traveling restrictions

[fgmill]

Fairly new to rving. can I travel thru the Baltimore inner harbor tunnel with my fifth wheel? I have heard that if I shut off my propane tanks it is ok.

[JaxDad]

Second Chance wrote:
On the other hand, I may be the only acrophobic pilot in the world. Nothing bothers me in an aircraft but I have trouble climbing on top of my rig... though I'm getting better.

Rob

My DW is the exact opposite of that. Climb a ladder, a tree, hang over the edge of the roof? No issues whatsoever, but the slightest bit of aerobatic, or even just deep or abrupt maneuvering, and she’s thinking about opening the door and getting out!

Even just cranking down the flaps and dropping speed enough to drop the gear and her pulse goes up and her knuckles go white.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Lantley]

ependydad wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
We travel north-south (and vice versa) through Baltimore frequently. I always go around the west side of Loop 695. Stay off the F. Scott Key bridge on the east side, too. Going the west loop adds 15 - 20 minutes to our travel and about the same number of years to my life.

Rob

Other than the toll, why stay off the Francis Scott Key bridge?

During rush hour Key bridge is the better route around the tunnels also beware the Key bridge can have RV wind restrictions on occasion.

[mbopp]

I need to check, but I believe there are no commercial vehicles (including pickups) allowed on the Ontario State Parkway in NY. And yes there are low bridges. I've found Good Sam's Trip Planner alerts you to "no propane" and low clearances.

[ependydad]

Second Chance wrote:
I feel exactly the same way about the Harry P. Nice Bridge - and won't do that one again, either. On the other hand, I may be the only acrophobic pilot in the world. Nothing bothers me in an aircraft but I have trouble climbing on top of my rig... though I'm getting better.

Rob

Funny you mention acrophobic - I have no issue with heights *if* I'm secured in some way. Tether me, give me a railing, you name it and I'm hanging over the edge. Give me a drop-off with no railing and I feel like I'm falling towards it. It's the weirdest thing.

I've done parasailing, hang gliding (aero-towed 1/2 mile up), and a Via Feratta rock climb (where you're always clipped in) and I was fine. Put me on top of the camper and I'm a sniveling sissy!

[Lwiddis]

Don’t ask me to ride along, second chance!

[Second_Chance]

ependydad wrote:

Second Chance wrote:

ependydad wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
We travel north-south (and vice versa) through Baltimore frequently. I always go around the west side of Loop 695. Stay off the F. Scott Key bridge on the east side, too. Going the west loop adds 15 - 20 minutes to our travel and about the same number of years to my life.

Rob

Other than the toll, why stay off the Francis Scott Key bridge?

I have flown lower patterns in private aircraft than on that bridge. The lanes are very narrow and, when next to an 18-wheeler with me in the right hand lane, I had about 8 inches of clearance on either side (barrier/drop-off to the water on the right; big rig on the left). This was verified by my wife who follows behind in the Toyota. When we got through the toll booth on the other side, my fingers and knuckles were throbbing from gripping the steering wheel so hard. Besides having to pay the toll, the route also didn't save any time from I-95 south of Baltimore to Aberdeen Proving Ground north of the city. We've stuck with the west loop ever since.

Rob

Good info. I felt that way with the Harry P. Nice Bridge on 301 between Maryland and Virginia across the Potomac. That freaking bridge gives me the heebie-jeebies. It's tight- one lane in each direction. It's straight up, straight down. I towed it with my pop-up and later with my fifth wheel... they both sucked!

We've done the F. Scott Key bridge a few times- I prefer it over the traffic of the west side of the beltway. Never noticed the tightness- I wonder if I've just not had an 18-wheeler beside me. (Definitely don't mean to diminish what you experienced.)

I feel exactly the same way about the Harry P. Nice Bridge - and won't do that one again, either. On the other hand, I may be the only acrophobic pilot in the world. Nothing bothers me in an aircraft but I have trouble climbing on top of my rig... though I'm getting better.

Rob

[ependydad]

Second Chance wrote:

ependydad wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
We travel north-south (and vice versa) through Baltimore frequently. I always go around the west side of Loop 695. Stay off the F. Scott Key bridge on the east side, too. Going the west loop adds 15 - 20 minutes to our travel and about the same number of years to my life.

