Driving to Boston on Friday morning- best time to leave? archived

I'd leave now to be on the safe side.:bigsmile:

Edited to add: I would take the Tappen Zee, forget the GWB.

If you are determined to go over the GWB, you must hit the bridge by 6am or you will wait at least an hour. Then you will have city traffic. I avoid all this. I go on the Tappan Zee which has less traffic, but can still be bad in the early morning, but is much less congested than the GWB. I would plan on getting to the Tappan Zee by 7am.

We made that trip during holiday weekends for years and years. I agree that the Tappan Zee is much better than the GWB. If you're leaving in the morning, it's best to wait until 9:00, as rush hour is ending. If you leave at 6:30 you'll hit the Tappan Zee between 7:30 and 8:00, and that's a bad time to be there.

if you leave at 6, that is OUT THE DOOR IN YOUR CAR, you should have enough time to get over the GWB before the 7am CRUNCH. (Tappan Zee is too far out of they way, you're really not gaining much)

from there,

henry hudson parkway north (toll)
saw mill parkway
cross county parkway
merritt parkway
91 north
84 east
mass turnpike to boston (toll)

(avoid 95 - it's very unpredictable traffic-wise esp on a holiday weekend)

i find this is 4-4.5 hours and you don't have to deal with traffic or trucks

I agree, take the Tappan Zee and not the GWB. It's a much better experience all the way around. Not sure what time to leave. We usually go closer to 10-10:30 but hit traffic on 90 heading into Boston.

I would leave very early. I usually take the Tappan Zee.

Leaving after 9 may well help you avoid bad traffic at this end but you might then run in to holiday traffic closer to Boston (which I can say from experience can be awful)

Leave between 6 and 7. Parkway to either Tappanzee or another choice is to follow up the THruway to exit 17 and connect with 84e at that point. You may hit some rush hour traffic by the time you reach Hartford but that would be much less than at NY crossings.

Lived in Boston for 5 years. Was born in Lowell, MA. Have done the drive countless times.

Brahma is right on. That is BY FAR the best route. You avoid tons of truck traffic on 84 and bypass the usual cluster around Danbury and Waterbury. Leave around 10am and let rush hour clear out or leave at 6 and beat the rush.

95 is NOT the way to go...that will turn a 4 to 4.5 hour drive into 7 hours easily.

shickson

We used to make this trip several times a year. We usually took the Tappen Zee, 287, 684, 84, Mass Pike. On holiday weekends the entrence to the Mass Pike from 84 is almost always backed up. It is worse on the return trip btw.

I am not sure that taking the TZ saves time, but it usually keeps you moving as opposed to the real chance of getting stuck entering the George Washington Bridge or on the Cross Bronx Expressway. If you decide to do the GW, stay in the local lanes. They always move quicker than the express. We took this route a few weeks ago and traffic was still backlogged at 11 am.

Since Connecticut removed the toll booths on 95 traffic is much improved. We made it to Staten Island from about twenty miles north east of Providence via 95 and the GW in about three and a half hours on our last trip.

I used to make a similar commute when I went to school in Worcester. Here's my route:

GSP to 287/87 over the Tappan Zee
Sawmill to 684
684 to 84
84 to Mass Pike (I-90)

It usually took me 3-3.5 hours to get to Worcester so tack on another hour for your trip. I would leave at 9, so you can avoid the rush hour traffic that is always present in Hartford between 7-10am.

Posted By: bobk
I am not sure that taking the TZ saves time, but it usually keeps you moving as opposed to the real chance of getting stuck entering the George Washington Bridge or on the Cross Bronx Expressway. If you decide to do the GW, stay in the local lanes. They always move quicker than the express. We took this route a few weeks ago and traffic was still backlogged at 11 am.

Since Connecticut removed the toll booths on 95 traffic is much improved. We made it to Staten Island from about twenty miles north east of Providence via 95 and the GW in about three and a half hours on our last trip.

the "key" to taking the GW bridge is to take the Henry Hudson North (rt 9) exit as soon as you go over the bridge. this is the BEST KEPT SECRET for heading north and avoiding the 95/Bronx mess. it will cost you $2.75 in toll but is well worth it! In taking this route for the past 14 years I have never once encountered any traffic unless there is an accident.

