Last Tuesday I was on I 84 eastbound from I 81 and took 7 south ( that was a mistake :S) to I 95. I 84 wasn't that bad (eastbound) but westbound looked horrible. There were a number (3 or 4 at least) of miles long bumper to bumper stretches of traffic. I assume they were because of construction. I don't known if that's normal or not, but I might not go back that way to Florida and take 95 (as much as possible) all the way instead.
One good thing about the I 84 route is the toll situation. There is only one toll and it only cost $1.25, since I was in my truck with my MA EZ Pass. Last year I crossed that same toll with my MH pulling an SUV on a tow dolly and it was $9.50 without an EZ Pass.