Hudson Valley NY to Florida

[NY_RVer]

My wife and I are planning on driving down to Florida in March/April towing our TT. I would like to avoid the "trouble/traffic" areas of I95 and was thinking of taking I81 down towards Virginia instead of 95 through NJ, MD, etc. I don't mind going a little out of the way if it means avoiding traffic and driving on an open highway, but am concerned that 81 may be too much out of the way. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, I remember from driving down in the past without an RV that there are certain areas where you cannot go through with propane, but can't remember exactly where. I want to avoid these areas completely with the TT this time. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[GraciesDaddy]

As usual, it depends upon WHERE you're headed in Florida. For Tampa/St. Pete/Sarasota: I-81 to I-77 to Charlotte and I-85 South to Atlanta (don't get folks started on Atlanta!) to I-75. Even if you're headed to Orlando, the Florida Turnpike off I-75 is preferable to the I-95/I-4 route. If you're going to Miami/South Florida/The Keys: I-81 to I-77 to Columbia, SC, then I-26 to I-95. Once you get to Fort Pierce, you can bail onto the Turnpike and into Ft. Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches, Miami and the Keys. The Turnpike's kinda pricey, but if you can get a transponder for your rig at one of the service plazas, it'll save you some coin. I think it's still $25 for a t'ponder and you have to pony up another at least $25 for your initial account opener.

[BillMFl]

ct1964ups wrote:

ct1964ups wrote:

NY RVer wrote:
My wife and I are planning on driving down to Florida in March/April towing our TT. I would like to avoid the "trouble/traffic" areas of I95 and was thinking of taking I81 down towards Virginia instead of 95 through NJ, MD, etc. I don't mind going a little out of the way if it means avoiding traffic and driving on an open highway, but am concerned that 81 may be too much out of the way. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, I remember from driving down in the past without an RV that there are certain areas where you cannot go through with propane, but can't remember exactly where. I want to avoid these areas completely with the TT this time. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I go 84 to Newburgh,NY...then 87 south to Sufferin,NY to 287..stay on 287 to 78 west to 81...stay on 81 to I-66 in Va..just past Winchester...go down 66 for 25 miles to Va rt 17 stay on this 4 lane road to I-95 , just north of Richmond,va......great ride...Chuck

Hey Bill,
do you still go to Pine Hill...last time I was there it seemed empty and the price was quite a bit on the upside......Chuck

Been staying at Western Village lately because it is a good days distance from Fayetville and Pine Hill is another 80 miles or so.
I stay at Pine Hill depending on distance I have driven that day. Its very clean, all pull thrus and nice and quiet and big grassy field for the dogs. Price about average for NE. Much less than Newburg off 87. Its also a good jump off point for the next day with the option of heading to 287 or 209 depending on my mood, day of the week, in a hurry or not, phase of the moon and tides. Just like cruising on my trawler. No hurries and no worries! Looking forward to May and rolling down the road to Maine. Where you headed Chuck?

[jtbr3]

PA on I78. Great location to gas up, eat(Red Robin is our fav), shop, dump tanks, walk dog and sleep(for free). Plus they turnoff lights at night unlike Walmart. Always lots of campers, safe and quiet. Wish there were more locations like this.

[ct1964ups]

ct1964ups wrote:

NY RVer wrote:
My wife and I are planning on driving down to Florida in March/April towing our TT. I would like to avoid the "trouble/traffic" areas of I95 and was thinking of taking I81 down towards Virginia instead of 95 through NJ, MD, etc. I don't mind going a little out of the way if it means avoiding traffic and driving on an open highway, but am concerned that 81 may be too much out of the way. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, I remember from driving down in the past without an RV that there are certain areas where you cannot go through with propane, but can't remember exactly where. I want to avoid these areas completely with the TT this time. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I go 84 to Newburgh,NY...then 87 south to Sufferin,NY to 287..stay on 287 to 78 west to 81...stay on 81 to I-66 in Va..just past Winchester...go down 66 for 25 miles to Va rt 17 stay on this 4 lane road to I-95 , just north of Richmond,va......great ride...Chuck

Hey Bill,
do you still go to Pine Hill...last time I was there it seemed empty and the price was quite a bit on the upside......Chuck

[NY_RVer]

Jtbr3,was it the Cabela's on 78 in Pa. that you stay at, or is there another on 81? I find any excuse to stop at Cabela's!

[jtbr3]

It varies depending on when we leave. Most times it is late after school. We stayed at various CGs...Here is few that recommend along I81 that I recall that would stay again...Also did few walmarts...and my personal favorite free place Cabelas.

http://www.candyhill.com/ - right on I81/Perfect location for night.
http://koa.com/campgrounds/hagerstown/
http://www.campnbr.com/

[dcason]

We are also from Hudson Valley and have gone to Florida for about 8 years now.