Have driven to Boston many times. Since it is Memorial Day Weekend, is it possible you can leave on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. or so? When my husband and I drive up there, that is usually when we leave. We avoid NY/NJ traffic as well as Boston traffic, the kid sleeps, and we arrive around 11:00-11:30 p.m.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, lots of savvy travelers out there. I usually take Brahma's route on this drive, but lately we've been going 95 because of the rest stops right on the highway make it easier to travel with our kids (15 month olds).

The original plan was to leave on thursday night but now my wife has an event so we wouldn't be able to leave until 10:00 PM and I'm not sure I'm up for driving that late. Maybe I can rally the troops for an early morning departures on Friday. Otherwise I guess we'll wait it out and leave after 9:30 or so on Friday morning.

We take Brahma's route EXCEPT we take the Tappan Zee to the Merritt--there are tons of rest stops on the Merritt (we have little ones too).

Plus if you feel like stopping for lunch at a place other than a fast food joint, Rein's Deli on 84 is awesome! :thumbup:

The Tappan Zee adds only 8 miles, which is small potatoes compared to the 230 mile trip.

I agree with taking the Tappan Zee to the Hutchinson River Parkway. In CT, it becomes the Merritt Parkway (aka Rt 15). From there, it becomes the Wilber Cross Parkway (still aka Rt 15), which I take to I-91. This avoids New Haven and a part of Hartford, which can both provide hassles. I take I-91 to I-84 to I-90 (aka Mass Pike).

I can't put my finger on why I dislike I-84 east of Hartford, but I do. Maybe it's because of the steep hills which I have to share with the big trucks.

The Merritt Parkway is a pleasure in the daylight. In the night, not so much.

This is the route (roughly) that I take.

In summary:

Yankee fans: by all means take the Tappan Zee, it's quicker and you save a toll or two! >evil grin<

Red Sox fans: GWB ($$), Henry Hudson ($$), saw mill, cross county, merritt, the rest is the same... your sanity is worth $2.75

Safe travels!

I've made this trip countless times. Always the TZ unless it's REAL early, but from the TZ its straight to the Hutch and then onto 15. Difference is, I NEVER take 91. Ever. Driving through Hartford drives me nuts. Even though there are a bunch of lights where 15 picks up with 5 (Meriden?) after 91, it moves at about 50+ even with, and it dumps you directly onto 84E well past Hartford. Timing-wise it does save a bit of time if you hit it right and provides for your pick of fast food joints if you need a stop (and, for some reason about 968 motels as well).

Posted By: bookgirlWe take Brahma's route EXCEPT we take the Tappan Zee to the Merritt--there are tons of rest stops on the Merritt (we have little ones too).

Plus if you feel like stopping for lunch at a place other than a fast food joint, Rein's Deli on 84 is awesome!

I agree bookgirl...no GWB for me. Last week I made the trip and was actually on the North Shore and was door to door in 4 hours flat.

ctrazka - we always did the route Brahma wrote. I don't think you have to drive through Hartford if you go 91 to 84 anymore. I thought they made some 91-84 "interchange" years back.
We went to school in Hartford - what a dump.

However you go the ......84 to pike........... is usually your best bet.

If you have a heavy foot beware of a town called Tolland CT near where CT ans MA meet.

Oh and beware of the mighty mighty M*ssholes, they are everywhere.

Good luck.

how about to Newport, RI. Any variations to speak of?

I used to do the GWB when leaving real early, but part of the reason for generally not doing it is that the road surface is the WORST... I don't need my bones rattling and I hate hate hate delivery vans. Had no idea there was an interchange (though there was construction inside Hford FOREVER)... assume just south, maybe? Hartford IS a dump... ugh.

Tolland and I were well acquainted once... had a rather nice visit to the Willington (?) courthouse as a result. No jail and kept the car, but a HUGE fine and ultimately lost the license for a bit. Not a particularly fun stretch.

Newport, sad to say, will involve 95.

for RI we go 95. I don't think there is another option. We get off at the exit that says "RI beaches" take 78 to rt 1 north BUT maybe for Newport you should stay on 95 longer??

95 to 138 (on 1) to the bridge.

Darned if ctrzaska isn't right. Taking Rt 15 means you don't have to take I-91 at all, which is a good thing!

If you can't leave at night then leaving around 9 in the morning is your best bet. If you do, you'll avoid rush hour on the GSP, at the Tappen Zee, in CT and in MA. Definitely watch your speed in CT. Those cops can be vicious.

The judges are worse.

So how does one avoid 91? Doesn't the Merritt just turn into 91 at a certain point?