Near Road Trip: Atlantic City - June 21st

[noelbotevera]

Hi everyone. My family and I are going to AC, with a stop in New York City to visit my brother's friend. Any route suggestions? Please tell me any, and I'll consider it as a route. All I want is a nice scenic ride, but at least want to clinch/travel any routes never seen before. Also, any roadgeek delights?

UPDATE: Ok, there is a limit on 4 guests per room (I have 5 in my family), so I'm changing this to Ramada in Pleasantville, New Jersey.

Pt. 1: Home - Brother's Friend House (will not spoil address)
(I'm skipping a small portion here)
I-81 north to exit 59

------------------HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA-------------

PA 581 east to exit 6A (I-83 SB)
I-83 SB to exit 39A (with a stop to 40A-B for breakfast if open)

-----------------PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA------------

Pennsylvania Turnpike EB - Exit 242 to NJ State Line - $15.35 toll

---------------NEW JERSEY STATE LINE---------------
NJ Turnpike PA Extension EB to NJ Tpk.

------------NEW YORK - NEWARK - JERSEY CITY-------------------------
NJ Tpk. NB to exit 10
NJ 440 NB to NY 440 - $14 toll

-------------STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK--------------
NY 440 NB to I-278 EB
I-278 EB to Belt Pkwy. EB

--------------BROOKLYN, NEW YORK--------------
Belt Pkwy. to NY 878
NY 878 NB to I-678
I-678 NB to NY 25

Pt. 2 - Friend's House to Ramada - West Atlantic City
I-678 NB to GCP WB

---------------QUEENS, NEW YORK---------------
GCP WB to I-495 WB
I-495 WB to I-278 WB
I-278 WB to I-478 NB

-------------MANHATTAN, NEW YORK----------------
I-478 NB to NY 9A NB
NY 9A NB to I-95 SB

------------NEW JERSEY STATE LINE - JERSEY CITY--------------
I-95 SB to GSP SB

------------WEST ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY---------------
GSP SB to ACE EB
ACE EB to US 9 NB
US 9 SB to US 40/US 322 EB


June 25th - Pt. 3 - Ramada West AC to Home
----------------ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY---------------------
US 40/US 322 EB
ACE WB (via exit 2)
ACE WB to NJ 42 NB
------CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY--------------------
NJ 42 NB to I-76 WB

-----------PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA------------
I-76 WB to PA Tpk.

----------CARLISLE, PENNYSYLVANIA-----------------
I-81 SB to US 30 WB

That's my route.

[Zeffy]

I thought Harrah's was an 18+ establishment? Oh well, regardless, are your parents willing to pay over $40 in combined toll costs? The hefty tolls on any of the New York City bridges is what drives my family from meeting in Brooklyn - we usually meet in Staten Island just to avoid the ridiculous Verrazano Bridge toll.

Also, on your trip back, I-76 is described by many as the "Surekill Distressway" in that part of Pennsylvania. I would avoid it if I were your parents, because it's a pretty shitty road.

[mrsman]

I thought Harrah's was an 18+ establishment? Oh well, regardless, are your parents willing to pay over $40 in combined toll costs? The hefty tolls on any of the New York City bridges is what drives my family from meeting in Brooklyn - we usually meet in Staten Island just to avoid the ridiculous Verrazano Bridge toll.

Also, on your trip back, I-76 is described by many as the "Surekill Distressway" in that part of Pennsylvania. I would avoid it if I were your parents, because it's a pretty shitty road.

You shouldn't let the Verrazano Toll stop you from visiting Brooklyn, Queens, or LI.  I have family in Queens, and when I want to visit, I visit.

There are definite shunpike routes to avoid the hefty toll.  Using the Manhattan Bridge - Canal Street - Holland Tunnel is a popular option.

[froggie]

Using the Manhattan Bridge - Canal Street - Holland Tunnel is a popular option.

Which can easily result in taking 30 minutes just to cross Lower Manhattan...

[Rothman]

I was about to say: I've been stuck on Canal Street for quite some time...on a Saturday afternoon.

[jeffandnicole]

Any age is permitted in Harrah's. It's a casino, so if there was an age limit, it would be 21, not 18.  But regardless, anyone can enter and stay there (well, as long as you're staying with someone over the age of 21!)

As for your drive in: unless you have a reason to use the Expressway to 9, you can avoid some backtracking by taking the GSP to exit 40, which is US 30 East, and take that directly into AC.

And as for Zeffy's comment about the Schuykill Expressway:  Sure, there may be congestion and you have to deal with substandard interstate conditions, but it's not all that bad. And it's by far the most direct route between AC and the PA Turnpike.

[noelbotevera]

I don't really know if using the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, and use NY 9A to the GWB SB was a smart choice, because GWB is free SB, rather than a $14 toll on the Verrazano Bridge. Basically you go up Manhattan, and then cross into NJ after 10 miles of 9A, get on the NJ Turnpike, and get on the GSP, with the free section from I-80 to the New York line.