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I am driving to Malden, MA on May 23rd. I plan to leave early in the morning at about 7am to beat the memorial weakened bottleneck at GWB bridge. I got my driving directions from mapquest and I would like to know if there is a better route for this drive. Here is what I get from mapquest....
9: Turn LEFT to take the NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE ramp. 0.3 mi
10: Take the I-95 N/TURNPIKE NORTH exit on the LEFT. 0.4 mi
11: Merge onto I-95 N/NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward CARS/TRUCKS-BUSES (Portions toll). 6.1 mi
12: Keep LEFT to take I-95 N/NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward I-280/RT-3/MEADOWLANDS SPORTS COMPLEX/EXITS 15W-18W/GEO WASHINGTON BR (Portions toll). 10.8 mi
13: Keep RIGHT to take I-95 N/NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward US-46/FORT LEE/G WASHINGTON BR (Portions toll). 1.6 mi
14: Keep RIGHT to take I-95 N/NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE/LOWER LEVEL/FORT LEE. 3.2 mi
15: Keep LEFT to take I-95 N toward G W BRIDGE (Portions toll) (Crossing into NEW YORK). 10.5 mi
16: Take the HUTCHINSON PKWY NORTH exit, EXIT 9. 0.1 mi
17: Merge onto HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY N via the exit on the LEFT.
1.7 mi
18: Merge onto I-95 N via EXIT 6 toward NEW HAVEN (Portions toll) (Crossing into CONNECTICUT). 59.8 mi
19: Merge onto I-91 N via EXIT 48 on the LEFT toward I-91 N/HARTFORD. 36.9 mi
20: Merge onto CT-15 N via EXIT 29 toward I-84 E/E. HARTFORD/BOSTON.
2.1 mi
21: CT-15 N becomes I-84 E (Portions toll) (Crossing into MASSACHUSETTS). 40.8 mi
I-84 vs. I-95 is kind of a toss-up though. I've been stuck in bad traffic on both and I-95 is shorter at least.
Personally, I like doing GWB (lower level unless there's an accident). Then go up the Henry Hudson Parkway to the Cross County Parkway to the Hutchinson River Parkway. This will take you to the Merritt Parkway, which parallels I-95 in Southern CT and meets up with I-91 south of Hartford.
This totally avoids the mess that is the Cross Bronx Expressway and also avoids I-95 in CT.
Thanks for the input. I will check your suggestions. The departure time has been moved to 11 am, and would definitely look for a way to avoid the jam at GWB and Cross Bronx Expressway.
You could do Garden State to 287, cross the Tappan Zee Bridge, and then get on Merritt Parkway from 287.
Or after your cross the Tappan Zee, take 684 to 84. Tappan Zee can get backed up badly though.
If you're leaving at 11, I would just listen to traffic. If the delays on GWB are 20 minutes or less, just take that.
It's one of those situations where all of the routes have a chance of backing up, so I would just take the shortest route (in this case, GWB) unless you hear the delay is really bad. Just try to avoid Cross Bronx and maybe I-95 in CT.
Shoot yourself before you take I-95 through CT!!!!
I agree with the option to avoid the GWB and more importantly I-95 in CT. I used to drive from DC up to another northern Boston suburb all the time, and the Turnpike, Garden State, I-84, I-684, I-90 (Mass Pike) is definitely the way to go. If you can avoid going THRU Boston to get to Malden, that might also be a good plan.
I hadn't done I-95 through CT for so many years, I took it last year to see if it has improved or if it was as bad as I remembered... I'm still waiting for my blood pressure to go down, and I'm surprised I didn't bend any tire frames on some of the potholes.
Good luck on your trip... make sure you have plenty of good tunes and water, for your slow-down areas...
P.S. I was amazed when I found that by using the EZ-Pass, I cut almost 45 minutes off my total trip time, and that was NOT driving like a maniac!
Not sure of your location and if I 287 is close via 78 but I would opt for 287 north to I 87 to I 84 avoiding the GWB and I 95 entirely
I 84 will take you to the Mass Pike and then folllow mapquests directions
This route using my departure is 314 miles with travel time of 5 hours and 17 miutes. My original drive is 241 with 4 hours 24 minutes.
I usually have no problem driving long distance, but on this relatively small drive my passengers include my girlfriends older relatives and I definitely want to make the drive easy for everybody (=>me). For this reason the departure time has been moved back to 7 am.
This route using my departure is 314 miles with travel time of 5 hours and 17 miutes. My original drive is 241 with 4 hours 24 minutes.
I usually have no problem driving long distance, but on this relatively small drive my passengers include my girlfriends older relatives and I definitely want to make the drive easy for everybody (=>me). For this reason the departure time has been moved back to 7 am.
Good luck on I 95 through CT
I can't think of a road as bad as that one in the north east
I used lower level GWB to the Henry Hudson Parkway to the Cross County Parkway to the Hutchinson River Parkway to the Merritt Parkway. From there I think I took I91 and then I84 to Boston.
I have to give a mention to the Merritt Parkway. It's once of the most scenic highways that I have taken. It's one of those roads that you enjoy driving, and although it's only 37 miles it set the tone for the rest of this trip.
I used lower level GWB to the Henry Hudson Parkway to the Cross County Parkway to the Hutchinson River Parkway to the Merritt Parkway. From there I think I took I91 and then I84 to Boston.
I have to give a mention to the Merritt Parkway. It's once of the most scenic highways that I have taken. It's one of those roads that you enjoy driving, and although it's only 37 miles it set the tone for the rest of this trip.
Merritt Parkway is nice!
How was the holiday traffic???
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Shoot yourself before you take I-95 through CT!!!!
