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Better route north

Yahoo Message Number: 16030
When heading to the FMCA and CCI rallys in Maine a few years ago, I made the mistake of following the AAA trip route which took us up I95 and horendous traffic in Penn...NJ...Conn, etc. It's tough to avoid traffic in those areas but we've been told of a better, more coach friendly route (17?) but at the time didn't get it down on paper. Now, we are heading that way this summer. Any suggestions other than travel only at night? Joe Cronin '03 Magna 6223

Re: Better route north

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16035
Hi Joe,

I'll presume you are coming from the south (fla?). If so, there is no better route, IMHO, than 95 to the Washington DC area. At that point, I pick up 495, the western beltway, to 270. 270 leads to 70 west, which leads to 81 north.
81 north will take you a couple of opportunities to get to Maine. The first is 78 east to 287 north to NY Turnpike north to 84 east. The second is stay on 81 north to the Scranton, Pa. area to get 84 east directly. 84 east will take you to any number of Maine bound routes
We live in NJ, have family in Maine and travel south often. Since I have to avoid tunnels (propane), this north bound route proves to be a nice ride with minimal interruptions such as construction.

Hope this is helpful.

Rich Coventry

Re: Better route north

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16038
Joe

When we go south past Washington from upstate NY (near Albany) we follow I 87 to I 287 to NJ Turnpike to Delaware Memorial Bridge (always lots of traffic except for Sunday mornings). Once we are in Delaware we take Route 1 south to route 301 south which is mostly divided highway thru Annapolis to I 95 south of Washington. There are some busy areas but nothing like 95 and the beltway.

Mike and Marg Keogh
98 Intrigue 36 #10538
00 CRV

Re: Better route north

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16047
Joe,

I live in Annapolis and have to navigate around the DC area often on business. I agree with Mike's suggestion to stay away from I-95 from south of Washington all the way up to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. You can exit I-95 north of Richmond at Bowling Green/Fort AP Hill exit (Rt. 207) which becomes Rt. 301 and follow this into Southern Maryland. FYI, the Bowling Green exit is a pretty good fuel stop as well. About 20 miles into Maryland you'll hit some slow traffic and traffic lights in Waldorf. Once you're through there, its pretty clean up to Rt. 50/301E across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Though try to avoid the bridge on the eastbound side on a Friday past noon or any weekday evening after 4pm. Once across the bridge, the ride up 301 through Maryland and Delaware is pretty calm, much more so than I-95 through Washington and Baltimore (you'd have to take I-695 around Baltimore anyway because of the tunnels).
I'm glad you raised this topic because I'll be going north to Maine for 3 weeks in July as well. Good luck.

Kevin Barron
Intrigue #10550