To do I95 or Not to do I95 (from RI), that is the question??

[pumpkinboy]

...I just found the link, looks like it's only about $27 to install. And if it's returned in good shape I get back $23. Do you think it's worth it? I'd have to go up to Mass from RI to get it. It doesn't look like there's anywhere south of Boston where I can get to a service center.
TIA

You don;t need ot go to a service center to get a FastLane pass or EZ Pass; you can do it all on the web.

Just note that they also have EZ Pass in Maine, so if you go to Maine much (or more often than NY or NJ), it might pay to get it from them, especially since there is a discount on Maine Turnpike tolls for those using the Maine-based transponders. The link is:www.ezpassmaineturnpike.com.

You could get an EZ Pass and then return it after the drive to FL, but I have always found it very handy to have access to EZPass both here in Mass and back in my home state of Maine. By the end of the summer, EZ Pass will work in New Hampshire tolls too. It is a HUGE time saver. And $27 just isn't that much to pay for the convenience it will afford you as long as you have it. Then again, I bought a SunPass for when we drive in Florida, and hold onto it for whenever we drive there; that's in addition to the transponders we have for Mass and Maine (there's a discount associated with each one, so we have one of each, even tho either will work in the other system).

As for the route, I think in your shoes I'd go 95 just as far as TF Green Airport, where I'd catch a Southwest flight

 

[RichieGraciemom]

To the south jersier. we always drive, but hoping to fly this time, but we leave the trenton area at three am and avoid dc traffice and make it to savannah ga exit 94 and stay there. we arrive around four pm there. get up and are in disney by noonish. The laquinta is nice and yes we do 95 all the way and also the richmond by pass. aaa will map it out for you if you belong. good luck and safe journey.

 

[wilwij104]

301 isn't an absolutely beautiful, traffic-free route as has been described. It will get certainly you around the major traffic of the "big cities", but it will ADD time to your trip. We took it once and found it to be barely better than 95 itself. Now we just use 95, but time things to avoid the DC traffic.

Untrue.

301 from Delaware to Parole, MD (Annapolis) is indeed a beautiful, traffic-free route. From Delaware to Queenstown, MD, it is all farmland, I LIVE on 301. In addition, everyone from my place of employment travels 301 south at least 2-3 times a week and it is indeed a much better route.
As a matter of fact, 301 from Delaware to I495/I95 is 96 miles. I95 straight from Delaware to the same I495/I95 point is 92 miles. Sure it adds 4 miles, but it will save AT LEAST 30-45 minutes on your drive, it will NOT add time to your trip.

Take a look here http://www.usastar.com/i95/alternateroutes/301BaltDC.htm . This takes you a little further down than I advise, but it shows that there is no "mileage savings".

Ron

 

[cranbiz]

Goofy4tink- You can loan out your transponder as long as you list the vehicle that it will be on in your account profile. In MA you can do it online.

Pumpkinboy - I have used my fastlane transponder from ME to MD and with few exceptions, have got the electronic toll discount.

Now I'm going to need to get an epass.

 

[goofy4tink]

Goofy4tink- You can loan out your transponder as long as you list the vehicle that it will be on in your account profile. In MA you can do it online.

Pumpkinboy - I have used my fastlane transponder from ME to MD and with few exceptions, have got the electronic toll discount.

Now I'm going to need to get an epass.

Thank-you.

 

[maxaroni]

To the south jersier. we always drive, but hoping to fly this time, but we leave the trenton area at three am and avoid dc traffice and make it to savannah ga exit 94 and stay there. we arrive around four pm there. get up and are in disney by noonish. The laquinta is nice and yes we do 95 all the way and also the richmond by pass. aaa will map it out for you if you belong. good luck and safe journey.

Thank you....in some ways, we are actually looking forward to the drive. Now, remind me during the trip!

 

[Uncleromulus]

wilwij104:
Whats the "speed limit" on 301?? That must be considered when factoring in time/distance. I don't recall 65-70 MPH (or more), as is common on 95.

 

[wilwij104]

Uncleromulus

You are correct, it is 55 mph on 301. I95 from the Delaware border to the White Marsh area is 65 mph, but drops to 55 mph from there south. This is also where the congestion starts as well. White Marsh is north of Baltimore and it is a congestion nightmare, you can be tied up for 30 minutes even before you hit Baltimore (depending on time of day of course).

Ron

 

[Uncleromulus]

Ron:
All too familiar with I-95 and the White Marsh area. Lived in Perry Hall a # of years before we moved to Pa. I can remember even before that (when I lived in Parkville) when there was NOTHING in White Marsh--now look!! No doubt about it-I-95 is a mess thru there now.

 

[wilwij104]

Uncleromulus,

I remember the White Marsh area (years ago) as just a name, no stores or homes. That whole corridor from White Marsh to Bel Air is building so rapid, it is kind of sad.

Ron

 

[kgkmom]

duck_adoo-

Have you looked into going up and around NYC? Whenever we've visited friends in Baltimore, we always avoided NYC by going up and around, over the Tappan Zee Bridge, and then connecting to the NJ Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway. Not sure if the Tappan Zee would be better, given commuter traffic, but it always seemed less frustrating.

I'll also second the comments about Baltimore traffic being nearly as nightmarish as DC traffic. 301 isn't horrible, but it will depend on the time of day.

We're flying down in August from RI (love Southwest rates from TF Green!).

Good luck driving with the kiddos! We have a 2 year old DS, and he had difficulty with a 1 1/2 hour ride from CT the other day!