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Best Route from Boston to New York

Started by Roadgeekteen, April 20, 2021, 12:47:20 AM

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What is the best route between Boston and New York?

95
6 (10%)
90-84-91-95
12 (20%)
90-84-15
23 (38.3%)
90-84-684
8 (13.3%)
Other
11 (18.3%)

Total Members Voted: 60

Roadgeekteen

There are many different options, but what is the best one?
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5


jp the roadgeek

90>84>684. From there, it varies

Bronx and most of Manhattan: Saw Mill Parkway.

Queens, LI, and lower east side of Manhattan: stay on 684 to The Hutch and take whichever bridge is appropriate.

Brooklyn could be either option depending on which part

Staten Island: Probably best to go Saw Mill>Thruway>Palisades>95 (NJTP) to Exit 13 and go in over the Goethals. Either spur is fine.
Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)

1995hoo

I like I-90 to I-84 to I-91 to the Wilbur Cross/Merritt Parkways.

Once you then get down to the vicinity of White Plains, the best route will vary depending on your ultimate destination within New York, the time of day, and whether any significant events are going on along a particular route (e.g., Mets or Yankees games).
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

webny99

I used I-95 all the way through. It wasn't bad, and it actually never occurred to me until years later that 91-84-90 is a bit faster.

Flint1979

I-90 to I-84 to I-91 to SR-15 then take the Hutch into NYC.

Flint1979

Quote from: webny99 on April 20, 2021, 09:16:16 AM
I used I-95 all the way through. It wasn't bad, and it actually never occurred to me until years later that 91-84-90 is a bit faster.
I did that the very first time I ever drove from Boston to NYC and thought is this really the best way I mean I know I-95 goes between both cities but that doesn't mean it's the best route. It did get me some county clinching done in Rhode Island though to the point that I only have Newport County left in that state. I wasn't into clinching counties back then though either.

jmacswimmer

I usually take the Merritt/Wilbur Cross - I'll check traffic on both 15 & 95 prior to having to commit to one, but it rarely matters because if one is congested, the other probably is too :banghead:

On the south end I'll usually bypass the entire NYC area on 287, and on the north end I always opt for 84/90 since I'm often heading to Worcester rather than Boston.
"Now, what if da Bearss were to enter the Indianapolis 5-hunnert?"
"How would they compete?"
"Let's say they rode together in a big buss."
"Is Ditka driving?"
"Of course!"
"Then I like da Bear buss."
"DA BEARSSS BUSSSS"

Flint1979

Just for the heck of it I put in Portland, ME to Philly and they have you completely bypassing Boston and going through Worcester. So taking I-495 to I-290 to the Mass Pike to I-84 to I-91 to CT-15 to the Hutch then cutting over on the Cross County Parkway to the Thruway then following the Deegan to the Cross Bronx to the GW Bridge and following I-95 the rest of the way.

SkyPesos

The one time I've been on Boston-NYC by road, we used 90-84-91-95. After that, since my final destination was in Midtown Manhattan, switched to 278 and FDR Drive.

hotdogPi

Clinched, minus I-93 (I'm missing a few miles and my file is incorrect)

Traveled, plus US 13, 44, and 50, and several state routes

I will be in Burlington VT for the eclipse.

MikeTheActuary

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 20, 2021, 12:47:20 AM
There are many different options, but what is the best one?

Depends on where in the respective areas the start/stop points are and traffic.

Alps

I've always favored CT 8 from 84 to 15/95. Only a couple of minutes longer than 15-91 and a nice change of pace that's never too busy.

PHLBOS

Quote from: Alps on April 20, 2021, 12:42:00 PM
I've always favored CT 8 from 84 to 15/95. Only a couple of minutes longer than 15-91 and a nice change of pace that's never too busy.
Interesting. 

However & at present, there's construction activity taking place at the I-84/CT 8 mixmaster interchange as part of a rehab project.  One may have to take some detours while some of the interchange ramps are closed for reconstruction.
GPS does NOT equal GOD

webny99

On that note - and because I'm sure people will have opinions on this - which is better, CT 15 or I-95?

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: webny99 on April 20, 2021, 01:33:11 PM
On that note - and because I'm sure people will have opinions on this - which is better, CT 15 or I-95?
CT 15 is more scenic, I-95 is a higher quality road.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

kphoger

Is Amtrak Acela included in 'Other'?   :awesomeface:
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

jp the roadgeek

Quote from: kphoger on April 20, 2021, 02:19:17 PM
Is Amtrak Acela included in 'Other'?   :awesomeface:

Only if we include BOS to LGA.
Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)

jmacswimmer

Quote from: webny99 on April 20, 2021, 01:33:11 PM
On that note - and because I'm sure people will have opinions on this - which is better, CT 15 or I-95?

I typically prefer CT 15 largely because truck trarffic is elimitanted, but there is much less margin for error; if I was a local I might prefer I-95 because the on/off ramps actually have acceleration/deceleration lanes!

(Case in point: I once stopped at one of the Merritt service plazas while heading north, and had a rude awakening upon leaving the plaza and discovering that this was the onramp.  To be fair, most of the other plazas at least have some acceleration room.)
"Now, what if da Bearss were to enter the Indianapolis 5-hunnert?"
"How would they compete?"
"Let's say they rode together in a big buss."
"Is Ditka driving?"
"Of course!"
"Then I like da Bear buss."
"DA BEARSSS BUSSSS"

NJRoadfan

Biggest problem with taking the Merritt is often the Hutch is backed up from volume between the I-287/I-684 interchange down to the Cross County. South of there its 6-lanes to the Bronx line, so usually not too bad. NYC is a big place, so your final destination affects your route in Westchester. If you are going to Manhattan, you really don't want to take the Hutch, better to head west and avoid the dreaded Cross Bronx.

Alps

Quote from: webny99 on April 20, 2021, 01:33:11 PM
On that note - and because I'm sure people will have opinions on this - which is better, CT 15 or I-95?
Depends on when you leave. Check traffic. If both are free flowing, I prefer I-95 because the one extra lane makes it much easier to get around people. CT 15 has a case of "85 in the left lane, 45 in the right" going on.

Roadgeekteen

With no traffic, Google actually suggests 84-91-15-8-95. Interesting.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

NE2

The old New Haven Railroad and New York Connecting Railroad.
pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: NE2 on April 21, 2021, 01:41:13 PM
The old New Haven Railroad and New York Connecting Railroad.
The Acela maybe if we are talking about public transit.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

hotdogPi

I-90 the whole way. Takes barely more than 2 hours.
Clinched, minus I-93 (I'm missing a few miles and my file is incorrect)

Traveled, plus US 13, 44, and 50, and several state routes

I will be in Burlington VT for the eclipse.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: 1 on April 21, 2021, 01:48:08 PM
I-90 the whole way. Takes barely more than 2 hours.
We have a winner. However just a warning, you won't see the empire state building or central park if you take this route.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5



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