New Jersey Turnpike & Accomodations

[Candlelady]

We're driving down next week from Ct and have a question regarding the drive in NJ.

Is the NJ turnpike the same as the Garden State Parkway? Are they both 95? I'm finding this very confusing. We'll be driving 84 to 684, and going over the Tappan Zee. After that I start to get discombobulated with the directions. ;o)

We'd like to leave after work and drive about 4 hrs, then get a room for the night. Figure this will put us in NJ somewhere. We'll leave the next morning about 9 to hopefully miss the early rush hour. Anyone have suggestions for a good place to stop in NJ that is right off the highway?

Thanks for any and all responses!

 

[RobinLyn]

It really depends on where you are in CT, traffic, etc. and which highway you plan on taking before you reach your destination, to be able to recommend any hotel because there many along the way. The NJ Garden State Parkway runs along the eastern side of the state (along the Ocean) and the NJ Turnpike runs along the western side of the state. Holiday Inn and Marriott Hotels are on these 2 highways and are nice, but it also depends on what you want to spend.

It really depends on your destination, what direction you want to take off the Tappan Zee.

RobinLyn

 

[Candlelady]

After a closer look at the map, we'll be taking the garden state parkway and getting off at exit 129 to get onto 95 (NJ turnpike?). It's very confusing to me which is why I'd like to drive this leg of the journey in the evening when there will be minimal traffic. Nothing worse than to drive in rush hour traffic when you don't know where you are or where you're going. ;o)

Was hoping for Hampton Inns or similar. Would like to spend no more than $100 for the two of us, preferably less.

Thanks

 

[karyn]

Turnpike hotels/motels

I believe there is also a Hampton Inn in Pennsville which is near the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I don't remember the exact location. Perhaps you can call their toll free if interested .I think you will need more than 4 hours to get near that bridge depending of course where you live in CT. Also if you are familiar with the the Cracker Barrel restaurant there is one at exit#5 off the turnpike.
There might be one closer to the Hampton Inn also.

If you use coupons and decide on Hampton you might find one on the internet. Perhaps there is a Hampton higher up the turnpike.

 

[karyn]

I'm back. My husband feels, who does alot of driving, that if you can take the
George Washington Bridge to the Turnpike you will be better off. Garden State Parkway tends to get alot of very slow moving traffic and backs up at the tolls. But that is your decision. If you need some more info let us know. Since you have a computer mapquest will be of some use.

When we drive we leave at 2 am and make it to Hilton Head by dinner time. inkbounc

 

[Candlelady]

Thanks Karyn,
Another map is NOT what I need at the moment. lol. I've got a trip-tik, an atlas and lord knows how many maps. I'm going blind studying them.

I was originally going to just follow 95 thru from CT. Everyone I've talked to has said to go over the Tappan Zee and hook up with 95 after that, even AAA suggested this route. I don't know why, but they all insist it's a better way to go.

It will be approximately 170 miles at exit 129 to connect up with 95 in NJ. So it will be closer to 3 hrs to drive that far. We'd like to at least do 4 hrs before stopping. I know we will hit traffic the next morning but at least we will have a head start and miss the Hartford, NY early morning rush. We live about 18 miles north of Hartford, right on the MA line. I don't know, maybe we will just drive till we can't stand it anymore and leave it up to chance where we stay.

Thanks again for the response.

 

[DaveH]

The Hhampton Inn in Pennsville has been running more than $100. A few miles further away In Delaware there is a Hampton Inn for about half the price. I beleive it is listed under Christiana. It will be about another 15 mins after crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge but give you a few dollars more for WDW.

BTW Pennsville is exit 1 of the turnpike.

 

[RobinLyn]

I agree, take 95, which is the NJ Turnpike up around New York. I would stay away from the GW Bridge. There is a nice Holiday Inn in Bridgeport New Jersey but it may be a bit over $100, not sure. The Cracker Barrel is a great place to eat along the way, there is one right around the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Good Luck!