Rob

Other than the toll, why stay off the Francis Scott Key bridge?

I have flown lower patterns in private aircraft than on that bridge. The lanes are very narrow and, when next to an 18-wheeler with me in the right hand lane, I had about 8 inches of clearance on either side (barrier/drop-off to the water on the right; big rig on the left). This was verified by my wife who follows behind in the Toyota. When we got through the toll booth on the other side, my fingers and knuckles were throbbing from gripping the steering wheel so hard. Besides having to pay the toll, the route also didn't save any time from I-95 south of Baltimore to Aberdeen Proving Ground north of the city. We've stuck with the west loop ever since.

Rob

Good info. I felt that way with the Harry P. Nice Bridge on 301 between Maryland and Virginia across the Potomac. That freaking bridge gives me the heebie-jeebies. It's tight- one lane in each direction. It's straight up, straight down. I towed it with my pop-up and later with my fifth wheel... they both sucked!

We've done the F. Scott Key bridge a few times- I prefer it over the traffic of the west side of the beltway. Never noticed the tightness- I wonder if I've just not had an 18-wheeler beside me. (Definitely don't mean to diminish what you experienced.)

[Second_Chance]

ependydad wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
We travel north-south (and vice versa) through Baltimore frequently. I always go around the west side of Loop 695. Stay off the F. Scott Key bridge on the east side, too. Going the west loop adds 15 - 20 minutes to our travel and about the same number of years to my life.

Rob

Other than the toll, why stay off the Francis Scott Key bridge?

I have flown lower patterns in private aircraft than on that bridge. The lanes are very narrow and, when next to an 18-wheeler with me in the right hand lane, I had about 8 inches of clearance on either side (barrier/drop-off to the water on the right; big rig on the left). This was verified by my wife who follows behind in the Toyota. When we got through the toll booth on the other side, my fingers and knuckles were throbbing from gripping the steering wheel so hard. Besides having to pay the toll, the route also didn't save any time from I-95 south of Baltimore to Aberdeen Proving Ground north of the city. We've stuck with the west loop ever since.

Rob

[ependydad]

As said above, you have to stay out of the tunnels in Baltimore. Here's a write-up on it:
Road/Tunnel Restrictions near Maryland

[ependydad]

Second Chance wrote:
We travel north-south (and vice versa) through Baltimore frequently. I always go around the west side of Loop 695. Stay off the F. Scott Key bridge on the east side, too. Going the west loop adds 15 - 20 minutes to our travel and about the same number of years to my life.

Rob

Other than the toll, why stay off the Francis Scott Key bridge?

[DrewE]

The tunnels in (and under) Boston are likewise restricted--no propane allowed. This means I-90 and I-93 in the immediate city area are not usable routes.

jules6 wrote:
NO
Also there is no RV's allowed on any of the parkways in NY either.

There is at least one exception to this rule, the Lake Ontario State Parkway west of Rochester; but it's very much in the minority. It does have some comparatively low clearances, between 11' and 12' as I recall, so isn't suitable for all RVs, but if you fit it's legal and not white-knuckle driving (ignoring the quite rough, poorly maintained pavement).

Most or all of the parkways in Connecticut are also not suitable for (nor open to) RVs.

[Second_Chance]

We travel north-south (and vice versa) through Baltimore frequently. I always go around the west side of Loop 695. Stay off the F. Scott Key bridge on the east side, too. Going the west loop adds 15 - 20 minutes to our travel and about the same number of years to my life.

Rob

[Busskipper]

fgmill wrote:
Fairly new to rving. can I travel thru the Baltimore inner harbor tunnel with my fifth wheel? I have heard that if I shut off my propane tanks it is ok.

Under these regulations, vehicles carrying bottled propane gas in excess of 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) or the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel ( ...
Propane Regulations - Maryland Transportation Authority - Maryland.gov

There you go - Maryland.gov

[jules6]

NO

No propane is allowed in the Baltimore tunnels, you must use the Scott Key bridge. There is propane allowed on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel complex ( two 30# bottles and they must be turned off). If going through NYC there is no propane allowed through any of the tunnels from NJ to NYC and no propane allowed on the GWB except on the upper level only, it's best to go over the Tappenzee bridge. Also there is no RV's allowed on any of the parkways in NY either.