Bangor Me to Florida Suggested Routes

I don't like 81 going from Scranton because of all the steep hills and curves and rough pavement. There are several ways to get to 78 as mentioned above and 78 is flat. 64 to 95 is about 50 miles longer and steeper than 66/17 to 95. 77 to Charlotte is very steep and Charlotte can be like driving the Daytona 500. Doe them all many times (we summer in Maine). Truck traffic on 81 seems much worse than 95 now a days. Like Bumpy says, avoiding Boston to Washington is the main advantage. The rest is personal choice. They all get you there with similar times and miles. If you like mountains 77 is lovely.

kevden wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

ct1964ups wrote:
.then using above ,go down 81 to I-66 for 25 miles to Va rt 17 to I-95....above Richmond,Va...this is a good route with only limited amount of steep grades

a good way to avoid the balt/DC mess.
bumpy

^ what he said!
we avoid nyc and nj too. Either stay on 84 through ct into pa then take 81 from Scranton. A little quicker is to get off 84 in ct onto 684 then 287 across the tappan zee bridge. Then you can take 80 or 78 over to 81. This avoids all the major cities except Hartford. Hartford is very easy to get through at night if you can time your trip for it.
there are a few different routes to take back to 95 in va. 77 has a 7 1/2 mile steep grade at fancy gap. 64 has a long grade also, but I do not think it is as steep. avoid nyc, nj, Baltimore, dc, if you can!
If you do not have one, get an ez pass for tolls. with it, most tolls you simply slow down through, some you do not even slow at all. Tolls are much easier and faster easier with one. The only state on that route that did not accept it is fl. They might accept it now, I am not sure.

You can stay on 84 to 81 in Scranton......but not the best roads or route....too much construction and can get some weather this time of the year.....taking 84 to NY , then in NY pickup 684 to 87 across the Tap will work....I prefer the 84 to 87 crossing the Hudson in Newburgh....then 287 to 78 to 81
the ez-pass doesn't work in Florida but can buy the Sunpass at any service area if you plan on going far south and use the Florida Tkpe....Chuck

Bumpyroad wrote:

ct1964ups wrote:
.then using above ,go down 81 to I-66 for 25 miles to Va rt 17 to I-95....above Richmond,Va...this is a good route with only limited amount of steep grades

a good way to avoid the balt/DC mess.
bumpy

^ what he said!
we avoid nyc and nj too. Either stay on 84 through ct into pa then take 81 from Scranton. A little quicker is to get off 84 in ct onto 684 then 287 across the tappan zee bridge. Then you can take 80 or 78 over to 81. This avoids all the major cities except Hartford. Hartford is very easy to get through at night if you can time your trip for it.
there are a few different routes to take back to 95 in va. 77 has a 7 1/2 mile steep grade at fancy gap. 64 has a long grade also, but I do not think it is as steep. avoid nyc, nj, Baltimore, dc, if you can!
If you do not have one, get an ez pass for tolls. with it, most tolls you simply slow down through, some you do not even slow at all. Tolls are much easier and faster easier with one. The only state on that route that did not accept it is fl. They might accept it now, I am not sure.

ct1964ups wrote:
.then using above ,go down 81 to I-66 for 25 miles to Va rt 17 to I-95....above Richmond,Va...this is a good route with only limited amount of steep grades

a good way to avoid the balt/DC mess.
bumpy

once on 84 thru Conn, and in NY I would take 87 south toward NYC @ Newburgh,NY...to I-78 @ Sufferin,NY...pickup 287 west for 45 miles to I-78...then 78 to I-81

This is how we start out but then change the route based on timing/conditions. Usually we pick up 83 through Harrisburg (not difficult to navigate the city), take 83 down through MD (some grades but beautiful drive) and stay at Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD. Since our 2nd day on the road is almost always a Sunday we get on the beltway then just head south down 95. If you take the I-78 route you can stop at Cabela's in Hamburg to stretch your legs, etc. Lots of easy on/easy gas stations along that route as well.

sdianel wrote:
I-295, I-95, I-495, I-290, I-90, I-84, I-81, I-64, I-95. Or instead of I-64, take I-77 south to I-26 at Columbis SC, then over to I-95.

What they said...

sdianel wrote:
I-295, I-95, I-495, I-290, I-90, I-84, I-81, I-64, I-95. Or instead of I-64, take I-77 south to I-26 at Columbis SC, then over to I-95.

Paul, I use the above route with a few modifications......also I never saw your final destination.....
but, once on 84 thru Conn, and in NY
I would take 87 south toward NYC @ Newburgh,NY...to I-78 @ Sufferin,NY...pickup 287 west for 45 miles to I-78...then 78 to I-81....then using above ,go down 81 to I-66 for 25 miles to Va rt 17 to I-95....above Richmond,Va...this is a good route with only limited amount of steep grades
Now.....the second route above...stay on I-81 to I-77 and then straight down I-77 to Columbia,SC is another great route....@ Columbia,SC..then can head over to I-75 and west coast of Florida...or go out I-26 toward 95 and the east coast....alot of good campgrounds along either route....Chuck

If you travel at night I95 is fine.

sdianel's route looks decent.

I probably would follow Big Katuna's "scenic route" at the start, taking US2W to I89-N to VT100 S to US4 W to NY149 W to I87S to I90W to I88S to I81S and then on down. Using the interstates would be quicker but more urban.

Avoid I-95 through the seaboard cities. (There are propane restrictions on I-95 in Boston, by the way; it's a long tunnel under the heart of the city. Possibly there are some restricted bridges or tunnels elsewhere along it.)

We stay off I95 entirely. We go west to around Lake George and take one of the 80s south to 81S to I77s to 26e to 301s to Fl.

Nice roads scenic no 95.