ct. to pa.

gbopp wrote:
Did you consider I-84 west to Scranton PA, I-81 south to Harrisburg PA and then PA-283 east to Lancaster?
It will be a little farther but, you will avoid NYC and the associated traffic.

By all means take the above directions! Avoid I-95 and the New Jersey Turnpike.

From CT to New Jersey you have to decide what you are most comfortable with driving. Once you are in NJ -

The New Jersey Turnpike is fine. We take it all of the time. With Six Flags now closing for the season, it will not be a problem even on weekends. (I am not sure about any restrictions on the NJ Tpk with tow dollies. Check this out for yourself with NJDOT.) The PA Turnpike to Lancaster is fine also - we do this all of the time too. On the PA Tpk exit at the Lancaster exit and get on Route 222 to Lancaster which is a limited access road at this point. It will end at Route 30 and this is Lancaster - take 30 to wherever you campground is.

The alternate is I78 which takes you through northeastern PA. This is full of fast trucks and mountain inclines. Then you have to come down from there south to the same 222 and this is will be mostly on "non-limited" access roads (country roads and town roads) until you get to Reading where 222 becomes limited access. You are much better off taking the PA Turnpike.

NEW JERSEY: Maximum RV width 96 in. (102 in. on certain federal roads); maximum motorhome length 40 ft.; maximum RV height 13.5 ft.; maximum combined length 62 ft. Riding is not allowed in truck campers or trailers. RV Safety Requirements: Trailers over 3,000 lbs.: trailer brakes, breakaway switch, chains and safety glass. Driving Laws: Wipers on/headlights on. Right turn on red is allowed, unless posted otherwise. Seat belts required. At least two riders in carpool lane. Open propane cylinders are not allowed while traveling on open highways. New Jersey Turnpike: Motorhome may tow vehicle as long as all four wheels are on the ground; no tow dollies or piggybacks. Garden State Parkway: Motorhome may tow another vehicle with tow bar, safety chains and emergency tail lights on both vehicles. More Information: Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, CN-174, Trenton NJ 08666; (609) 292-6500. Emergency number: 911 or (888) SAF-ROAD; *77 on cellular phones.

Did you consider I-84 west to Scranton PA, I-81 south to Harrisburg PA and then PA-283 east to Lancaster?
It will be a little farther but, you will avoid NYC and the associated traffic.

I-95 in NJ is the New Jersey Turnpike. Coming from CT you could do it a couple of aways

1) Across T/Zee bridge, down the GS Parkway to I-195, then east across the middle of New Jersey, across the river at around Trenton, then west on the PA Turnpike to Lancaster. This avoids Philly proper, by heading west while you're still north of the city.

2) Across G/W bridge, then South on NJPK to PA and as above

3) West on 80 across north Jersey, hook up with NorthEast extension of PA Turnpike, south on TPK to King of Prussia, then West as above in #1

The NJ Turnpike is rough in spots, but I haven't been on it's northern reaches for a while - they may have repaved a lot. But in general, Jersey roads are crap.

PA's not much better. There's a lot of repaving going on on the North East Extension, but much of it is in the Northbound lanes.

If you're not really familiar with the roads, I'd do #3, only because it's PROBABLY going to be less congested and hectic. The traffic between Newark and Philly on the NJTP can be really....boisterous. :)

Plus, you do NOT want to follow 95 into Philly and then have to head west on the Schuylkill Expressway out to King of Prussia. Not in a 40' with a toad, anyway.

One problem is that the PA Turnpike doesn't go anywhere near Lancaster, which is about 30 miles SOUTH of the TPK.

What you DO NOT want to do is approach Lancaster from the East or West via Route 30. Stoplights and mucho congestion either way.

Check out Google maps and you'll see what I mean.