Best driving route from Hartford to Orlando

[datw@epcot]

Hi All, I'm planning on driving from Hartford to Orlando in August, what is the best route to take, particularly from Hartford through New York to I-95? I know better than to get on I-95 in Connecticut, but I'm not sure if it is best to take the George Washington Bridge, Tappan Zee Bridge, or another route. I'll be leaving on a Sunday night around 6pm.

 

[pax_65]

84 to Scranton
81 south into VA
pick up 77 south near border of NC
26 in SC to 95 and on your way..

I was going to suggest the same thing! It does sound crazy, but I-81 through Western Virginia is a beautiful drive and you avoid the DC-Baltimore-Philly-NY corridor.

It's definitely longer mileage wise, but you'll save time by avoiding traffic. Just watch for traffic around Harrisburg, PA as that can be surprisingly bad.

 

[Bigeagle]

Check the AAA website under "Autos & Driving." It has a tool that can give you gas prices at almost any interchange on any major highway in the US. Another helpful site is Gasbuddy.com. This site lets you enter Begin & End locations and your vehicle info, then suggests the cheapest places to get gas along your route--very helpful for a long trip.

have a great trip!

 

[datw@epcot]

I was going to suggest the same thing! It does sound crazy, but I-81 through Western Virginia is a beautiful drive and you avoid the DC-Baltimore-Philly-NY corridor.

It's definitely longer mileage wise, but you'll save time by avoiding traffic. Just watch for traffic around Harrisburg, PA as that can be surprisingly bad.

Here's a question for those of you who have done both this route and tappan zee to garden state to turnpike to 95 - if I leave hartford at 6pm on a sunday night, assuming there's little to no traffic, I would expect to get to the tappan zee around 8pm (2 hours), delaware bridge around 10pm (4 hours), baltimore around 11pm (5 hours), DC around midnight (6 hours), richmond around 2am (8 hours) and orlando by noon the next day (18 hour trip). Do you think that there will be a benefit to taking 81, etc. considering the time of night I will be driving through the major cities?

 

[Kamikaze]

Here's a question for those of you who have done both this route and tappan zee to garden state to turnpike to 95 - if I leave hartford at 6pm on a sunday night, assuming there's little to no traffic, I would expect to get to the tappan zee around 8pm (2 hours), delaware bridge around 10pm (4 hours), baltimore around 11pm (5 hours), DC around midnight (6 hours), richmond around 2am (8 hours) and orlando by noon the next day (18 hour trip). Do you think that there will be a benefit to taking 81, etc. considering the time of night I will be driving through the major cities?

No. Take 95. If you see signs of a problem around a city, take one of the shorter detours (395)

 

[dsnylvr]

84 to 684 to 287 over the Tappan Zee to the Garden State parkway. The GSP to the NJ Turnpike south. Continue on I 95 south to Washington and take 495 west around DC. Get back on I 95 south. Take 295 around Richmond then get back on I 95. Take I 95 all the way to Jacksonville, then take 295 around Jacksonville. 295 intersects with I 95 in St Augustine, continue down 95 to I 4 west and continue to the World. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[pax_65]

I agree with the other posters... the western route (I-81 to I-77) would only be of benefit if you were avoiding traffic. At the time you're leaving, I-95 will be more direct and traffic should be light.

Keep the alternate route in mind for your return trip, depending what time you're traveling, or for future trips.

Drive safe!

 

[datw@epcot]

I agree with the other posters... the western route (I-81 to I-77) would only be of benefit if you were avoiding traffic. At the time you're leaving, I-95 will be more direct and traffic should be light.

Keep the alternate route in mind for your return trip, depending what time you're traveling, or for future trips.

Drive safe!

Sounds like a good plan, thanks for all of the responses.

 

[fmingo36]

I drive from central NJ to Massachusetts and back one weekend every month. From Hartford, go 91 to Rt. 15 (Merritt Parkway). I avoid 95 at all cost!
Take 287 over the Tappen Zee and then on to the GSP to NJ turnpike. It may be a few more miles but it just seems to be the least amount of traffic(especially the day and time of your departure). I HATE sitting in traffic!!!

You can always get the traffic report for the NY area by listening to 1010Wins (AM dial). They report traffic every 10 minutes and they are very acurate.


One other thing--once you get into NJ, on the GSP there is a service station right over the line. It's e-z on/off and a great place to fill the tank. NJ has the cheapest gas around!!!
Have a safe trip!

 

[datw@epcot]

I drive from central NJ to Massachusetts and back one weekend every month. From Hartford, go 91 to Rt. 15 (Merritt Parkway). I avoid 95 at all cost!
Take 287 over the Tappen Zee and then on to the GSP to NJ turnpike. It may be a few more miles but it just seems to be the least amount of traffic(especially the day and time of your departure). I HATE sitting in traffic!!!

You can always get the traffic report for the NY area by listening to 1010Wins (AM dial). They report traffic every 10 minutes and they are very acurate.


One other thing--once you get into NJ, on the GSP there is a service station right over the line. It's e-z on/off and a great place to fill the tank. NJ has the cheapest gas around!!!
Have a safe trip!

Do you prefer this route rather than 84 to 684 to the tappan zee?

 

[Phonedave]

Do you prefer this route rather than 84 to 684 to the tappan zee?

I have done both routes. I am going to say the 84/684 route is more consistent. There is usualy some traffic on I-84, but not to bad (Most of time I am heading East on a Saturday morning around 9:00 AM, and West on a Sunday afternoon around 5:00 PM)

I have done the Merrit as well. Somtimes it is wide open, other times it has been a parking lot. I don't know why. Others may have had better luck with it.

I will say though, that at the time of day you are going, I would go over the Tappan Zee, to 9W South, pick up the PIP just over the state line, and take that to 80/95 - instead of going over to and then down the GSP. - Or for a less confusing route (and less local roads) drive past the exit for 9W and just pick up the PIP about 3 miles later and take that all the way down.

-dave

 

[datw@epcot]

I have done both routes. I am going to say the 84/684 route is more consistent. There is usualy some traffic on I-84, but not to bad (Most of time I am heading East on a Saturday morning around 9:00 AM, and West on a Sunday afternoon around 5:00 PM)

I have done the Merrit as well. Somtimes it is wide open, other times it has been a parking lot. I don't know why. Others may have had better luck with it.

I will say though, that at the time of day you are going, I would go over the Tappan Zee, to 9W South, pick up the PIP just over the state line, and take that to 80/95 - instead of going over to and then down the GSP. - Or for a less confusing route (and less local roads) drive past the exit for 9W and just pick up the PIP about 3 miles later and take that all the way down.

-dave

interesting, why do you prefer that route instead of taking the garden state to the turnpike?

 

[kerrie]

How long does the trip usually take you when you take 95 the entire way?

About 18 hours and thatswith potty stops but without stops like food. if we stop to eat then its 20

 

[fmingo36]

Do you prefer this route rather than 84 to 684 to the tappan zee?

YES!!! For a few reasons:
1) No trucks allowed on the Merrit.
2) Shorter mileage
3)Rte. 684 has a weird construction to it. So you get a little bump every 50 feet or so.

Feel free to e-mail if you have additional questions.
(Just made the drive this weekend)