Thanksgiving Travel North to PA (Frederick, Hagerstown: construction, safer, moving)

[ker8]

So, last year I tried to drive up 70 towards Breezewood about noon on Wednesday. Big mistake. I ended up getting off and going backroads most of the way, through downtown Frederick (very traffic heavy there too) and up into PA. But this time I'm thinking about skipping I-70 altogether. Anyone ever tried driving up through the backroads into Westminster and then into PA on that Wednesday? I wish I had the time off to get out earlier....

[North Beach Person]

Yes I've done it. Ok but it's a pain, too, with all the people moving there and commuting.
And that is one of the worst days to drive to PA. The I70/270 merge backs up for miles and miles. It's bad on Fridays throughout the year. I'll sometimes get off 70 at 15 and go through Gettysburg/Carlisle. Of course I'm heading towards Brookville/Clarion/Kane.

[westsideboy]

The construction on I-70 through Frederick is complete (for now), so it should be much faster. Where in PA are you going? Where are you leaving from? Depending on these two factors, I may be able to give you some faster routes.

[ker8]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

The construction on I-70 through Frederick is complete (for now), so it should be much faster. Where in PA are you going? Where are you leaving from? Depending on these two factors, I may be able to give you some faster routes.

I'm going to Erie, PA, so about as far north and west as possible, and I'm leaving from the Woodlawn area (where 695 and 70 meet).

[ker8]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Yes I've done it. Ok but it's a pain, too, with all the people moving there and commuting.
And that is one of the worst days to drive to PA. The I70/270 merge backs up for miles and miles. It's bad on Fridays throughout the year. I'll sometimes get off 70 at 15 and go through Gettysburg/Carlisle. Of course I'm heading towards Brookville/Clarion/Kane.

Gettysburg, huh? I'll look into that since I'm heading in the same general direction as you. My final destination is Erie. Luckily it all seems peaches and cream once I get past MD (or at least that's how it worked out last time).

[westsideboy]

Get to Frederick, then take Rt. 40 as far as possible. It will be slow going through Frederick City and Hagerstown, but it will be faster than the interstate with all the back ups. Before Hancock you will be forced back onto I-70. Next take I-68 towards Cumberland and Morgantown, then I-79 north towards Erie.

[pcity]

Does early Thurs. morning work as a leaving time? I've gone to western PA on Thanksgiving Day before and it wasn't bad at all.

[westsideboy]

I can't speak for specific days, but in general the big travel days lead to delays on I-70 from Frederick (a natural bottleneck) to Hagerstown (flatlanders have big problems finding the gas pedal to get over South Mountain.) After Hagerstown the traffic SHOULD move OK until you get close to Hancock. I say SHOULD because all it takes is one accident and you are stuck for hours. I choose Rt. 40, both to avoid the traffic I know will be there, and the traffic that may be there because of accidents. It is the safer bet.

Traffic may slow again at Hancock and Breezewood if you stay on I-70. I would chose I-68 instead of I-70 heading west. It is easy enough to scoot up US 220, US 219, or I-79 to get back to PA based on where you need to go.

[Flamingo13]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Get to Frederick, then take Rt. 40 as far as possible. It will be slow going through Frederick City and Hagerstown, but it will be faster than the interstate with all the back ups. Before Hancock you will be forced back onto I-70. Next take I-68 towards Cumberland and Morgantown, then I-79 north towards Erie.

I agree w/this route - avoid the Turnpike at all costs, take 40 as much as you can. I-68 moves better, it might be a little longer mileage-wise but not time-wise. You can take 68 all the way to 79. If worse come to worse, you can take 40 all the way through the "backwoods" nice scenic drive, and go through towns like Charleroi area, etc. (take a map w/you if you don't GPS, which I don't) - you can pick up 79 in Washington, Waynesburg, Morgantown, etc.

[htownterp]

Agree with taking 68 to 79 instead of the Turnpike. Breezewood can be a pain in the neck to get through. As a side bonus, 68 through Western MD is beautiful and toll free.