TN to Boston

[rcpilot731]

We are planning a trip to Boston this summer and it looks like there are two ways to go. The shorter route is on toll roads in Penn, the other goes way north to avoid the tolls. My questions is. How much are the tolls and which way would you go and why?

Thanks for the help

[Crowe]

Time to spare? Go by air.
Better yet, take a jet.

X2!

[jplante4]

rcpilot731 wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions and route help. Our daughter has jumped in with massive airline miles. So we are taking the easy way out and fly there and back. I was not looking forward to driving through all of those big city's, so that solves that.

Thanks again for all the help.

Time to spare? Go by air.
Better yet, take a jet.

[rcpilot731]

Thanks for all the suggestions and route help. Our daughter has jumped in with massive airline miles. So we are taking the easy way out and fly there and back. I was not looking forward to driving through all of those big city's, so that solves that.

Thanks again for all the help.

[bamcote]

We drive every summer from TN to NH using the I-81 to I-84, I-90 to I-495 route. The only part I find kind of hairy (I'm the co-pilot/wife) is when we are nearing Hartford. Once we are past Hartford, it's not too bad. Since we get a late start out of TN, we usually stay in Ft Chiswell KOA in Max-Meadows VA the first night, the second night we've found Western Village RV Park in Carlisle, PA not bad for an overnight, then we stop the 3rd night at the Newburgh-Plattkill KOA.

[Crowe]

Pilot, Andover is in my neck of the woods. It can be a difficult trip (most east coast travel is) but if your timing and the travel Gods are good it's not a big deal. We do the 287/87/84/90/495 route when we go back and forth to the south. Best bet is take I90 to 495N. Depending on what part of Andover she lives in, you either exit directly off 495 or take 495 to 93. Easiest access campground is probably the KOA in Littleton, MA. It's near 495 and at non-peak hours it's about a 30 minute run straight up the highway. From Andover it's a straight shot down I93 into Boston, but if you don't want to drive in the city you can take the train/MBTA in.

[rcpilot731]

This sounds like a trip to hell and back. My daughter has moved to Andover, ma and works in Boston. We are in Northwest Tennessee, towing a 30 ft 5er. When I map it from here I get two routes. One takes us up to ohio and straight across Pen on the toll road. They other takes us up to Cleveland and across a small spot of Pen and straight across NY into Boston. The mileage on that one is like 1,400 miles. I looks like if I go that way even though it is longer it avoids all the big city stuff except Boston. I don't mind paying tolls if I can get there faster and safer, but would rather be safer then quicker.

[BillMFl]

I like to take 81 to 78. Mostly flat unlike the steep grades to Scranton. 78 to 287 to 87 will take you to the Newburgh KOA if you want to. Then on to 84 to 90. We go to Maine and back and there is no "perfect" route to the Boston area. I have tried them all over the years and each have advantages/disadvantages. The truck traffic on 81 has become a real pain. So many large distribution centers are now located on its corridor. 78 traffic builds as you approach the Allentown area but smooths out in NJ and is no problem at midday. From Western Village at Carlisle Pa I can make the Boston area easily well before afternoon rush hour. totally avoid 84 thru Danbury, Woodbury and Hartford during am or pm rush hours. I'm talking dead stop and stop and go traffic. Same for most routes approaching the NY to Boston area. Pine Hill RV just before Allentown is a very convenient location too and I also stay there if I can drive that far from NC. From there you can jump back on 78 around 9am and totally avoid rush hour traffic to Boston. If I feel lazy I take 87 all the way to 90 then to 495. Its longer and costs more in tolls, but about the same amount of time (all at 70mph). I make only one food/fuel stop on 90. 84 thru Conn can be constant slow traffic from entrance ramps with some white knuckle hard breaking. And the road surface, especially the bridges will rattle your fillings. There are other two lane roads I use sometimes but if you don't know the area stick to the interstates. One day of tolls isn't that bad about $20 to $30 depending on where you get on or off. From Florida to Maine the segment from Pa to just past Boston is my worst day for traffic, rough roads and tolls.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Get the iPass from Illinois. Easy to get and well worth it. Accepted in the Northeast states. WE used it on our northeast trip and it went without any problems. Tolls were no more expensive than burning extra fuel.
We also took I-81 through Scranton and I-84 east. Before you cross the Newburgh bridge is the Newburgh KOA. Great stop.

[jplante4]

And it doesn't have to be on the subway. The commuter rail is part of the same system (a.k.a. the purple line).

[Jim_Shoe]

Download and print a copy of the MBTA subway map. Then pick a CG at the end of one of the routes. If you're a rookie, you do not want to drive in downtown Boston. Natives are used to driving with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the horn.
Seriously, the MBTA goes everywhere you might want to go and you can buy a "Charlie Card" good for several days. Its changed a lot since the Kingston Trio recorded their song in 1959 about "Charlie and the MTA" who got lost underneath the streets of Boston and asked the question "will he ever return". There's so much history and so much fresh seafood that you'll love your visit.

[jplante4]

We avoid I-95 through NYC and southern CT like the plague. Terrible roads, tolls, traffic and construction. I like the I-81 to I-84 route, although there has been construction on I-84 at the NY state border. Go north out of Hartford to pick up the Mass Pike. There goes directly into Boston, but with tunnels and underpasses going under large building, there are hazmat restrictions that include propane tanks. The Mass Pike crosses both outer rings (I-495 and I-95) that allow you to go north or south to any point around Boston.

It would help to know your exact destination.

[Crowe]

1. Where in Boston?
2. Are you taking mh/trailer?
3. Avoid 290 if you are towing or have MH. Cuts right through Worcester, it's somewhat narrow and winding, saves very little in tolls or time.
4. 84 doesn't "turn into" I90. It ends at I90. You can take I90 (Mass Pike) straight into Boston from there, but your ultimate destination will help decide what's the best route.
5. Get an EZ pass. It will save time and money as the tolls are discounted. We are now starting to go to a completely electronic system.
6. Decide if the extra fuel consumption and time is more valuable than paying tolls.

[kevinbti]

I would get one of this to save you time https://www.e-zpassny.com/ its good I think all along the east coast I use all time when I go home to NJ

[Mr-MrsPete]

I agree with tenspeedret360. But 84 turns into 90 (tollroad) go one exit take 290 to 495. 495 out skirts Boston, depending on where you want to go in Boston depends on where to go from there.