Help getting out of NYC

mkc wrote:

Tvov wrote:


You may already know this, but careful with "parkways" in New England! Garden State Parkway is okay to tow on, but most are not open to trailers. Some people tow campers on them, but... that is your call.

Actually, in NYS it's not "your call". NY Parkways are passenger car only, no trucks or trailers permitted AT ALL. There are no shoulders, no medians, and underclearances of less than 10 ft in many areas.

The reason RVs end up on them is unfamiliarity with the area and/or blindly following a GPS.

I think this is a pretty tricky one. It depends a lot on what RV you are driving. A class C can be on there no problem. Travel trailer? No way. Fifth wheel? No way. Truck camper? No problem. Just height restrictions to worry about.

HadEnough wrote:

mkc wrote:

Tvov wrote:


You may already know this, but careful with "parkways" in New England! Garden State Parkway is okay to tow on, but most are not open to trailers. Some people tow campers on them, but... that is your call.

Actually, in NYS it's not "your call". NY Parkways are passenger car only, no trucks or trailers permitted AT ALL. There are no shoulders, no medians, and underclearances of less than 10 ft in many areas.

The reason RVs end up on them is unfamiliarity with the area and/or blindly following a GPS.

I think this is a pretty tricky one. It depends a lot on what RV you are driving. A class C can be on there no problem. Travel trailer? No way. Fifth wheel? No way. Truck camper? No problem. Just height restrictions to worry about.

Class C motorhomes are not legally permitted on virtually all New York (and Connecticut) parkways; passenger cars only means, well, passenger cars only, and a motorhome ("house car" on my registration) is not a passenger car. The only exception to this that I know of in New York state is the Lake Ontario State Parkway, which does permit non-commercial RVs and trailers that are not too tall. In many cases, a class C motorhome simply won't fit underneath the overpasses on parkways.

Here's a comparison of 2 possible routes.

cross21114 wrote:
Here's a comparison of 2 possible routes.

That is wrong.... You do NOT go all the way to Albany...


You added about 3-1/2 hours with that map

look here - 4-1/2 Hours - 240 miles

google maps- Liberty Harbor to Boston

Another option not mentioned is to take the NYS Thruway up to the Mass Pike Extension south of Albany. Yes, there are tolls on both of them, but it avoids pretty much any chance of traffic. And the recommendation to take 78 west all the away to 287 to go north? I'm a north Jersey local. From Liberty Harbor get back on the Newark Bay NJ Turnpike Extension where it hits Grand Street, to either NJ turnpike spur northbound to I-80 west to the Garden State Parkway to its northern terminus, at which point either head north my recommended way, or "south" to cross the Tappan Zee, which officially these days is the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge.

mkc wrote:

Tvov wrote:


You may already know this, but careful with "parkways" in New England! Garden State Parkway is okay to tow on, but most are not open to trailers. Some people tow campers on them, but... that is your call.

Actually, in NYS it's not "your call". NY Parkways are passenger car only, no trucks or trailers permitted AT ALL. There are no shoulders, no medians, and underclearances of less than 10 ft in many areas.

The reason RVs end up on them is unfamiliarity with the area and/or blindly following a GPS.

I should have been more clear. I didn't mean to randomly do what you want. I am saying "your call" meaning some people will tow campers / small trailers on the parkways to save time, running the risk of a ticket.

Also depends on the parkway and what state you are in.

And - a lot of GPS and mapping apps don't distinguish between parkways and general use roads.

So, anyway, make sure you do your research on routes!

Lumpty wrote:
...the Tappan Zee, which officially these days is the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge.

Really! So my wife was right! (don't tell her). We just went over that last Sunday, and my wife was surprised to see a sign about the name change.

Meh.... I've always thought "Tappanzee" is such a cool name.

Tvov wrote:

Lumpty wrote:
...the Tappan Zee, which officially these days is the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge.

Really! So my wife was right! (don't tell her). We just went over that last Sunday, and my wife was surprised to see a sign about the name change.

Meh.... I've always thought "Tappanzee" is such a cool name.

There is a significant public effort to get it changed back, or at least have Tappan Zee added back to the name.

DrewE wrote:


Class C motorhomes are not legally permitted on virtually all New York (and Connecticut) parkways; passenger cars only means, well, passenger cars only, and a motorhome ("house car" on my registration) is not a passenger car. The only exception to this that I know of in New York state is the Lake Ontario State Parkway, which does permit non-commercial RVs and trailers that are not too tall. In many cases, a class C motorhome simply won't fit underneath the overpasses on parkways.

It's not just the overpasses (although having lived and worked in the Hudson Valley for decades, I've seen my share of tall vehicles stuck at them and having to be backed out and down entrance ramps). There are basically no shoulders, often rock faces, and no medians (just a very short guardrail) on most. The roads were designed as scenic drives for cars and are not at all suitable for an RV.

I can recall a time where even light pickup trucks weren't permitted on any of them. That did change over the years, but I believe there is still the restriction that if you have commercial plates, you can't drive a pickup on them.