Has I-86 gotten any better?

[pasusan]

We're planning on an Adirondack trip this fall and to get there it's either the expensive I-90 or the free I-86. Last time we crossed I-86 was probably 8 years ago and we swore we'd never do it again. It was so rough we were afraid we were jolting our trailer to pieces.

Anyone been on it lately? Has it gotten any better? Is going east better or worse than going west?

[RobWNY]

I haven't heard about it being that dark but my friend we're going there with has told me we'll have to make sure we have nothing left out, including the grill or it will get destroyed by the bears. I'm hoping that cleaning the grill and putting it in the bed of my truck and closing the hard tonneau cover will be enough to make them go elsewhere. I wouldn't be happy if I woke up to a truck all scratched up and a destroyed tonneau cover from their claws. ACZL, Thanks for the offer of where to get firewood in bulk but we have that covered. My friend lives next door to a tree service guy so he gets all the firewood he can use and then some. Since my friend lives within 50 miles of where we're camping, he can transport it without an issue.

[ACZL]

RobWNY wrote:
We're going to a place called "Nick's Lake" the last couple of days of September and the first couple of days of October. We've never been there but the people we're going with have been there several times. They tell us it's quite the experience to kayak with the loons.

That's near Old Forge. Drove thru there awhile back as we were staying in OF Camping Resort. Seems like a nice area and lake to swim/kayak/canoe on. Heard that during the night you cannot see your hand in front of your face. Not sure about there, but I know that at the OFCR, you had to put your trash into the containers by "X" time as the CG turned in the electric fencing to keep bears out of dumpsters around 7pm. PM me if you want a lead on firewood in bulk VS the bundles.

[RobWNY]

We're going to a place called "Nick's Lake" the last couple of days of September and the first couple of days of October. We've never been there but the people we're going with have been there several times. They tell us it's quite the experience to kayak with the loons.

[ACZL]

RobWNY wrote:
pasusan, we live in Western NY and just went across the Western portion of I-86 a few weeks ago as far as Binghamton, on our way to Cooperstown, NY. For the most part, it's a mess. There are stretches where it's fine and stretches that will jar your teeth loose and empty your RV cupboards. Particularly the portion on Indian owned land. The State and the Seneca Indians are at odds over casino money so the State doesn't view those portions of the road a priority during the disputes. Not to mention there aren't many RV friendly gas stations along the western portion of the road. I-88 is even worse. It's one lane from Binghamton to Oneonta and all torn up. I-86 was bad enough that we took the Thruway (I-90) home and paid the big money. We're also going to the Adirondacks at the end of September and will be taking the Thruway without a doubt.

Will be heading up to Lake Placid 1st week of Oct w/ car. You going to be in that area then?

[ACZL]

Can't speak for 86, but yes 88 is under reconstruction, but it's not a "Do not travel road". We went from Bingo to Sidney and didn't have any problems w/ the 1 lane. Yea it stunk w/ just 1 lane of travel, but that's the price for progress. Where in the 'daks are you heading OP? Can jump on 81 in Syracuse/Bingo and go up to Watertown and p/u roads to Lake Placid. Take 90 to Utica and then Rte 12 up to Rte 28 to Old Forge and points north thru the 'daks. OR take 90 to 87 (Northway) in Albany to Lake George. Some would say if going to LG to jump off in Amsterdam and run "skinny" road up to 87. Yes you could, but it comes w/ lots of curves, stop/go, city traffic etc. Better off just staying on 90 to 87.

[pasusan]

SpeakEasy wrote:
Last time I was on I86 I was heading east from Jamestown. (I was in a car rather than RV-ing.)

A utility truck in front of me drove over a rough spot in the road and flung a rock at my windshield, cracking it.

Draw your own conclusions.


Oh, and concerning the expensive Thruway (I90), our illustrious Governor (Cuomo) is now talking about increasing the toll in a couple of years to pay the multi-billion dollar re-build cost of the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York City. This is right after he got the legislature to name the new bridge the Cuomo Bridge - after his father, Mario, of course. Note: This is an a-political statement. It's just a warning that if you think the Thruway is expensive now, just wait a couple of years. It will get worse. Might want to avoid NY altogether.

-Speak

Thanks for that! What we really need is higher tolls - it'll cost us at least 38 bucks (each way) - if we get off as early as possible.

[pasusan]

RobWNY wrote:
pasusan, we live in Western NY and just went across the Western portion of I-86 a few weeks ago as far as Binghamton, on our way to Cooperstown, NY. For the most part, it's a mess. There are stretches where it's fine and stretches that will jar your teeth loose and empty your RV cupboards. Particularly the portion on Indian owned land. The State and the Seneca Indians are at odds over casino money so the State doesn't view those portions of the road a priority during the disputes. Not to mention there aren't many RV friendly gas stations along the western portion of the road. I-88 is even worse. It's one lane from Binghamton to Oneonta and all torn up. I-86 was bad enough that we took the Thruway (I-90) home and paid the big money. We're also going to the Adirondacks at the end of September and will be taking the Thruway without a doubt.

Thanks for the response - we would have gone up I-88 too - looks like we will pay the toll. :R

[SpeakEasy]

Last time I was on I86 I was heading east from Jamestown. (I was in a car rather than RV-ing.)

A utility truck in front of me drove over a rough spot in the road and flung a rock at my windshield, cracking it.

Draw your own conclusions.


Oh, and concerning the expensive Thruway (I90), our illustrious Governor (Cuomo) is now talking about increasing the toll in a couple of years to pay the multi-billion dollar re-build cost of the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York City. This is right after he got the legislature to name the new bridge the Cuomo Bridge - after his father, Mario, of course. Note: This is an a-political statement. It's just a warning that if you think the Thruway is expensive now, just wait a couple of years. It will get worse. Might want to avoid NY altogether.

-Speak

[RobWNY]

pasusan, we live in Western NY and just went across the Western portion of I-86 a few weeks ago as far as Binghamton, on our way to Cooperstown, NY. For the most part, it's a mess. There are stretches where it's fine and stretches that will jar your teeth loose and empty your RV cupboards. Particularly the portion on Indian owned land. The State and the Seneca Indians are at odds over casino money so the State doesn't view those portions of the road a priority during the disputes. Not to mention there aren't many RV friendly gas stations along the western portion of the road. I-88 is even worse. It's one lane from Binghamton to Oneonta and all torn up. I-86 was bad enough that we took the Thruway (I-90) home and paid the big money. We're also going to the Adirondacks at the end of September and will be taking the Thruway without a doubt.