We have done 81 and we have done 95. Last year we did route 81 and that was longer, scenic, LOTS of trucks which were well behaved but the rest areas were clogged with them nights and a lot of the time (we left in Jan and returned in April). I thought it was a bit long. We went via route 209 (which by the way is kind of slow going).

When we do route 95, we often elect to go through the Balt/Wash area late at night so that it is less congested...think serious traffic with lot of cars merging (and most of them never look until it is rather late in the game, then they scurry like ants to get out of our way).

If we do route 95 we time it so we overnight in the welcome center to Virginia. Route 81, we have used the walmarts to stay the night (and shop). Welcome centers are our preference over rest areas.

Both ways have their merits and unpleasantries.
Donna

[Dutch_12078]

From our upstate NY cottage in January, we take I-90 to I-88 to I-81, with our first night's stop at the KOA in Jonestown, PA. From there we run down to Ft Chiswell RV Park at the I-81/I-77 junction, and then head down I-77 to I-26 to I-95 to Jolly Acres RV Park in St George, SC. After that it depends on where we're going in Florida as to where we'll stop next. We're not in any hurry, and if the weather turns a bit bad we just stay an extra day or two wherever we are at the time. We always have some extra time built in to the trip before we need to reach any longer term stay reservations in Florida just in case of any delays along the way.

[NY_RVer]

jtbr3 wrote:
We have done Florida many times with kids and I81 is best way. I95 is hit or miss depending on time of day. We had problems in NJ, MD, VA many times. DC is always bad except once when I drove thru at midnight. With I81, drive is easy, cruise control most of way and plenty of gas stations, stops and CGs. Most important it is scenic drive and no tolls.

Where do you suggest an overnight stop?

[jtbr3]

We have done Florida many times with kids and I81 is best way. I95 is hit or miss depending on time of day. We had problems in NJ, MD, VA many times. DC is always bad except once when I drove thru at midnight. With I81, drive is easy, cruise control most of way and plenty of gas stations, stops and CGs. Most important it is scenic drive and no tolls.

[NY_RVer]

Thank you. I just checked it out on a map, and looks like the way to go. I just have to decide how many hours I want to spend behind the wheel before stopping for the night. When not towing, I usually make one stop, but am thinking of breaking it up some more.

[BillMFl]

ct1964ups wrote:

NY RVer wrote:
My wife and I are planning on driving down to Florida in March/April towing our TT. I would like to avoid the "trouble/traffic" areas of I95 and was thinking of taking I81 down towards Virginia instead of 95 through NJ, MD, etc. I don't mind going a little out of the way if it means avoiding traffic and driving on an open highway, but am concerned that 81 may be too much out of the way. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, I remember from driving down in the past without an RV that there are certain areas where you cannot go through with propane, but can't remember exactly where. I want to avoid these areas completely with the TT this time. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I go 84 to Newburgh,NY...then 87 south to Sufferin,NY to 287..stay on 287 to 78 west to 81...stay on 81 to I-66 in Va..just past Winchester...go down 66 for 25 miles to Va rt 17 stay on this 4 lane road to I-95 , just north of Richmond,va......great ride...Chuck

x2 I use this route to/from Maine every summer. 78 avoids the mountains on 81 from Scranton south. 17 has some construction for a few miles near 95, but its a small nuisance. If you can make Pine Hill on 78 just west of Allentown Pa its a nice RV park or another 80 miles or so takes you to Western Village by Carlisle off 81. My next stop is Fayetteville RV near Wade NC on 95. Next stop is in Brunswick Ga. There are lots of other choices all along 95. Tall Pines is another nice park.

[ct1964ups]

NY RVer wrote:
My wife and I are planning on driving down to Florida in March/April towing our TT. I would like to avoid the "trouble/traffic" areas of I95 and was thinking of taking I81 down towards Virginia instead of 95 through NJ, MD, etc. I don't mind going a little out of the way if it means avoiding traffic and driving on an open highway, but am concerned that 81 may be too much out of the way. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, I remember from driving down in the past without an RV that there are certain areas where you cannot go through with propane, but can't remember exactly where. I want to avoid these areas completely with the TT this time. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I go 84 to Newburgh,NY...then 87 south to Sufferin,NY to 287..stay on 287 to 78 west to 81...stay on 81 to I-66 in Va..just past Winchester...go down 66 for 25 miles to Va rt 17 stay on this 4 lane road to I-95 , just north of Richmond,va......great ride...Chuck

[NY_RVer]

jplante4 wrote:
We avoid I-95 like the plague. We've had good luck going down 87 to 287 to 80 and taking 81 out of Harrisburg to 15 south to Fredricksburg VA and picking up 95 there.

An alternative is to take I-84 to Scranton and picking up I-81 there.

It looks like a lot of westing, but the compass was on SW and S most of the way.

The 287S route is more what I was thinking and working over to 81. I am right off of 84, but I know there is a bit of construction going on by the PA border, or that would be an easy route to 81. Would I get by all the mess and propane restrictions going your preferred route?