Connecticut to Tampa

[TimfmCT]

We're going from Ct to Tampa. Last year we did 95 via NY and Jersey etc.
This year we'd like to avoid the hassle of NY and NJ.
I'd like your opinion(s) on this possible route.
84 to 81 to 15 near Harrisburg to 270 near Fredericks Va to 495 around DC to 95 to 295 around Richmond back to 95 below Petersburg to 10 near Jacksonville to 301 or 75 - - I'm not sure.
please lemme know

[Doug33]

Be wary of taking I-287 over the Hudson River. The Tappan Zee Bridge can be a parking lot at certain times of the day and year. And now the bridge is under construction to be replaced, so it could even be worse. When I travel for work from NJ to Hartford, I always take Rt 15 (Merritt Parkway). I think since the road is a parkway it has restrictions on commercial vehicles, but I'm not sure about RVs. Some of the overpasses may be low. Additionally, there are sections that have sharp curves with little to no shoulders. I would think that would lead to a white-knuckle experience towing a TT.

The downside to I-81 through PA and on south is the amount of truck traffic. And much of the highway is only two lanes in each direction, so you tend to get stuck behind trucks passing other trucks in hilly sections. Make sure you have good sway control! 🙂

[TimfmCT]

Nate and Shady wrote:
I recommend staying on I-81 into Virginia and then catching US17 in WInchester, VA and taking that to I-95 in Fredericksburg, VA. Or catching I-66 just south of Winchester, Va and then catch US17 off of that to I-95 in Fredericksburg, VA. Avoid I-270 and I-495 around DC unless you want to sit in traffic for a couple of hours. Just my opinion from living around the DC area.

Wow. Thanks everybody. Great routes.Over the years we've gone to Fl a bunch of ways but until last year (due to weather) we avoided 95 in the NY NJ etc. hassle like the plague.
I can't remember all the variations but a lot of times we overnighted at an Elks lodge in Va. - - Winchester or Fredericksburg maybe, to watch the playoffs. But I think that meant mountains.
Avoiding NYC, NJ Tpk, DC, and the mountains without adding hundreds of miles is what we tried to do. Heck, with the price of gas right now, maybe a few more miles is a good thing.:h
We may hit the road in time to celebrate New Years Eve at a Wal-Mart on the way down. Soooo, anybody going to be doing the same thing? Or are we completely nuts?
Bottom line: safe travels to you all and Happy New Year.

[Nate_and_Shady]

I recommend staying on I-81 into Virginia and then catching US17 in WInchester, VA and taking that to I-95 in Fredericksburg, VA. Or catching I-66 just south of Winchester, Va and then catch US17 off of that to I-95 in Fredericksburg, VA. Avoid I-270 and I-495 around DC unless you want to sit in traffic for a couple of hours. Just my opinion from living around the DC area.

[fireman41]

If you go down 81 when you get to MD take us 17 down to 95. That why you miss Baltimore and DC . And you can get back on 95 at Fredericksburg Md.

[cmarq]

You could take I84 to Newburgh NY then 87 the NY thru Way to 287 then I78 to Allentown PA that goes right to I81 avoids the mountains and traffic.

[TimfmCT]

K Charles wrote:
684, 287, 78, 81, 77, 26 to 95.
If you like 15 maybe you should try 17. I have taken 17 from VA to FL and back more then once and like to go that way.

Hi,
I haven't taken this route yet. I am not familiar with 15 nor 17. .
Last year we took 95 only because of bad weather and we wanted to stay out of "the mountains".

[K_Charles]

684, 287, 78, 81, 77, 26 to 95.
If you like 15 maybe you should try 17. I have taken 17 from VA to FL and back more then once and like to go that way.

[TimfmCT]

GENECOP wrote:
We stay on 84 right to Scranton , Wilkes Barre....I find unless you push due West, the nav keeps trying to put you back on 95..

Have you tried putting inbetween places? For example: Try Ct to Hazleton pa to Harrisburg to your destination - - - or something like that.
I did that but I am not familiar with route 15 that goes from 84 to 270.

[GENECOP]

We stay on 84 right to Scranton , Wilkes Barre....I find unless you push due West, the nav keeps trying to put you back on 95..

[TimfmCT]

GENECOP wrote:
That's the way we go every year from Ct....we head for Myrtle Beach...From Ct due west to Newburgh Ny.....Then 84-81 through VA.....One year we did the I95 thing...never again....

I was concerned about what 15 is like.

[GENECOP]

When we hit Newburgh, we then enter Scranton PA into the nav...

[GENECOP]

That's the way we go every year from Ct....we head for Myrtle Beach...From Ct due west to Newburgh Ny.....Then 84-81 through VA.....One year we did the I95 thing...never again....