Harrisburg PA to Cape Cod

[hittingtheroada]

Can anyone tell me how the route from Harrisburg PA to Cape Cod would be taking I-78 to I-287 to I-95? We are pulling a 38' 5th wheel. Does 287 get me around NYC without too much hassle? Thanks.

[Ed_C]

You can avoid Hartford by getting on I/691 off I/84 (exit 27) to I/91 and then 15 back onto I/84. It's easier than it sounds.

[elle8]

listen to ed c ..... that is the only way to the cape from there . only bad going through hartford but not that bad . 495 dumps you right along the cape cod canal . to over the sagamore bridge . or stay on 495 and go right over the bourne bridge . it depends what part of the cape your going to. bring patients ,,,its crowded in season .

[Drbolasky]

ct1964ups wrote:

hittingtheroadagain wrote:
Thanks to everyone for the advice. I will stick to 81 and 84.

Don't quit on the other route yet...go 81 then thru Allentown on 22 to 33 north to 80 to 209...up thru Milford,NJ..to 84...then stay on 84 all the way to the Mass line..take 90 to 495 the cape.....I just came that way , and it beats them all....think 81 to Scranton still has const on it...Chuck

Then you must have hit it lucky. I-81 becomes I-78 when you veer off to get to Rt. 22. That means you have to pass through the interchange with Rt. 100 at Fogelsville - HEAVY truck traffic here. Rt. 22 sees more traffic than I-78 and is often congested; most of us locals avoid it if we can.

I will agree Rt. 22 is more direct, however you may end up wasting your time sitting/crawling in traffic. Rt. 209 is a great drive EXCEPT for pavement conditions just north of East Stroudsburg and (if you choose to go this way) in Milford, PA.

[ct1964ups]

hittingtheroadagain wrote:
Thanks to everyone for the advice. I will stick to 81 and 84.

Don't quit on the other route yet...go 81 then thru Allentown on 22 to 33 north to 80 to 209...up thru Milford,NJ..to 84...then stay on 84 all the way to the Mass line..take 90 to 495 the cape.....I just came that way , and it beats them all....think 81 to Scranton still has const on it...Chuck

[hittingtheroada]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I will stick to 81 and 84.

[Drbolasky]

Agree with other replies re: avoiding I-78 & NYC. I-78 has heavy truck traffic around my area and in spite of this stretch being a "targeted enforcement zone" the speed limits are rarely enforced. We've done the I-287 with our trailer and it was o.k. but not one of my favorite routes. IMHO this route is not worth the aggravation.

[gbopp]

When we go to Bangor Maine, I always take I-81 north to Scranton and pick up I-84 east, into New England.
It may be a few miles farther but, you avoid NYC.

[petersr58]

Agree with Ed C. Stay away from NYC. I81 to I84 to I90 to I495/25. You will thank us.

[Ed_C]

I/81 to I/84 to I/90 to I/495 which turns into MA 25 and that goes right onto Cape Cod. Trust me don't go any other way. Unless you don't like 81 & 84 in PA, then take I/78 to 33 to 209 to I/84 just before in enters NY. Tolls are Newburgh-Beacon Bridge $5+-, I/90 Mass Pike $3+-.

[CloudDriver]

It has been 8 years since we went that way, but I doubt that much has changed. We actually picked up I287 from the top of the Garden State Parkway, but coming from PA your route is the way to go. The Tappan Zee takes you around the worst NYC traffic. Traffic on I95 in western CT can be bad as far as New Haven, but after that it was usually clear sailing. We always picked up I195 at Providence to route 25 to the Cape.