[Nelly Nomad]

When driving to Burlington from Albany, which is the fastest route to take? I'm looking to do this in a few weeks, so weather conditions and leaf-peeping aren't considerations. Is it:

1) Pick up Route 87 North (New York) until I get to Port Kent, then take the ferry over to Burlington (I assume the ferry can take cars)? Or...

2) Pick up Route 7 North in Troy NY and follow it all the way up to Burlington? Or...

3) Pick up Route 87 in Albany, pick up Route 149 outside Glens Falls (149 turns into Route 4 at some point) and follow it to Route 7 North just south of Rutland, then take Route 7 North to Burlington? Or...

4) Pick up Route 7 North in Troy (looks like 7 becomes 9 when you cross the border into VT), take Route 9 East in Bennington to Route 91 in Brattleboro, then follow Route 91 to Route 89 North, then ride Route 89 into Burlington?

I've driven Route 7 from Burlington down to the Teddy Bear Factory. It's lights and commercial and that's just fine. My question is, is it like that all the way down the state or does it ever become more highway-like?

Thanks for any advice you can provide!


****Edit*****

I see another little tweak: take Route 149/4 to Route 22A (in Fair Haven) to Route 7 (in Vergennes) to Burlington.

[vter]

None of the above Actually, I've never done your route #1, but you'd have to time it to hit the ferry right. It's an hour across the lake and if you miss the boat you'll be waiting a while for the next one. If you google Lake Champlain Ferries you should be able to find the schedule. Yes, it is an auto ferry.
Take 87 north to Glens Falls. Take 149 east (or north?) to Fort Ann. Pick up Route 4 east. Follow Route 4 east to Fair Haven VT, where you will get on Route 22A north. Follow 22A north to Vergennes where you pick up Route 7 north into Burlington.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by Nelly Nomad

When driving to Burlington from Albany, which is the fastest route to take? I'm looking to do this in a few weeks, so weather conditions and leaf-peeping aren't considerations. Is it:

1) Pick up Route 87 North (New York) until I get to Port Kent, then take the ferry over to Burlington (I assume the ferry can take cars)? Or...

2) Pick up Route 7 North in Troy NY and follow it all the way up to Burlington? Or...

3) Pick up Route 87 in Albany, pick up Route 149 outside Glens Falls (149 turns into Route 4 at some point) and follow it to Route 7 North just south of Rutland, then take Route 7 North to Burlington? Or...

4) Pick up Route 7 North in Troy (looks like 7 becomes 9 when you cross the border into VT), take Route 9 East in Bennington to Route 91 in Brattleboro, then follow Route 91 to Route 89 North, then ride Route 89 into Burlington?

I've driven Route 7 from Burlington down to the Teddy Bear Factory. It's lights and commercial and that's just fine. My question is, is it like that all the way down the state or does it ever become more highway-like?

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

I do this once a month.

No 1 can be the easiest but that ferry is a very long ride. It would be the easiest, but not the fastest.

No 2. can take for ever if you get stuck behind trucks

No 3 I used to take this and hate it because you can get stuck behind a lot of pokes and there never seem to be passing areas.

No 4. I can't comment but it looks long.

I don't take ferries but I bet this is the fastest way.

Take the Northway to rt 12 and Go to Essex NY. Take the ferry to Charlotte. Take rt 7 north to Burlington.

The reason I believe this would be faster than the Burlington ferry is that the lake is so much wider north. The Charlotte ferry takes 20 minutes while Burlington takes an hour.

When going to Port Kent you actually have to go north of Burlington and it takes longer to get from the Northway to Port Kent than Essex for the Charlotte ferry.

If I wasn't a tightwad I'd take the Charlotte ferry.

That being said I take another way you didn't discuss, but it wouldn't be faster than Charlotte ferry.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by vter

None of the above Actually, I've never done your route #1, but you'd have to time it to hit the ferry right. It's an hour across the lake and if you miss the boat you'll be waiting a while for the next one. If you google Lake Champlain Ferries you should be able to find the schedule. Yes, it is an auto ferry.
Take 87 north to Glens Falls. Take 149 east (or north?) to Fort Ann. Pick up Route 4 east. Follow Route 4 east to Fair Haven VT, where you will get on Route 22A north. Follow 22A north to Vergennes where you pick up Route 7 north into Burlington.

Too many small roads. Here's what I do once a month.

Take the Northway until the Ticonderoga exit.

Cross rt 74 to Ticonderoga (Gourgeous ride. Wouldn't do it in icy conditions. Beautiful mountain top lakes. Very little traffic.

Take rt 9 to the Bridge to Vermont

Drive to Vergennes

Rt 7 to Burlington.

I hate that Fort Ann way. I used to do that. This ride is faster and much more enjoyable.

[vter]

Quickdraw-I'll have to try that way next time I head down that way. Never done it!

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by vter

Quickdraw-I'll have to try that way next time I head down that way. Never done it!

Pick a pretty day. Gorgeous mountain top lake on RT 74. The extra time on the Northway is fast and also very scenic.

[Nelly Nomad]

Thank you both! I appreciate the suggestions and, if all goes as planned, I'll be making the drive in just a few weeks. Thanks!

[OhBeeHave]

4) Pick up Route 7 North in Troy (looks like 7 becomes 9 when you cross the border into VT), take Route 9 East in Bennington to Route 91 in Brattleboro, then follow Route 91 to Route 89 North, then ride Route 89 into Burlington?

You do NOT want to take that slow and circuitous route. You'll travel east across the state to head north and travel west across the state

As for the rest of the seasoned pros, please: What's the best way to get from Ludlow to Lake George?

[vter]

Ludlow to Lake George? Take 103(?) over to Rutland, then Route 4 west to 149 west.

[OhBeeHave]

Thanks VTer, I figured it was something akin to that, but would rather take the advice of those who've 'been there, done that.'