Clinching NYC Interstates

[JayhawkCO]

Hey friends. So I just booked a trip to Africa next summer and since I used miles, I could only find availability ex-JFK, not ex-DEN. So, I have to book a separate flight to NYC. Since they're on separate tickets, I'll need to book it to leave me a quite extensive layover in case of delays (since the airlines are under no obligation to help me out with a flight that I missed due to a misconnect of my own choosing). So... since my flight to Africa doesn't leave until 22:00, I was thinking about taking the first flight out of Denver to either EWR, LGA, or JFK and then renting a car to try to clinch all of the NYC interstates that I haven't ever been on. Seems like a good way to kill a long layover, and in case of a delay on my flight, I can just scrap my driving plans without real issue.

The only interstates within the NYC borders that I've been on are I-78 through the Holland Tunnel, I-95 all the way through New York State, and I-678 from Grand Central Parkway down to JFK. Assuming I didn't worry about I-287 (I've been on part of it, but not the whole route), how long do you think it would take to clinch everything I have left (including I-495 to its end but only worrying about the part of I-87 south of I-95)? This will be on a Monday and I'm trying to decide if I should take the redeye so I have more time or if I can get it accomplished in 4 hours or so. The earliest I could get into the area without a redeye is 11:46 AM into Newark.

Thanks in advance.

[vdeane]

I would say that doing all of that in one day is overly ambitious.  You'd realistically need three hours to do I-495 and get back (by the time you're at Riverhead, you're east of New Haven and I-91).  Not to mention that the approaches to the triple cantilever section of I-278 have stop and go congestion during all daylight hours.

Using the 11:45 arrival to Newark, if you headed south to I-278 (don't forget the bit to US 9), you could clinch that and take I-295 south (if you U turn at the last exit before the bridge, you can grab a quick clinch of I-695 as well and come back).  After turning around at NY 25, take I-495 west into Manhattan, then left on 34th Street to FDR Drive south.  Turn right at the signs saying "Hugh L Carey Tunnel" to clinch I-478, then take the Belt Parkway and NY 878 (clinching I-878 in the process; it goes from I-678 to the JFK Expressway, eastbound only) to the JFK Expressway and take that into the airport.  It should be doable, even allowing for normal traffic/flight/airport delays.

Google's travel times suggest that it might be possible to do a loop on I-695/I-95/I-287/I-87/I-278 where I suggested doing a couple of U turns to clinch I-695, but having no experience with flying, and most of my travel in the NYC area being on weekends, I'm hesitant to recommend it.  But still, something to keep in mind if you're doing really well on time.  Probably a good idea to plot out any route you want to try on Google Maps on various Mondays at various times (including breaking at decision points) to get a good feel for how long various parts of the trip can take.  You don't want to miss your flight to Africa because of NYC traffic congestion!

Hope that helps.

[Rothman]

(I'm not touching this thread with a 10-foot cattle prod)

[webny99]

To offer a hybrid of Rothman and vdeane's replies, it would probably be advisable to take the redeye if you are really intent on clinching everything as you described. 4 hours isn't going to cut it, and I would recommend at least an hour or two buffer for unexpected delays which are bound to pop up at some point just by virtue of leaving and returning to any NYC metro airport.

[JayhawkCO]

Yeah, I think 4 hours would be comfortable enough if I didn't worry about I-495. That's the wrinkle. I need to get my mind wrapped around which interstate junctions don't operate in every direction too, so I can try to plan the most efficient route. At this point, flying into Newark seems to make the most sense (assuming I can find a one-way rental that isn't insane, dropping it at JFK).

[vdeane]

If you do try to clinch the LIE (I-495), try to avoid leaving the city in mid or late afternoon.  Rush hour traffic on that road is no joke.

[dgolub]

Not to mention that the approaches to the triple cantilever section of I-278 have stop and go congestion during all daylight hours.

I've had success early in the morning on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.  Aside from that, it's usually a parking lot during waking hours seven days a week like Valerie said.  It can take on the order of a hour to get through there now that they'd narrowed it down to two lanes.

[1995hoo]

Be prepared for heavy traffic at all hours because a crash in the wrong place, or heavy rain, can easily mess things up big time. I've also found the eastbound LIE across Queens is almost always congested during civilized hours (I've never used it late at night).

[JayhawkCO]

Yeah, the more I think about this, the less likely the plan becomes. I'll probably just get a flight into JFK about 5-6 hour early just to ensure I don't miss my flight and then hang out in the business class lounge. Thanks for everyone's input.

[1995hoo]

Yeah, the more I think about this, the less likely the plan becomes. I'll probably just get a flight into JFK about 5-6 hour early just to ensure I don't miss my flight and then hang out in the business class lounge. Thanks for everyone's input.

Don't forget that if you are flying in on one airline and out on another, you may have to change terminals and re-clear security due to the idiotic airport design that prevails in the New York area.

[JayhawkCO]

Yeah, the more I think about this, the less likely the plan becomes. I'll probably just get a flight into JFK about 5-6 hour early just to ensure I don't miss my flight and then hang out in the business class lounge. Thanks for everyone's input.

Don't forget that if you are flying in on one airline and out on another, you may have to change terminals and re-clear security due to the idiotic airport design that prevails in the New York area.

Yep. For sure. Ethiopian flies out of Terminal 7. Alaska, Frontier, and Sun Country are the only domestic airlines that fly out of Terminal 7, so I'm guaranteed to have to switch terminals (as I won't be flying any of those). Having done it at JFK before, it's not THAT bad, compared to some places I've been (Manila, Frankfurt, and Sydney come to mind). Also, I have pre-check, so that always saves some time.

Also, looks like the lounge I'll have access to is in Terminal 8, and American flies there, so, price and timing being equal, that will be my choice.