travel route from maine to ohio? (Warren: interstate, roads, good)

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by BoundtofindME

I-95 to Mass to I-495 around Boston to I-90 all the way to Ohio. By far the easiest route from Maine to Ohio!!

Easiest, yes. Drawback is that it adds many hours to the trip, as well as a lot of miles and is toll road almost the entire way.

[Fern435]

Originally Posted by dramamama6685

We met corgis and mensaguy last time we were up and they gave us that route. I believe we shaved off about 3 hours. Kudos to them for all their help. What part of Ohio are you travelling from(i.e. can I hide in your luggage?).

Wish I was in Ohio! I am in northern Virginia/metro DC.

When driving to Maine, we stay off I-95 until we're almost to New Hampshire. Only one toll ($1) to cross the Hudson River when heading east on I-84.

[mensaguy]

Originally Posted by CoastalMaine

If you're going to be paying tolls along the way, I'd recommend you get an E Z Pass. It is good from Maine through Baltimore. You don't have to ever stop to pay a toll. It is good all through PA as well. Go to the E Z Pass website and sign up. If you do it today, you should have it in plenty of time for your trip.

Sorry, but I have to disagree about the EZ Pass. We looked into it and decided it was definitely not worth it. If I remember correctly, it cost ~$25 to get it plus a minimum ~$50 to put on the EZ Pass account. Our route from WV all the way to Eastport carries tolls of less than $6.00. First the Newburgh bridge, then the Mass Tpk, then I-95 in NH, then a few toll plazas on I-95 in ME. We save up change and $1 bills so we have exact change for every toll plaza since the traffic backup is the problem, not getting through the plaza. If we were using EZ Pass, it might add up to saving 15 minutes on a 2 day drive.

Coming from other areas, the amount of toll stops and the amount spent would probably be different and could very well lead to a different conclusion.

[AlisonL]

EZ Pass is good if you're traveling toll roads daily. Company my husband worked for in Maine had them for all their employees, but for the average person making one or trips per year, its not worth it.

[CoastalMaine]

Your info isn't accurate Mensa. MTA - FAST LANE Program You can have it connected to your checking account and you only get charged the actual toll amounts. It saves time because you're not in line behind other people. It doesn't matter if you have the right amount of change. If you're stuck behind 15 other cars who don't you can waste a lot of time. Especially if it's during commuting hours.

My first E Z Pass was through NJ in 2001. Due to my divorce, my new one is now through Masschusetts. You can buy them from any state. I wouldn't travel without one ever again. The most money you've ever got invested in the thing is $20 on 'account' if you don't opt for the checking account withdrawal plan. The initial fee is $20 and your tolls are deducted from that amount. You're not actually charged for the transponder. The whole idea is to ease congestion at the toll booths.

If he takes the MA Pke and the PA Pike or the NY State Thruway and has tolls to worry about, it's worth its weight in gold for the time it saves sitting in lines and waiting.

[ekh32]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. It really helps! I am from zanesville, right off 70, so these directions help!

[Newdaawn]

Get yourself a GPS - say a Tom Tom or a Garmin and experiment with alternative routes. You will be glad you did.

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by ekh32

Thanks everyone for the great advice. It really helps! I am from zanesville, right off 70, so these directions help!

I'm in Lebanon, so were practically neighbors!!! (For those of you not in the know, we are more than 2 hours apart)

[Northern Maine Land Man]

If going to or from Ohio in winter, watch the wind direction. I would avoid I-90 if the wind is out of the north anywhere from northwest to northeast. Lake effect snow can bring traffic to a complete halt and visibility can be zero. Motels fill up quickly and people end up sleeping in their cars. I-84 can be a better choice in winter despite the hills. If weather is not a factor at the time of your trip go ahead and use I-90.

[Bydand]

I-90 adds HOURS of time and many miles. It is far better to go the I-84 route regardless of weather. In the last 20 years you don't even want to know how many times I have made this trip. In any combination of routes you can think of, even through Canada a few times.