Driving Route Boston to Florida (Worcester, Springfield: malls, trailer, best)

[gmbjcb]

Driving to Florida from Boston on Saturday. Mapquest has shown I-95 thru NY. Been told to avoid that. Best route to drive from Boston to Florida?

[ogre]

A lot of people seem to prefer exiting I-95 north of NYC, and taking the Tappan Zee bridge. Not sure, but I think the route is I-287. The route jumps off from 95, then loops around NYC into New Jersey, and has an exit to the NJ Turnpike, which is I-95, so you're back on 95, which then gives you an interstate highway all the way to FL. The other main issue might be the vicinity of Washington. You want to take the beltway around the city, not stay on 95.

[miu]

Where in FL are you headed?

I've driven from Boston to Miami, and Boston to Naples, FL many times. I hate the I-95 route, but it's the shortest way. If I do the I-95 route, I start my journey late in the day in order to pass through the Washington, DC area after 9pm to avoid traffic.

My favorite route is the Mass Pike to I-84 to I-684 to the Saw Mill Parkway (I love that curvy road!!) to the Tappan Zee Bridge to I-287 to I-78 West to I-81 South. I-81 is very scenic. I cut over east on I-77 in SC towards the coast again. But I take this route because it's more relaxing and I can hit a couple of good antique malls along the way.

[CrowGirl]

I moved from Boston to Florida (just North of West Palm Beach) and took 95 all the way down. I had no problems. I left pretty early in the morning, but I'm sure it wasn't super-early when I went through New York.

[BigRock]

What time are you leaving? You can take the MassPike/I-90 west to I-84 to I-91 south to I-95, and I-95 the entire way. As long as you don't drive thru New York City and Washington DC between the hours of 4-7pm for both cities you should be fine.

Leaving by 6am from Boston should do the trick, would get thru NYC before noon, and past DC before afternoon rush hour.

[Xrac]

Take 84 to Scranton PA to 81 through VA to 77 through NC SC then 26 in SC to 95 south. fastest most beautiful path to FL in the summer And Not one CENT in tolls (saves nearly $70 nowadays) I just took that 3 weeks ago.
Plus you avoid the big 5 (NY NJ DE MD DC)

[daytonadewd]

Unless you're driving a truck or have a trailer, the only issue for I-95 in NYC will be the time of day. Tri-State/Cross Bronx/GW Bridge.

You're used to driving in Boston. (NYC shouldn't even be an issue for you.)

DC actually gets the most nutty traffic (to me). And driving through South Carolina is so boring you risk falling asleep at the wheel.

[firepreventor]

I have driven In-0Laws back and forth to Flordia for years,, go around NY and DC.

[miu]

Originally Posted by Xrac

Take 84 to Scranton PA to 81 through VA to 77 through NC SC then 26 in SC to 95 south. fastest most beautiful path to FL in the summer And Not one CENT in tolls (saves nearly $70 nowadays) I just took that 3 weeks ago.
Plus you avoid the big 5 (NY NJ DE MD DC)

I forgot about the savings in tolls by avoiding I-95. It does add up. But I prefer cutting over to I-81 via I-78 because I like to stop in Allentown for a Wawa deli sandwich.

I-77 has a beautiful section of road through the mountains by Galax (?).

[daytonadewd]

Originally Posted by Xrac

Take 84 to Scranton PA to 81 through VA to 77 through NC SC then 26 in SC to 95 south. fastest most beautiful path to FL in the summer And Not one CENT in tolls (saves nearly $70 nowadays) I just took that 3 weeks ago.
Plus you avoid the big 5 (NY NJ DE MD DC)

Sounds VERY good. But OBVIOUSLY, you're NOT from Boston! In order to catch I-84 from Boston, you'd have to take the Mass Pike (I-90) to Sturbridge exit (between Worcester and Springfield) where it starts.

Um, the Mass Pike HAS TOLLS!
http://www.masspike.com/user-cgi/tollcalc.cgi

The rest of the route sounded good, though.