass Pike to Route 84 west to Rt. 684 to 287 which will take you over the Tappan Zee. Then you can pick up the Garden State Parkway and avoid all the city traffic.

When we went to Williamsburg from Central MA (outside of Worcester) it took us about 9 hours. That's a couple hours south of DC if that helps give you an idea.

Have a great trip!

 

[Kira G.]

You could also come down and take the Mass Pike to Route 84 west to Rt. 684 to 287 which will take you over the Tappan Zee. Then you can pick up the Garden State Parkway and avoid all the city traffic.

We drive between Philly and New England many times a year and that's always the route we take. Sometimes you run into a bit of traffic on the 84 in Connecticut, but NOTHING like what you hit if you take the GWB.

When I was growing up we always stayed on 95, but starting about 15-16 years ago we started hitting such awful traffic on the Cross-Bronx expressway that we gave it up for good. It didn't seem to matter what time of day it was, we were stopped dead there for ages! Never again.

 

[Debbie Jean]

We drive between Philly and New England many times a year and that's always the route we take. Sometimes you run into a bit of traffic on the 84 in Connecticut, but NOTHING like what you hit if you take the GWB.

When I was growing up we always stayed on 95, but starting about 15-16 years ago we started hitting such awful traffic on the Cross-Bronx expressway that we gave it up for good. It didn't seem to matter what time of day it was, we were stopped dead there for ages! Never again.

You could also come down and take the Mass Pike to Route 84 west to Rt. 684 to 287 which will take you over the Tappan Zee. Then you can pick up the Garden State Parkway and avoid all the city traffic.

When we went to Williamsburg from Central MA (outside of Worcester) it took us about 9 hours. That's a couple hours south of DC if that helps give you an idea.

Have a great trip!

This is the route I drive between Boston and north Jersey... did it yesterday, in fact, and breezed through...

However, I left at 6:30AM and I think no matter which route you take, if you anticipate hitting NYC at 7 PM, there are really no alternatives that will be traffic free.. the plates were up on the Tappan Zee, but if they go back after the holidays, backups around the bridge especially going into Rockland have been horrific I also think you may run into traffic on 84 going through Conn... Danbury at rush hour can also be nasty

But, if I had to make the trip at the time of day, I would go 84-684-Tappan Zee to GSP rather than the GWB... just be prepared for traffic... I personally always stop at the rest area just past Katonah on 684 in anticipation of the delays!

BTW, I always say that when you die, if you're bad, God doesn't send you to hell, he makes you drive the Cross Bronx forever!