RobinLyn

 

[Candlelady]

Thanks for your input DaveH and RobinLyn.

I guess we will just drive and stop when we can't stand it anymore. Is there much traffic after 7:30 or 8 once we hit NY? Not sure we will make it to Delaware since we will be leaving after work and packing the car, filling it up, etc. But we will try.

Thanks everyone for your help

 

[karyn]

Candlelady-

Now to really confuse you (lol) you can also take 84 to the NY Thruway and hop on 17 south to the GSP. My son's friend attends U of Hartford and from the end of Jersey and the beginning of the thruway to Hartford it's about 2 hours depending on traffic. But seriously i don't want to upset you before your upcoming trip. Go the way AAA told you since you pay them a fee and they map these things out all the time.

 

[PFopma]

I live in Bergen County (northeast corner of NJ) and it's about 3 hours to the Del Mem. Bridge for me. I can get to Hartford in 2.5 hours so you are looking at 5.5 hours to Del Mem Bridge. If you are leaving on a weekday and driving the GSP from 7 - 8 pm you should't hit much traffic. I drive the Parkway to work every day. It can back up at the tolls but it does move so don't get frustrated. If the traffic isn't real bad you should only be on the Parkway for an hour. The exit off the NY thruway for the NJ Parkway is 14A. There is a sign and exit before it for Palisades Parkway - dont get confused. The Palisade Parkway will take you to the GW Bridge. I would avoid going anywhere near the GW during rush hour. Exit 14A goes into an extension of the Thruway that turns into the Parkway. There are 5 tolls on the stretch of the Parkway you need to drive to get to the Turnpike. Just stay on the Parkway until you see the signs for the Turnpike. The Turnpike exit is clearly marked. You will be traveling from exit 11 to exit 1 on the Turnpike to the Del Mem Bridge where you will look for signs for 95 after crossing the bridge. The exits are further apart on the Turnpike than on the Parkway.

The Turnpike has rest areas with food and gas about every 25 miles. Exit 4 (Rt 73 - Mt. Laurel) has an assortment of motels (Days Inn, Red Roof, Econolodge) that are around $50. Check out Mt. Laurel on Expedia.com. The Del Mem Bridge area also has some motels but I'm not familiar with those. There is a Cracker Barrel at exit 5 and 1.

In Northern NJ the Tunrpike can be quite confusing as there is an Eastern and Western Spur. It is also not the most scenic route (if you've ever watched the opening credits of the Sopranos, you know what I mean). The Parkway is definitely the way to go. Good Luck, I'm sure you'll do fine!

Pat

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Candlelady
We're driving down next week from Ct and have a question regarding the drive in NJ.

Is the NJ turnpike the same as the Garden State Parkway? Are they both 95? I'm finding this very confusing. We'll be driving 84 to 684, and going over the Tappan Zee. After that I start to get discombobulated with the directions. ;o)

We'd like to leave after work and drive about 4 hrs, then get a room for the night. Figure this will put us in NJ somewhere. We'll leave the next morning about 9 to hopefully miss the early rush hour. Anyone have suggestions for a good place to stop in NJ that is right off the highway?

Thanks for any and all responses!

I would take a different route in order to save a LOT of headaches with traffic...

Take 84 all the way to the NYS Thruway. Follow the Thruway South and get off the exit for Route 17 and Route 287 in New Jersey. Get on Route 287 south until you get to the NJ Turnpike, which will be around Edison/Woodbridge NJ. This is about 2-2 1/2 hours from Danbury. You will hit very little traffic this way.

Take the NJ Tpke South. Around Route 73 in the mount Laurel area there are a bunch of economy motels. I would stay clear of the Days Inn down there, it's a MAJOR dump.

There is a Holiday Inn and/or a Ramada Inn right off exit 8A on the turnpike, easy to get on and off, very safe area. That would put you at about 3-3 1/2 hours from Danbury.

I drive back and forth from Danbury to Central NJ often, and this is the route I've learned is the best, least traffic, and easiest drive.

Anne