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Do Not go through the City - it will make the Cross-Bronx look like a cake-walk.
It would be easier to leave at an earlier time, say 2PM? You will be leaving at rush-hour, be prepared for bumper to bumper across the spans or tunnel. Good Luck to you.
I've driven to PA and central/western NY (via 78 and 80/81) more times than I would like to remember, so here's my 2¢.
1) Throgs Neck or Whitestone -> Bruckner -> Deegan -> GWB. Most direct route to I-80, also acceptable to I-78. Substantially better than Cross Bronx. Better than Triboro as it cuts out a big chunk of Queens traffic. Downsides: Must travel on lower level of GWB. Construction. Very poor road surface. Still need to deal with the Cross Island.
2) Lincoln Tunnel. Most direct route to 78. Fast if clear--the problem is that it so rarely is! You must hit the tunnel by 3pm outbound.
3) Goethals (or Outerbridge). Fastest route to south Jersey (Philly, DC, etc). Adds substantial mileage and time to 80. Compare:
Syosset to Paterson (chosen only as convenient NJ location adjacent to I-80), via Cross Bronx/GWB: 43.8mi
Via Bruckner/GWB: 47.1mi
Via LIE/Midtown Tunnel/Lincoln Tunnel: 52.6mi
Via Belt/Goethals: 82.7mi
Via Outerbridge: 91.1mi
Unless traffic is really, really awful in the Bronx or on the GWB, it will be faster--the turnpike will not be empty, either, nor will the Belt.
81 connects to 80 near Scranton. (If you are heading to central and western New York, 80 to 81 is faster than the Thruway.)
That would be a hellish detour. It would add 60 miles, require you to travel across Westchester and over the Tappan Zee, in rush hour. You could always go up the Taconic to the Newburgh-Beacon, but why?
I drive from Traverse City to Long Island a couple of times a year to visit my parents as I grew up there. Leaving on a Monday afternoon at 4:00pm, you will sit in bumper to bumper traffic no matter which route you take. If you HAVE to leave that day and time you are basically screwed, and if it's raining, even more so. The optimum time for driving from LI to Michigan via I-80 is to leave Sunday morning at 4:30-5:00am and you'll be in Ann Arbor in plenty of time for Sunday dinner. I take the Throgs Neck via the Cross Bronx and am in New Jersey w/in 40 minutes. It's surreal traversing the Cross Bronx in 7 minutes)
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmax
I have to drive to Ann Arbor, Michigan for Thanksgiving. We will be leaving on Monday at 4pm from Syosset. I understand I will hit traffic whichever way I go, but under normal conditions - which is my best route? I have never had luck with Throgs Neck Bridge to Cross Bronx to GWB. A friend told me to look at Triboro Bridge to Major Deegan to GWB. I've also thought about going through the city - Queens Midtown tunnel to Lincoln Tunnel to Jersey Turnpike to 80. or Triboro to Harlem River Drive to GWB.
I am open to any suggestion that allows me to avoid the Cross Bronx - I can't stress enough how much I hate that road - I have wasted too much of my life sitting in traffic at all hours of the day on that road.
Southern State to the Belt to the Verrazano to the Goethals to NJTPK North to 280 to 80.
It seems like a lot of steps, but I travel around that area frequently and this is my preferred route. I avoid the Cross Bronx/Cross Island/GWB routes as much as possible.
ALMOST 100% - but not the Goethals - lots of heavy traffic after 4 pm - take the BAYONNE Bri to the NJ TPK (entry at 14A) - but not NORTH towards the GW and all the traffic, take 78 WEST to 124 towards Morristown then 287 North to 80 almost in PA.
An alternative is NJ Tpk out of Jersey City as above, 78 West to th GSP and then take 80 where it crosses the GSP before Paramus.
It's a slightly more mileage route but FAR LESS traffic - especially if you're leaving LI at 4 pm. The SI Expressway starts to get really heavy by 4:30 and the Goethals is like the Belt Parkinglot from 5PM. While there is traffic on the Bayonne Bridge, it's still moving pretty fast.
I always take the Bayonne Br when going to/from Newark Airport (right off the Tpk/78). Takes me 15-20 min.
Now that's funny. Using the term "best route" and Long Island in the same sentence. Seriously...the best route is any of them...at 6AM. Other than that and they all are no fun.
A big 10-4. 4 am is the only time to get off the island! Isnt that sad?
Quote:
Originally Posted by PONYPULR
Peter B's got it right! 4AM is the only time we would even try to get off this island!!
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