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Teeshot1939's avatar
Teeshot1939
Explorer
Nov 05, 2017

Providence RI to Jacksonville FL

Driving 42' Class A with toad from Providence,RI to Jacksonville,FL. I have propane on board. Need advice for route planning to avoid NY city and DC. What route would you recommend? Don't mind longer distance/time to avoid traffic and tolls. Thanks....
  • AVOID GW bridge at all cost. The route will take you on the cross Bronx xway and it is horrible.

    Despite what you may hear, 95 south through DC isn't bad. You can take the Tappan Zee bridge at Whites Plains NY, then drop down on the Garden State Pkwy to Rte. 80 to 95 south...avoiding NYC. You will have to take the outer loop around Baltimore, going over the Francis Scott Key bridge. Propane is not allowed in the Rte. 95 tunnel. Also take the outer beltway around DC. If you time your trip to avoid DC rush hour, you will be ok. I like this route on weekends better than weekdays.

    You can also avoid Baltimore and DC by going from NJ down the Delmarva to the Chesapeake bay bridge tunnel. Or you could go over to Cape May NJ and take the Lewes ferry....nice trip, getting back on 95 after going through the VA beach area.

    Or, you can go 91 to 84 to 81 and avoid most all of it. This is a pretty nice drive, but still heavy truck traffic. I usually cut back to 95 after Winchester VA on 66 and 17.

    Or from Providence, 95 to 287 over the Tappan Zee and then over to 81 south

    I think 95 is fastest but DC can be an issue. The 81 route is usually the route we take. For us, it usually depends on the location of our overnights. Early spring is hard to find open campgrounds in the northeast.

    The fact of the matter is that the northeast is pretty darn congested. Always the day to just "get through". Enjoy the trip.
  • Newburgh Bridge going west/south is free. The other way has a fee. The above routing is the best, less stressful, enjoyable ride.
  • US6 -> I384 ->I84 ->I81 -> I77 -> I26 -> I95, 1,280 miles. Still have to pay the bridge toll at Newburgh, NY but it's cheaper than I95 through CT and NY.