Driving From Hartford to DC through NY at Rush Hour...Options and Suggestions (Newburgh: garden)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This Thursday I will be leaving the eastern Hartford suburbs to drive to DC around 2 PM.
There are many variations of routes I can take, which ones given time of day do you suggest.
1) Standards
a. I-84 to Rt15 to I-91 to I-95 to GWB
b. I-84 to Rt 15 to I-91 to Rt 15 to Cross Bronx to GWB
c. I-84 to Rt 15 to I-91 to Rt 15 to Tappan Zee....to Garden State Parkway
2) Variation 1
a. I-84 to Rt 15 to I-91 to I-691 to I-84 to I-684 to GWB
b. same from above but to 287 to Tappen Zee to GSP
c. same from above but instead of GSP take 287 all the way to central jersey (avoid GSP during rush hour)
3) The Long way (if traffic will be REALLY bad)
a. I-84 to Rt 15 to I-91 to I-691 to I-84 to I-87 to Rt 17 to GSP
b. same from above but I-87 to I-287 to central jersey
c. REALLY long way
I-84 to Rt 15 to I-91 to I-691-To I-84 to Scranton then I-81/I-83...and so on.
As you can see there are MANY ways.
I don't know if I should avoid lower CT (New Haven/Stamford) and do 84...or if I should I avoid the GWB/Zee and go through Newburgh...or avoid all of metro NY and do the PA route.
Honestly, I would pick a bridge crossing you're comfortable with and go from there, but it looks as though the GW is your shortest route. Traffic is a weird thing. You may not encounter any traffic, or it could be horrible from the moment you hit 95. I mean, I've had good and bad experiences on just about every road you've mentioned. It's rather luck of the draw. The only thing I can say is that if you pick the GWB, I've noticed that you are more likely to get across faster if you pick the lower level. Upper level they allow the big trucks and they seem to get snarled up more..but it's a general rule, not set in stone, because I've also seen the opposite. This is the route I'd take, but I really hate 84 in Connecticut. However, if the thought of metro NY drives you crazy, go over the Newburgh bridge, and take 87 down to Jersey, though you add about 40 miles onto your trip. If you're really nervous, it's probably worth it.
Just allow yourself plenty of time. I drove to DC a few months ago, and personally, the DC metro area roads vexed me more than anything else- hate how they set up their directional signs!
What about I-84 to I-87 to I-287 to Route 206 to Trenton, where you pickup I-95?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
