Providence RI to Jacksonville FL

[Teeshot1939]

Driving 42' Class A with toad from Providence,RI to Jacksonville,FL. I have propane on board. Need advice for route planning to avoid NY city and DC. What route would you recommend? Don't mind longer distance/time to avoid traffic and tolls. Thanks....

[ct1964ups]

Teeshot1939 wrote:
Thanks for all the info and suggestions. I like Ed C's line of reasoning and think that might be the best for me.

Ed c has the route...all good choices..depending on where and when you want to stop....some good campgrounds either route ,also depends on when you go,,,Chuck R

[jplante4]

Blutoyz wrote:
I am heading down to NC for Thanksgiving and are torn between the 95-9-84-81 and 95-287-78-81 routes. I am heading to NY on business this week so will scout the 9-84 route this week. I already travel 287 over the Tapanzee quite a bit (much better now that one side of the new bridge is done). I will give you a report on what route I too and the conditions upon return if you are going after that.

The only issue with CT9/I-84 is I-84 between Waterbury and Danbury. It just seems like there is no route around NYC that doesn't have at least some traffic.

We did the new Tappan Zee 2 weeks ago. They have both sides going over half the new bridge, but it's still 4 lanes in each direction. When the other side opens, it looks like it will be 6 lanes in each direction dumping into 3 lanes after the bridge. That should work much better 😞

[Blutoyz]

I am heading down to NC for Thanksgiving and are torn between the 95-9-84-81 and 95-287-78-81 routes. I am heading to NY on business this week so will scout the 9-84 route this week. I already travel 287 over the Tapanzee quite a bit (much better now that one side of the new bridge is done). I will give you a report on what route I too and the conditions upon return if you are going after that.

[ependydad]

If you go down I-95, you have to go AROUND Baltimore using I-695. You can't go through the tunnels (I-95 and I-895).

http://learntorv.com/road-tunnel-restrictions-near-maryland/

[Teeshot1939]

Thanks for all the info and suggestions. I like Ed C's line of reasoning and think that might be the best for me.

[jplante4]

esyers wrote:
You don't say when, but watch the weather for ice on 81.

Last year, we took the NJ Trpk into Delaware and then down US13 through Virginia Beach and out 59 to I-95.

We've also picked up US 301 in Delaware and followed it down to Carmel Church, VA about 20 miles north of Richmond and picked up 95. 301 has two areas where there are multiple traffic lights and mall traffic, but otherwise has worked well for us.

Safe travels.

Tappan Zee 287 to Garden State Parkway to NJ Trpk. would be my route for that portion. Just avoid commuter hours.

Not a bad route if you do the Tappan Zee/GSP on Sunday.

The first 20 miles of US301 is thump-thump concrete. Also, US301 has the only weight station that I've ever had to stop at in an RV.

[Ed_C]

I like I/84 over the Newburgh Beacon better but if snow threatens I use I/95 through Providence to I/287 Tappan Zee (now Mario Cumo) bridge to I/78 to I/81 south. Usually then 81 to 77 but it goes through mountains in VA so I watch the weather and might tale US 17 from Winchester VA to I/95 at Fredericksburg.

[esyers]

You don't say when, but watch the weather for ice on 81.

Last year, we took the NJ Trpk into Delaware and then down US13 through Virginia Beach and out 59 to I-95.

We've also picked up US 301 in Delaware and followed it down to Carmel Church, VA about 20 miles north of Richmond and picked up 95. 301 has two areas where there are multiple traffic lights and mall traffic, but otherwise has worked well for us.

Safe travels.

Tappan Zee 287 to Garden State Parkway to NJ Trpk. would be my route for that portion. Just avoid commuter hours.

[jplante4]

I used Bob's route a few times and it will miss all the congested urban areas. I would skip US6 because of the number of stop lights and speed limit changes. Instead you can do I-95 to Old Lyme CT and take CT 9 to Middletown, pick up CT 66 to I-691 to I-84. This also misses Hartford completely.

Taking I-84 all the way to Scranton isn't necessary, and I-81 from Scranton to Harrisburg was a mess the last time I drove that. Alternately, you can take US209 (second exit in PA) down the Delaware Water Gap, pick up I-80 and connect with I-81 south of Scranton.

If you want to connect with I-95 further north, take US50 off I-81 in Winchester VA, connect with US17 and then I-95 south of DC.

[BobKrogstie]

petersr58 wrote:
Newburgh Bridge going west/south is free. The other way has a fee. The above routing is the best, less stressful, enjoyable ride.

Good to know.

[NHIrish]

AVOID GW bridge at all cost. The route will take you on the cross Bronx xway and it is horrible.

Despite what you may hear, 95 south through DC isn't bad. You can take the Tappan Zee bridge at Whites Plains NY, then drop down on the Garden State Pkwy to Rte. 80 to 95 south...avoiding NYC. You will have to take the outer loop around Baltimore, going over the Francis Scott Key bridge. Propane is not allowed in the Rte. 95 tunnel. Also take the outer beltway around DC. If you time your trip to avoid DC rush hour, you will be ok. I like this route on weekends better than weekdays.

You can also avoid Baltimore and DC by going from NJ down the Delmarva to the Chesapeake bay bridge tunnel. Or you could go over to Cape May NJ and take the Lewes ferry....nice trip, getting back on 95 after going through the VA beach area.

Or, you can go 91 to 84 to 81 and avoid most all of it. This is a pretty nice drive, but still heavy truck traffic. I usually cut back to 95 after Winchester VA on 66 and 17.

Or from Providence, 95 to 287 over the Tappan Zee and then over to 81 south

I think 95 is fastest but DC can be an issue. The 81 route is usually the route we take. For us, it usually depends on the location of our overnights. Early spring is hard to find open campgrounds in the northeast.

The fact of the matter is that the northeast is pretty darn congested. Always the day to just "get through". Enjoy the trip.

[petersr58]

Newburgh Bridge going west/south is free. The other way has a fee. The above routing is the best, less stressful, enjoyable ride.

[BobKrogstie]

US6 -> I384 ->I84 ->I81 -> I77 -> I26 -> I95, 1,280 miles. Still have to pay the bridge toll at Newburgh, NY but it's cheaper than I95 through CT and NY.