Can anyone recommend a driving route to Boston that avoids New York City traffic? We are thinking of leaving on a Sunday afternoon and finding a place to stay about half way. I figured everyone would be returning from the shore coming back into NYC Sunday evening so traffic would be miserable. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated (already checked AMTRAK and flights - too expensive for a family of five with less than 14 day advance purchase).
Driving to Boston
- Thread starter navygirl
- Start date
Colinsgrandma
New Member
There is no easy way without going way out of the way. Timing is everything, we try it hit NYC at night, after midnight. AAA can do a route for you too.
RPMDAD
Well-Known Member
navygirl, you can avoid NYC by rerouting your trip using the Tappan Zee bridge, you would exit off of the New Jersey TPKE at exit 11 Garden State Parkway adds about 30 miles to the trip.
If you bring up mapquest it will give you the direct rte through NYC just drag the map line to the west a bit from NYC and it will bring up the Tappan Zee Bridge rte.
If you bring up mapquest it will give you the direct rte through NYC just drag the map line to the west a bit from NYC and it will bring up the Tappan Zee Bridge rte.
My daughter recently did this trip and had no problem going over George Washington Bridge on a Friday late morning. To avoid George Washington Bridge, exit New Jersey turnpike at route 287 north. Route 287 takes you to New York north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. There may be some traffic here going south to hook up with highways going west to New England, but it shouldn't be impossible. The following directions form 287 to New England are from map quest. I have taken this route not as far as Boston but to Connecticut. The 287 route saves on tolls also. If you do decide to take 95 to go through New York, the worst traffic will be the exit for the bridge on the Jersey side which is backed up all day everyday but it moves; however, take the lower level exit for the bridge. Get yourself an easy pass if you do not already have one. Another piece of advice regarding easy pass is that the left easy pass lanes are generally slower. Even though signs direct drivers to the left lanes early, there are easy pass lanes in the middle and right. If you'd decide to take GWB, you could take take the Henry Hudson Parkway exit which becomes Saw Mill Pkwy and follow the directions below from number 8.
Merge onto I-87 S/I-287 E/New York Trwy S toward I-87 S/Tappan Zee Brg/New York City (Portions toll).
18.7 mi
7.
Take the I-87 S exit toward Saw Mill Pkwy S/New York City.
0.2 mi
8.
Take the NY-119/Saw Mill Pkwy N exit, EXIT 8A, toward Elmsford.
0.8 mi
9.
Merge onto Saw Mill River Pkwy N via the ramp on the left toward Katonah.
18.7 mi
10.
Merge onto I-684 N via the exit on the left.
10.4 mi
11.
Merge onto I-84 E via EXIT 9E toward Danbury (Crossing into Connecticut).
43.3 mi
12.
Merge onto I-691 E via EXIT 27 toward Meriden.
8.7 mi
13.
Merge onto I-91 N via EXIT 11 on the left toward Hartford/Springfield.
16.8 mi
14.
Merge onto CT-15 N/Wilbur Cross Hwy N via EXIT 29 toward I-84 E/E Hartford/Boston.
2.1 mi
15.
CT-15 N/Wilbur Cross Hwy N becomes I-84 E/US-6 E/Wilbur Cross Hwy N.
1.5 mi
16.
Keep left to take I-84 E toward Boston (Portions toll) (Crossing into Massachusetts).
39.2 mi
17.
Merge onto I-90 E/Massachusetts Tpke E toward NH - Maine/Boston (Portions toll).
56.1 mi
Merge onto I-87 S/I-287 E/New York Trwy S toward I-87 S/Tappan Zee Brg/New York City (Portions toll).
18.7 mi
7.
Take the I-87 S exit toward Saw Mill Pkwy S/New York City.
0.2 mi
8.
Take the NY-119/Saw Mill Pkwy N exit, EXIT 8A, toward Elmsford.
0.8 mi
9.
Merge onto Saw Mill River Pkwy N via the ramp on the left toward Katonah.
18.7 mi
10.
Merge onto I-684 N via the exit on the left.
10.4 mi
11.
Merge onto I-84 E via EXIT 9E toward Danbury (Crossing into Connecticut).
43.3 mi
12.
Merge onto I-691 E via EXIT 27 toward Meriden.
8.7 mi
13.
Merge onto I-91 N via EXIT 11 on the left toward Hartford/Springfield.
16.8 mi
14.
Merge onto CT-15 N/Wilbur Cross Hwy N via EXIT 29 toward I-84 E/E Hartford/Boston.
2.1 mi
15.
CT-15 N/Wilbur Cross Hwy N becomes I-84 E/US-6 E/Wilbur Cross Hwy N.
1.5 mi
16.
Keep left to take I-84 E toward Boston (Portions toll) (Crossing into Massachusetts).
39.2 mi
17.
Merge onto I-90 E/Massachusetts Tpke E toward NH - Maine/Boston (Portions toll).
56.1 mi
donbarzini
Well-Known Member
This is the way I go home every time I go back.
95N to Jersey Tpke. to Garden State Pkwy
Pkwy ends at NY Line becomes 287(I always stop for gas at last rest stop on Parkway. Takes me all the way to Waltham)
287 Over Tappan Zee Bridge to 684(New England Thruway)
684 to 84 toward Hartford
84 to Mass State line becomes Mass Pike
95N to Jersey Tpke. to Garden State Pkwy
Pkwy ends at NY Line becomes 287(I always stop for gas at last rest stop on Parkway. Takes me all the way to Waltham)
287 Over Tappan Zee Bridge to 684(New England Thruway)
684 to 84 toward Hartford
84 to Mass State line becomes Mass Pike
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lucky_bee
RBF expert
I'm from CT and actually just came back from there yesterday for a visit to the parents.
Deleware Memorial Bridge/I-95 to NJ Turnpike/I-95 to Garden State Parkway to Tappan Zee Bridge is THE ONLY WAY anyone in my family will ever take and we've been driving in and out of CT down the east coast for many, many years.
SoMDGirl42
Well-Known Member
Crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge more time than I care to count.