Travel Assistance

[PhotoMasterGreg]

We are taking our first really big trip in August from NJ to Bar Harbor Maine with a stop over in Salisbury, MA. Since we have never taken our TT anymore than an hour away (we only just got the TT this spring) we are unsure of the best routes to take. Does anyone have any advice on the best route to take. We will be leaving at 6 - am on a Thursday if this means anything.

Thanks for all your assistance.

[Padlin]

You have 3 routes I'd suggest depending on how easy you want the trip. GS to 287 around Newark to the NY Thruway to Albany to 90E, being the easiest but longest at 8 hours.

Then the GS to 287 around Newark to the NY Thruway to 84 in Newburg thru CT to 90E at about 7 hours.

Or the Garden State through Newark to 287 to the NY thruway and up to either Newburg or Albany.

In all cases I'd avoid the Tappan zee at 8am but then it is the shortest route. The guys I work with that come up from Princeton take the Tappan zee, but they don't have a trailer and they are familiar with the roads.

I've done all the routes and no longer go over the Tappan zee if I'm towing, I find 287 on the east side of the bridge a nightmare. I take the Newbury suggestion. If you're in no hurry and want to avoid Danbury and Hartford go to Albany. Nicer drive but you do go through the Berkshires on 90 if the hills are a concern.

If you leave at 6 and go to 84 in Newburgh you could stop at the rest area I mentioned just before Danbury, kill a little time there and leave at 9 after the rush is over. There may be a backup from the 684 interchange on 84 as the merge is always an issue. It's about half way between where you'd get on 84 and the rest area.

If you go via Albany you'd have no traffic once you clear NY, there is a stretch of perpetual construction northbound for maybe the first 10 miles in NY which slows you down some. At least there was a couple months ago, the last time I drove it.

[PhotoMasterGreg]

Thanks so much for the info. We live in Ocean County, just south of Toms River. We are planning to leave around 6am but then again that might put us at rush hour by the time we get to CT.

[Padlin]

I'd do 287 around Newark to 87N to Newburg, then 84E to 90E (Ma. Pike) to 495 to Salisbury then 95N to 295 at Portland and back to 95 outside Augusta. In Bangor take 395 to 1A to 3 into Bar Harbor. Nice rest area is #1 on 84 just before Danbury Ct. You'll also have one right after you get on 90 outside Sturbridge Ma.
Not too sure about the best route from Bangor to Bar Harbor, been a while so the best route may vary.

You should tell us where is NJ you are, I'd try hard to avoid 287 and the Danbury and Hartford areas at rush hour.

By the way, there is a Routes and Roads, or vise versa, here for this type of question.