Best Route North

Whatever you use, watch the tolls closely. On one of the RV forums a guy pulling a toad with a Class A (don't remember if it had a tag) got nailed for $95 for going across the George Washington Bridge. Those fools up there are positively NUTS about tolls, bridges and toll roads. Even our rinky-dink "Delaware Turnpike" has the tolls for a car go from $2.00 to $6.00 on weekends so they can screw the beach goers. Total distance 36.4 miles.

Last June I drove up north from South Florida. I got off I 95 in Fredericksburg, VA. on route 17 which turns into 50 I believe, and followed that to I 81. Took that up to I 84. Stayed on that into CT and got back on I 95. There are a number of ways to do that part. The only toll I had was on a bridge crossing from PA to Newburgh, N.Y. I believe it was $9.50 for my MH towing an SUV.

Mich F wrote:
Last June I drove up north from South Florida. I got off I 95 in Fredericksburg, VA. on route 17 which turns into 50 I believe, and followed that to I 81. Took that up to I 84. Stayed on that into CT and got back on I 95. There are a number of ways to do that part. The only toll I had was on a bridge crossing from PA to Newburgh, N.Y. I believe it was $9.50 for my MH towing a truck.

That was our basic route to Boston a few years ago. Perhaps not the most direct, but far less stressful than I-95, Washington, Balt. Philly, NYC.

How about working your way to I-81 to I-78 to I-287 over the Tappan-Zee toll bridge. As mentioned you have a couple of choices at this point. You can continue east on 287 to I-95 north to I-195 in Providence RI and on to Cape Cod. Or after the Tappan-Zee you could work your way to I-84, which features on going road construction in Waterbury CT.,then on to the Ma. Turnpike (toll road) at Surbridge then I-495 to the Cape. Be sure NOT, NOT to hit the Bourne or Sagamore bridges after 1 or 2 pm on any Friday afternoon. If you do expect 2 to 4 hours minimum delays. Those are the only 2 bridges to the Cape and they only have 2 lanes each so it's slow going.

Been doing this route for years...I/95 to I/26 (SC) to I/77 to I/81 to I/84 (1st toll Newburgh Beacon Bridge) to I/90 (Mass Pike and last toll to Cape Cod)
If snow is possible we get off I/81 in PA but I don't think you have to worry about that.

Ed C wrote:
Been doing this route for years...I/95 to I/26 (SC) to I/77 to I/81 to I/84 (1st toll Newburgh Beacon Bridge) to I/90 (Mass Pike and last toll to Cape Cod)
If snow is possible we get off I/81 in PA but I don't think you have to worry about that.

The Mass Pike seems quite a bit out of the way to me, in a trip to the Cape from the south. :h

Mich F wrote:
Last June I drove up north from South Florida. I got off I 95 in Fredericksburg, VA. on route 17 which turns into 50 I believe, and followed that to I 81. Took that up to I 84. Stayed on that into CT and got back on I 95. There are a number of ways to do that part. The only toll I had was on a bridge crossing from PA to Newburgh, N.Y. I believe it was $9.50 for my MH towing a truck.

We plan to take this route in June. My question is: what are the roads like between Fredericksburg and Front Royal?

We have always cut across from Richmond to I81 on I64. Looks as if 17 to 15 to I66 might be the better way to go. Thanks
Judi

Here's how we do it to Cape Cod:
We go I81 to I 84 over the Beacon Newburgh bridge (that's our only toll) then in CT, off 84 just past Waterbury) we take I691 then to 66 (Middletown) then South on 9 to I95. That will bring you just south of New London and then up 95 through Providence RI to 195 to the Cape.

We have taken many routes to get to 81 over the years. This year we plan to take I17 across to Front Royal and then up to 84.

Judi

gradygal wrote:

Mich F wrote:
Last June I drove up north from South Florida. I got off I 95 in Fredericksburg, VA. on route 17 which turns into 50 I believe, and followed that to I 81. Took that up to I 84. Stayed on that into CT and got back on I 95. There are a number of ways to do that part. The only toll I had was on a bridge crossing from PA to Newburgh, N.Y. I believe it was $9.50 for my MH towing a truck.

We plan to take this route in June. My question is: what are the roads like between Fredericksburg and Front Royal?

We have always cut across from Richmond to I81 on I64. Looks as if 17 to 15 to I66 might be the better way to go. Thanks
Judi

We took 17 out of Fredericksburg and stayed at Front Royal for 2 nights. Went through much of Shenandoah National park, with the toad, on our second day there. I believe we took 522 from there up to I 81. Those roads were fine, if I remember correctly. Sections of I 84 through CT were horrible, and there was a lot of construction last June.

*** Just realised I probably didn't take 50 as I wrote in my earlier post. I had forgotten about Front Royal :B I 64 would probably be as good or quicker way to get to I 81 from there. We weren't in that much of a rush and still ended up getting to Hingham MA. a day earlier than our reservation.

For your driving please, time your drive through balt/washington to avoid anything close to rush hourS. We prefer 9pm or later or VERY early and it is smooth sailing. Not fun when when merges think you are going to move out their way when they don't bother to look as they merge.

Nyc area too.