Driving to SBE from MA

[hang-the-9]

Anyone drive down to PA from MA / N.E. for SBE?
Trip shows 2 options, one NJ Tpk other is 287 which is about 1 hour longer time.

I'm guessing that is without traffic, which one is best to take counting traffic or which way did you take if you drove that way. CT, MA, RI, NH, ME, I'm guessing all those will be going the same direction.

 

[Koop]

Anyone drive down to PA from MA / N.E. for SBE?
Trip shows 2 options, one NJ Tpk other is 287 which is about 1 hour longer time.

I'm guessing that is without traffic, which one is best to take counting traffic or which way did you take if you drove that way. CT, MA, RI, NH, ME, I'm guessing all those will be going the same direction.

I always take the Pike to 84 to 684 and head down and over the Tappan Zee to Garden State Pwy and then pick up 95 where they intersect.
95 is faster IF there is no traffic through lower CT and NYC. That's like saying my Uncle would be my Aunt IF he didn't have balls...lol

 

[hang-the-9]

I always take the Pike to 84 to 684 and head down and over the Tappan Zee to Garden State Pwy and then pick up 95 where they intersect.
95 is faster IF there is no traffic through lower CT and NYC. That's like saying my Uncle would be my Aunt IF he didn't have balls...lol

Yep, the traffic is a total unknown LOL. I'm sure the day/time makes a difference, I may be driving Friday night or Sat early morning.

Only going there so my son can play in the juniour tournament, latest check in for that is noon on Sat, if I leave early I can get there the same day and save a $100 in hotel costs. It's not much better for me to drive Friday either. Work, drive 1 hr home, then leave right away for a 5 hr drive to PA. Only good part about it is that my son will not be going right from a long car drive to the turnament.

 

[Koop]

Yep, the traffic is a total unknown LOL. I'm sure the day/time makes a difference, I may be driving Friday night or Sat early morning.

Only going there so my son can play in the juniour tournament, latest check in for that is noon on Sat, if I leave early I can get there the same day and save a $100 in hotel costs. It's not much better for me to drive Friday either. Work, drive 1 hr home, then leave right away for a 5 hr drive to PA. Only good part about it is that my son will not be going right from a long car drive to the turnament.

Very true. I usually head out early Friday which means I am hitting the tail end of rush hour through the city. By going over the Tappan Zee it's a little longer but I am usually not stopping in traffic. Plus I have a cousin that lives in Paramus NJ so sometimes I stop in and say hi.

 

[ctyhntr]

I commute daily from NY to NJ, and unless there is an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike (95), its pretty smooth especially during rush hour. Can't say the same about the side roads (287) or Garden State Parkway near the shore.

 

[Koop]

I commute daily from NY to NJ, and unless there is an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike (95), its pretty smooth especially during rush hour. Can't say the same about the side roads (287) or Garden State Parkway near the shore.

Yeah, I agree it's usually smooth there. Where we run into trouble coming from MA is around New Haven CT all the way into the Bronx. That stretch can be a nightmare.

 

[ctyhntr]

I've ran into that whenever I go from NYC to Providence on 95 its either hit or miss. The bottleneck is where 91 meets 95 at New Haven, so it's either 4 hour trip or 6 hour trip. If the OP is traveling at night, rush hour traffic may not be an issue.

Yeah, I agree it's usually smooth there. Where we run into trouble coming from MA is around New Haven CT all the way into the Bronx. That stretch can be a nightmare.

 

[Koop]

I've ran into that whenever I go from NYC to Providence on 95 its either hit or miss. The bottleneck is where 91 meets 95 at New Haven, so it's either 4 hour trip or 6 hour trip. If the OP is traveling at night, rush hour traffic may not be an issue.

Exactly, that's right where it starts for me too.

 

[nine o nine]

I go to the Philly area often from Central MA. I use 84/684/287/87/95. The GW bridge is usually fine as long as it's pre or post rush hour. Best if the rush is inbound to NYC while you're going out and vice versa. I always use the lower deck. If there's a fender bender or worse on any route it's a problem and you never know. As soon as I get into the 684 area I tune to 1010 or 880 for the traffic reports and then I can make choices. Going down 95 from the Boston area through New Haven is a route I hate. If no problems crop up it's 5 hours or less to Philly from Leominster. Mitch

 

[hang-the-9]

I go to the Philly area often from Central MA. I use 84/684/287/87/95. The GW bridge is usually fine as long as it's pre or post rush hour. Best if the rush is inbound to NYC while you're going out and vice versa. I always use the lower deck. If there's a fender bender or worse on any route it's a problem and you never know. As soon as I get into the 684 area I tune to 1010 or 880 for the traffic reports and then I can make choices. Going down 95 from the Boston area through New Haven is a route I hate. If no problems crop up it's 5 hours or less to Philly from Leominster. Mitch

Thanks!

If you're from Leominster, you play in Ayer at all? I'm there often.
Will be there tonight actually for a lesson for my son with Karen Korr.

