Avoiding toll roads and bridges from Washington DC to Boston

This route has been discussed several times here (search in Routes and Roads section). In short, get over to I-81 and take that to Scranton PA to pick up I-84. I would do I-95 until north of Fredricksburg VA and take US17/US50 over to Winchester VA to pick up I-81 to I-84.

You can take I-84 to I-90/Mass Pike, but that's a toll road. To completely miss all tolls, take I-84 into CT to pick up I-691 just west of Waterbury. Continue on CT66 to Middletown and then pick up CT9 to Old Lyme where you can reconnect to I-95. I have taken this route with a motor home and it's an easy route with not much traffic until Providence. At Providence you can continue up I-95 to I-495 north 1 exit get you to Normandy Farms. It adds about 45 minutes to this trip, but you bypass Hartford and the Mass Pike tolls. Be aware that since your last trip, they have removed all toll booths from the Mass Pike and are doing EZPass and licence plate tolling.

Congrats on your son's graduation from MIT! That is impressive!

Thanks for the responses. Our son has been blessed to be able to attend MIT. He is ready to move on to his next chapter in his life. We were in Boston this fall when they were taking out the toll booths so we are aware of the tag billing.

Hi,

You can set google maps to avoid tolls. That will minimize, but not eliminate all tolls.

This !! What jplante4 said........

This route has been discussed several times here (search in Routes and Roads section). In short, get over to I-81 and take that to Scranton PA to pick up I-84. I would do I-95 until north of Fredricksburg VA and take US17/US50 over to Winchester VA to pick up I-81 to I-84.

In VA US17 to I66 to I81, 17 North of I66 gets twisty and not recommended for "long rigs"

Howdy!

If you have a smartphone or tablet with gps download the gps app Co-pilot. I use it in our travels. Last year we we're in the northeast I set it to avoid toll roads and restricted tunnels. I you can also set the height of your RV to stay away from low bridges.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

Honestly, I would look into getting an EZ Pass. Most states are using them now and it's really helpful... just takes the thinking out of the equation. (It works out to be cheaper too as the tolls are discounted in most places) Just going around NYC tunnels was the only thinking that I had to do coming south.

*** JUST REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT CAMPER PLATES ARE LISTED ON THE EZ PASS APPLICATIONS ***

If I remember, the app asked for 'vehicle' plate. Only online in the fine print did I see the trailer plates need to be included as well so an easy fix, but could have been a nightmare if I didn't read the manual in full

The toll from 84 to 495 for a trailer is less than $2.00. So I would take that route, the other way through will cost way more than that in fuel.

912ksufan wrote:
This June my wife and I will be attending our son's graduation from MIT in Boston. We will be pulling our travel trailer from Savannah, Ga to Normandy Farms in Foxboro, Ma. We have traveled I-95 when taking him his Freshman year but did not enjoy all the toll roads and bridges we encountered. What are the suggested routes to take in getting around the metropolitan areas and avoiding the tolls?

From Savannah,I would and have gone 26 to Columbia to 77 to 81 in Whytesville..then 81 pass Harissburg,Pa to 78 to 287 north to 87 north...a toll road but overhead transponders..... to 84 all the way to Sturbridge,Mass to 90...another toll road but again not a problem to 495 to Foxboro...
this is a great route..limited tolls and traffic.....probably only real traffic in Charolotte...and many great campgrounds to chose along the way....Chuck