Cape Cod to central PA

[tll]

This summer we are vacationing in MA. On our trip home we are intending on traveling from the base of Cape Cod to central PA. The total travel distance for the day would be 425 mi. Looking at the attached map, which route is the best, and am can I make good time on the routes? We are used to wide open space driving, I am a little afraid that this is to long of a drive considering the terrain and east coast traffic? What do you east coast people think?

[Drbolasky]

I agree with the replies re: I-84 in PA. Get off at the first exit in PA and take that through the town of Milford to pick up Rt. 209 south. Pretty town and yes, it will slow you down a bit but I prefer that to sitting in traffic at the bridge construction (which you'll pass through if you don't get off). 209 through the Delaware River National Recreation Area is a nice drive - relax, take your time and enjoy the ride.

[tll]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like no matter how you slice it, it will be a long day in the truck. The next day looks to be just as long. We only have 4 days to get back to northern WI. The price you pay when you only have so much vacation time.

[ct1964ups]

tll wrote:
This summer we are vacationing in MA. On our trip home we are intending on traveling from the base of Cape Cod to central PA. The total travel distance for the day would be 425 mi. Looking at the attached map, which route is the best, and am can I make good time on the routes? We are used to wide open space driving, I am a little afraid that this is to long of a drive considering the terrain and east coast traffic? What do you east coast people think?

Living about half way to each location and traveling to the Cape often,I would come off the Cape to 495...to 90 to 84 in Sturbridge...stay on 84 thru Waterbury..the construction area is only about 15 minutes as long as it isn't rush hour....then get off 84 at exit 53 in Pa and take rt 209 down thrum Milford,Pa thru the Nat'l park to Stroudsburg and get on I-80 there to your destination....can stay at Tri-State C/G at exit 53 where you pick uo 209...Chuck

[K_Charles]

Route #1, the one I would take does not go thru Hartford so there is no tie up there. When he gets to Waterbury it will be the middle of the day so the construction backup will be almost nothing.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Spent Apr-Aug 2015 about 15 miles north of I-84 near Waterbury CT.

1) Massive construction project on I-84 through Waterbury is a multi-year rebuild with restricted lanes, road closures for blasting, closed exits, etc. Always a delay. Very rough temporary lanes. This will continue thru 2016 into 2017. One issue is that the locals don't know the changes from day to day, so traffic backs up. That said, I was willing to take the 30 min to hour delay vice using non-freeway roads. Just be aware, and non-rush hour is the worst time for unexpected road closures for blasting - weekdays.

2) Drive I-84 from Waterbury to Scranton, Pa on Oct 14, 2105. Only one very minor bridge construction in PA on that route. Fast, easy and efficient.

425 miles is longer than I'm willing to drive in one day anymore. The delays from Hartford and for Waterbury will be about equal to the delays on I-95/ TappenZee route. Plan on 10+ hours for that drive - maybe 12.

[jplante4]

I've made this trip a couple of times and have a couple of suggestions

1. The first few miles of I-84 in PA had lots of bridge construction. To avoid this, use alternate routes to connect to I-80. You can take I-684 to the Tappan Zee, then I-287 to I-78 or I-80. Another good alternate is US209 down through the Delaware Water Gap as suggested by Lynnmor. Very scenic ride. This also bypasses I-81 from Scranton to Harrisburg which last year was a miserable road.

2. Your route shows I-495 to the Mass Pike. The are a couple of routes to get to I-84 that are easier. I prefer I-95 to Old Lyme CT just across the CT river. Then I take CT route 9 to Middletown and use CT66 to hook up to I-691 to I-84. This is a bit longer distance wise, but a much more enjoyable ride. It gets you off I-95 before the 2 lane part in CT that everyone hates. And it usually saves time. The worst of the I-84 traffic is in Hartford and west.

It's a long ride. I suggest stopping overnight along the way. We've stopped at Pocono KOA (near the junction of US209 and I-80) and Sylvan Lake Beach campground, exit 15 off I-84 in New York.

I live about 2 miles from Bayview.

[gbopp]

We always take I-81 north to I-84 east when going to New England. It's a decent drive.
#1 would be my recommendation.

If you need a break you can overnight at the Mohegan Sun Casino just off I-81 at Wilks-Barre PA.

Enjoy your trip.

[Lynnmor]

I hate I95, so the #1 route is the one I would use. If you want to take a relaxed scenic road midway, take 209 south to I80. Not much different in time, I use it whenever I go to Maine.

[zigzagrv]

K Charles wrote:
If all you want to do is make good time, #1 would be the best way to go. It will take you 8 or 9 hrs if you don't spend much time stopped. Better eat fast food fast.

I84 is generally good road with a lot less traffic than I95, and it's more scenic also. The only places where you would run into traffic is around Hartford,CT Newburg, NY and Scranton, PA, which usually is not too bad. I95 can be a nightmare. Speaking from experience having travelled to New Haven many times over the last few years.

[K_Charles]

If all you want to do is make good time, #1 would be the best way to go. It will take you 8 or 9 hrs if you don't spend much time stopped. Better eat fast food fast.