road trip from CT to orlando, best driving directions Options

[jonjohnson]

I am travelling from CT to Orlando next month and need suggestions. i will be leaving hartford at 2 pm and was curious of how bad the garden state parkway and NJ turnpike are between 4-7 on a thursday evening. also wondering about going 287 to 78 to 15 and how that would be at the same time. anyone with new jersey traffic experience, I81, I78 or I 95 is appreciated. Allentown Pa traffic vs NJ Turnpike or should I head all the way to I81???
This is going to be an all night trip no sleep over at all

[mmi16]

Can't truly speak about NJ rush hours.

Have driven between the Baltimore area and Mamaroneck, NY on several occasions leaving NY in the late afternoon.

I used the Tappan Zee Bridge I287-I87-I78-I81 - I never have had any 'particular' traffic problems.

The one time I did use the Garden State Parkway and I-95 - the toll$ mounted up - I was towing a trailer and I think it ended up being nearly $20 in tolls each way - that was 17 years ago.

Your mileage may vary.

[jonjohnson]

Can't truly speak about NJ rush hours.

Have driven between the Baltimore area and Mamaroneck, NY on several occasions leaving NY in the late afternoon.

I used the Tappan Zee Bridge I287-I87-I78-I81 - I never have had any 'particular' traffic problems.

The one time I did use the Garden State Parkway and I-95 - the toll$ mounted up - I was towing a trailer and I think it ended up being nearly $20 in tolls each way - that was 17 years ago.

Your mileage may vary.

great not really worried about the cost of tolls opposed to the speed of the journey wasn't sure about traffic on 87 south during rush hour, and 78 through allentown during the 4-7 hour. i am strongly thinking of going this way. on the road trip america board a guy is telling me to avoid this area but i can't see it being too bad. he says go 81 from scranton which adds another 30 miles

[mmi16]

Using map program on my work computer

Bristol, CT - Orlando via I-95 = 1187 miles
Bristol, CT - Orlando via Scranto & Harrisburg I-81 = 1295 miles

Your traffic may vary!

Note - I-81 has very few 3 or more lane streches and a lot of truck traffic.

The extra 100 miles may be more than worth it as you are not going through NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC & Richmond - all of which can have serious traffic issues at any time of the day or night.

This post has been edited by mmi16: Feb 18 2013, 01:02 AM

[jonjohnson]

Using map program on my work computer

Bristol, CT - Orlando via I-95 = 1187 miles
Bristol, CT - Orlando via Scranto & Harrisburg I-81 = 1295 miles

Your traffic may vary!

Note - I-81 has very few 3 or more lane streches and a lot of truck traffic.

The extra 100 miles may be more than worth it as you are not going through NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC & Richmond - all of which can have serious traffic issues at any time of the day or night.

my only concern with 81 is that if i have to stop, i don't think there are too many hotels over there .
if i go 87 to 78, would i expect some stretches of traffic on 87 after the tapansee? and on 78? particularly allentown area

[mmi16]

my only concern with 81 is that if i have to stop, i don't think there are too many hotels over there .
if i go 87 to 78, would i expect some stretches of traffic on 87 after the tapansee? and on 78? particularly allentown area

Motels are everywhere on the Interstate - you might have problems finding a room at 2 or 3 AM - but finding motels is not a problem.

[jonjohnson]

Motels are everywhere on the Interstate - you might have problems finding a room at 2 or 3 AM - but finding motels is not a problem.

thanks alot, i am really leaning towards going over the tapansee and heading for 87 to 287 to 78. i can't take me that long to get through allentown area and we may even stop for dinner there or if we get through between there and harrisburgh. just watching the traffice cams, everything seems pretty good after 7 anyway.