Western NY to Orlando

[BuzzLiteyear]

So here goes....

We are taking our first "winter" trip in less than a month. I am a commando driver (straight through, only stop to stretch). We usually drive down 79 to 19 to 77 to 95. I noticed that google (and my gps) now say that picking up 77 out of Cleveland is 6 minutes faster. I may try that route, I've always been tempted to skip rt. 19 . But...I worry that the weather may not cooperate and the "hills" of WV may be nasty. Does anyone have any alternatives if WV is snowy or icy? I dread taking 95 for most of the way, but will it be that bad if we are leaving WNY at 8pm? Has anyone taken other routes and liked them more?

 

[bluenosemickey]

We have driven through the "hills" only once and hit a snow squall (sp?) and vowed not to do it again. You can be so isolated sometimes with that route. We have no trouble with the 95 south of NYC itself and find that particularly in the winter, it's nice to have all the services so close to the highway.

 

[disneydreamkate]

We will be driving from WNY to Orlando Jan 29 and returning Feb 6. I guess we will avoid WV! What is the best route to go?

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

My alternate route will be to take the NYS thruway to I-79 in Erie. From there we will head south toward Pittsburgh and connect to the PA turnpike and take that to Breezewood and exit onto I-70 heading to Washington, DC. A few miles on the 270 and 495 and we hit 95. It's about an hour or so longer, but if the weather looks anything but great, we will tale it. If you'd like, I can send you the google map results for that route. If so, PM me with your email and I'll send it along.

 

[disneydreamkate]

Buzz! What route did you end up taking and how long was it? We mapped out both of our routes...depending on how the weather is looking. They are both pretty much the two you mentioned. I hope you had an amazing trip! I've love to hear your feedback since we will be making the drive with three kids in less than three weeks.

 

[OntFamily]

This is really freaky !! I've driven this route many times, and both google/garmin GPS always recommended I-79, 19, I-77. Now, I can see google recommends I-77. Thsi makes the drive a little easier (avoiding rt 19).

But, the scenic views from rt 19 are great, and I will miss those (but I won't miss the local police hiding in parking lots and ditches trying to get speeders going 1 mph over the speed limit).

 

[vicki_c]

Is Rt 19 that notorious-for-speed-traps bypass road thing in Buckley W VA (where you go over the bungee jumping bridge)? We always have taken that when driving Bflo to Florida. We often went in the winter and never had any issues -- the only issues we ever had were 90 from Bflo to Fredonia. Also, I have been a frequent driver of 79 from Pittsburgh to Buffalo in my life -- 79 can get really really hairy in the winter between about Meadville to the NY border. So you can't really predict anything well in the winter.

 

[vicki_c]

My alternate route will be to take the NYS thruway to I-79 in Erie. From there we will head south toward Pittsburgh and connect to the PA turnpike and take that to Breezewood and exit onto I-70 heading to Washington, DC. A few miles on the 270 and 495 and we hit 95. It's about an hour or so longer, but if the weather looks anything but great, we will tale it. If you'd like, I can send you the google map results for that route. If so, PM me with your email and I'll send it along.

Just my 2 cents - I don't like that 79 to the turnpike to 95 way -- personally, I'd stick with the other.

 

[OntFamily]

Is Rt 19 that notorious-for-speed-traps bypass road thing in Buckley W VA (where you go over the bungee jumping bridge)? We always have taken that when driving Bflo to Florida. We often went in the winter and never had any issues -- the only issues we ever had were 90 from Bflo to Fredonia. Also, I have been a frequent driver of 79 from Pittsburgh to Buffalo in my life -- 79 can get really really hairy in the winter between about Meadville to the NY border. So you can't really predict anything well in the winter.

yes, rt 19 is a big speedtrap (close to Summersville, WV).

I agree with the problems on I-79, close to Meadville. Two years ago, we ran into a major snowstorm in this area. But, it was late Nov (and winter) so anything can happen.

 

[cdnsunseeker]

We are flying to Orlando in April but driving to Myrtle Beach in March from Buffalo. I too noticed that google maps now shows I-77 out of cleveland to be quicker but my TomTom and mapquest.com still shows I-79 - 19 - I-77 the quickest route by almost 1/2 hour.

What has happened on I-77 that makes it faster? speed increase?

Strange!!!!

 

[disneylovin24]

So here goes....

We are taking our first "winter" trip in less than a month. I am a commando driver (straight through, only stop to stretch). We usually drive down 79 to 19 to 77 to 95. I noticed that google (and my gps) now say that picking up 77 out of Cleveland is 6 minutes faster. I may try that route, I've always been tempted to skip rt. 19 . But...I worry that the weather may not cooperate and the "hills" of WV may be nasty. Does anyone have any alternatives if WV is snowy or icy? I dread taking 95 for most of the way, but will it be that bad if we are leaving WNY at 8pm? Has anyone taken other routes and liked them more?

Hi from eastern NY Yeah, we're from the east but we still take I-81 to I-77 to I-95 going down. Sure beats going through all the big cities on I-95, I understand completely why you want to avoid it. But, leaving at 8 at night it shouldn't be too too bad anywhere.