 

[nine o nine]

I've been to Ayer on occasion to the BC. I might be able to stop in to meet you and Karen. What time is your lesson? Mitch

 

[KMRUNOUT]

Anyone drive down to PA from MA / N.E. for SBE?
Trip shows 2 options, one NJ Tpk other is 287 which is about 1 hour longer time.

I'm guessing that is without traffic, which one is best to take counting traffic or which way did you take if you drove that way. CT, MA, RI, NH, ME, I'm guessing all those will be going the same direction.

Having driven there about 10 times, I strongly recommend taking the route of 84>684>287 (tappan zee bridge)>Garden state parkway. It is a better faster drive. Garden State Parkway sucks at rush hour so plan accordingly.

KMRUNOUT

 

[Buzzard II]

While I'm coming in from Virginia I can tell you, I lived in NJ for 58 years. I always did what ever I could to avoid the turnpike. And while the GSP shore traffic is horrible there's no problem in April. And anyway the worst that can happen is getting smacked by another car.

The turnpike has thousands of 100,000 pound trucks trying to kill you.

 

[gerard soriano]

While I'm coming in from Virginia I can tell you, I lived in NJ for 58 years. I always did what ever I could to avoid the turnpike. And while the GSP shore traffic is horrible there's no problem in April. And anyway the worst that can happen is getting smacked by another car.

The turnpike has thousands of 100,000 pound trucks trying to kill you.

I still live in NJ and can back up your statement 100 percent and its getting worse ,now they are on cell phones and texting !
SCARY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cornerman]

Anyone drive down to PA from MA / N.E. for SBE?
Trip shows 2 options, one NJ Tpk other is 287 which is about 1 hour longer time.

I'm guessing that is without traffic, which one is best to take counting traffic or which way did you take if you drove that way. CT, MA, RI, NH, ME, I'm guessing all those will be going the same direction.

Let me tell you, my friend... no matter which way you pick, there are going to be times of smooth sailing and times of crappy suckiness.

I always went straight through 95 to SBE. And the handful of times I decided to go some other route when going from New England to any other state south of NY, ... it sucked. I got trapped at Tappan Zee for 3 hours once. Great shortcut.

Freddie <~~~ sometimes, suck is what life is all about

 

[BmoreMoney]

I prob shouldn't say this but............ I've made countless trips from Bmore to NYC and my experience with the turnpike is its like the " American Autobahn " . Just about everytime I've been on the turnpike I've driven 100+ mph with no problems. I've actually done that and got passed!!!!

Now i HATE TRAFFIC so i always schedule to avoid it. I recommend u do the same.

 

[PaulieB]

By going over the Tappan Zee it's a little longer but I am usually not stopping in traffic. Plus I have a cousin that lives in Paramus NJ so sometimes I stop in and say hi.

Hang, I think you should go this way and stop in and say hi to Koop's cousin, just to be friendly.

 

[wigglybridge]

i have made this trip over 100 actual times, at all times of the day and night. the tappan zee route is an automatic extra 45 minutes, minimum (plus it can also back up), and 84 in CT is a disaster always, Always, ALWAYS. the slowdowns on 95 can be avoided easily if you do it right.

the least traffic prone And most direct route is:

91 to Merritt (at Meriden) which later becomes Hutchinson to Cross County to Sawmill to Henry Hudson, which brings you Exactly Below the GWB (the real traffic pinch is 95 heading into the GWB; congratulations, you've just skipped that). then GWB to 95 (don't miss the turn a few miles after the bridge or you'll end up on route 80 headed west). then 95 on down to the PA turnpike.

physically the shortest path without flying your own private plane, and my traffic stoppage on that route is infinitesimal compared to the other routes mentioned.

and you can thank my grandfather as you cross the GWB -- he built it (he had help).

 

[sparkle84]

i have made this trip over 100 actual times, at all times of the day and night. the tappan zee route is an automatic extra 45 minutes, minimum (plus it can also back up), and 84 in CT is a disaster always, Always, ALWAYS. the slowdowns on 95 can be avoided easily if you do it right.

the least traffic prone And most direct route is:

91 to Merritt (at Meriden) which later becomes Hutchinson to Cross County to Sawmill to Henry Hudson, which brings you Exactly Below the GWB (the real traffic pinch is 95 heading into the GWB; congratulations, you've just skipped that). then GWB to 95 (don't miss the turn a few miles after the bridge or you'll end up on route 80 headed west). then 95 on down to the PA turnpike.

physically the shortest path without flying your own private plane, and my traffic stoppage on that route is infinitesimal compared to the other routes mentioned.

and you can thank my grandfather as you cross the GWB -- he built it (he had help).

Beat me to it Bob. I was going to suggest this Route. You turned me on to it last year when I was going down to the American 14.1 Championship and am I glad you did, even though I didn't quite believe you at the time, Quick and painless.
To anyone from New England going to SBE, try it, you'll like it.

 

[hang-the-9]

Thanks all, appreciate the info. Trip is still 50/50 since we are actually driving down this same way to visit my daughter in N Carolina so wife is a bit making fun of me that we'll be driving 8-9 hours back and forth and then going that say way like 5 days later LOL