URGENT! Advice needed for driving through Appalachian Mtns! (Uniontown, Trooper: living in, safety)

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Hopes

It's too late. They're already on the road, and they listened to people who have never been on 68, which is 40.

Well, they left from Indianapolis, so they probably won't get to Pgh for a few more hours yet. Google says 5 1/2 hours, but that's w/o stopping for gas, meals, restrooms, etc. As my daughter once said, "You can eat in the car; you can pee out the window; but you have to stop for gas"!

[Hopes]

If they take the part of 40 that connects 70 to 40/68, there will be two lanes. They're not scary two lanes, but there are other four lane routes to get from 70 to 40/68 if they OP prefers 4 lanes the entire way. 40/68 is a great highway. It's much nicer than 70 and 76 in PA. It's more similar to 79. And it being much further south is a good thing because Columbus, Baltimore and DC are much further south than Pittsburgh.

[sealie]

Originally Posted by SlurmsMcKenzie

My wife thinks I'm crazy but when heading towards DC I always take i-79 south to i-68. i-68 is great...no tolls, very few tight curves (aside from downtown Cumberland), and the scenery is much better too, IMO. And there is usually no traffic (I often make it to Berkeley Springs ahead of our friends who took the traditional turnpike route). i-68 between Morgantown and Hagerstown is probably my favorite stretch of highway to drive.

Do you ever split the difference, get off at Somerset, and zig and zag down to Cumberland? It is almost as fast as and less annoying than going through Breezewood with traffic and the toll is lower of course.

[Gee Whiz]

I can understanding your being wary of driving through Appalachia, not only for the roads, but instances like this.http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...Am9QlcGOM3r2LA

[shadowfax]

Originally Posted by AnneWest

I agree with the PA Turnpike to Breezewood, and then south on I-70. It's more direct with regular rest stops etc. Seriously, it's a nice drive.

This is the route I take to Baltimore every November and the trip is always smooth and easy. Well unless there is an ice storm but we won't be having any of those for a couple of months yet. It is also a very pretty drive. At least I think so.

Originally Posted by vibrio

Ok thank you all so much.
If most of you think that we will not encounter anything truly scary, I think we will go for the 70/76/70, even though we will pay a toll and have to be high up, it seems like the easiest drive.

Some friends told us they had a really scary time a while back on I-76 coming from North of where we started. Do you think they meant coming from I-80 through PA on I-76?

One last thing - we will be on the last leg of our drive today around these parts, and we'd like to avoid driving at night. Where would be a good place to stop near the end of this route in case we can't make it into Maryland by dark?

Breezwood exit is a decent place to stop and grab food and gas. I think I recall seeing some hotels there as well. Not much else though. Once you get past Breezwood things are pretty remote for a couple of hours. Pittsburgh to Baltimore usually takes us about 4 hours.

[villageidiot1]

Originally Posted by Hopes

It's too late. They're already on the road, and they listened to people who have never been on 68, which is 40.

Most of Route 40 (National Pike) is still there. It runs mostly along side I-68.

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

68 is not 40 the way they were going...


or did I read that wrong?


ETA: I read them right. They were taking 43 to 40 - which would be in Uniontown. 68 is way south of there.

68 and 40 don't become the same route until some time further east at Keyser's Ridge..

Route 40 runs through Uniontown and runs into I-68 close to Keyser's Ridge.

Originally Posted by sealie

Do you ever split the difference, get off at Somerset, and zig and zag down to Cumberland? It is almost as fast as and less annoying than going through Breezewood with traffic and the toll is lower of course.

I'll bet you have never driven Route 219 to Meyersdale or you would not have recommended this. The OP's original option was OK, this is not.

Originally Posted by Gee Whiz

I can understanding your being wary of driving through Appalachia, not only for the roads, but instances like this.http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...Am9QlcGOM3r2LA

Now yinz dun scared them there city slickers away from here!

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by sealie

Do you ever split the difference, get off at Somerset, and zig and zag down to Cumberland? It is almost as fast as and less annoying than going through Breezewood with traffic and the toll is lower of course.

We took that route to Cumberland last month. We stopped at a few of the small towns between Somerset and Cumberland along the way and took pictures at some covered bridges we saw on side roads as we passed. It's really pretty down there.

[sealie]

The OP had already hit the road, I was replying to someone else and was not suggesting it for the OP. Of course I wouldn't do that in a moving van/truck if I didn't know the drive. And I have done it on 30/160.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by sealie

The OP had already hit the road, I was replying to someone else and was not suggesting it for the OP. Of course I wouldn't do that in a moving van/truck if I didn't know the drive. And I have done it on 30/160.

Huh??? It was clear you weren't recommending it to the OP. And I thought it was clear that I merely shared how my husband and I enjoyed the route you mentioned.

[sealie]

Sorry, not you, villageidiot was telling me it was bad advice for the OP especially on 219 to Meyersdale and I was responding to that.