Interstate 684

[NJRoadfan]

You can take NY-17 to I-84, with (exit 16) or without (Exit 15A) the Harriman toll.

[empirestate]

Sounds like I need to do this:

Exit north onto NY 22 and then make a U-turn to head south on I-684, and then take the exit to I-287 instead of going on down 984J to the Hutch and I-287.

Right? This will clinch both I-684 in its entirety and I-287 in New York?

No, you don't have to do the first thing; I-684 doesn't extend north of I-84 (that's another reference route). Although it wouldn't hurt, if you want to say you've cliched the whole freeway.

[hbelkins]

You can take NY-17 to I-84, with (exit 16) or without (Exit 15A) the Harriman toll.

But that goes back north too far; my goal is to head south. Since I've already dipped south on 684, I won't want to go back to 84.

I was on 84 from Middletown to Scranton back in March, anyway. I've done 78 both east and west but have only done 80 eastbound between 287 and 81.

[Duke87]

I feel like I'm pointing out the obvious here, but when you say "clinch 287 in New York", you do realize there's another few miles of it east of I-684, right? So unless you've already done that you're missing some pavement unless you do another side trip.

As for the side trip north of 84, it's necessary if you're a CHM stickler like I am because they show the route ending at exit 10 and they have it as an extra waypoint. Signage in the field is consistent with this. However, as was discussed on the first page, NYSDOT's internal route log shows 684 ending at 84, and FHWA documentation implies likewise. So, officially, no, 684 does not go north of 84 and that side trip is not purely necessary. Although it'll cost you 2 minutes to do it, just take exit 10 and make two right turns to get back onto the freeway southbound.
Or, you can exit I-84 at CT exit 4 (or NY exit 21) and take US6/202 over to there and not have to make u-turn.

[froggie]

Hate to say it, but given that you're "in a hurry", your best bet to Harrisburg given your origin is still 287 to 78.  If you had more time, there are plenty of non-freeway routes to choose from.

[empirestate]

I feel like I'm pointing out the obvious here, but when you say "clinch 287 in New York", you do realize there's another few miles of it east of I-684, right? So unless you've already done that you're missing some pavement unless you do another side trip.

Part of his plan was to head east on 287 to 95 and then back again. Looks like that will involve a little bit of Connecticut as well.

As for the side trip north of 84, it's necessary if you're a CHM stickler like I am because they show the route ending at exit 10 and they have it as an extra waypoint. Signage in the field is consistent with this. However, as was discussed on the first page, NYSDOT's internal route log shows 684 ending at 84, and FHWA documentation implies likewise. So, officially, no, 684 does not go north of 84 and that side trip is not purely necessary. Although it'll cost you 2 minutes to do it, just take exit 10 and make two right turns to get back onto the freeway southbound.

Better do it just to be safe. Although I-684 definitely doesn't quite reach NY 22 (and contrary to Wikipedia, it's reference route 981B that does), NYSDOT's inventory file seems to show a few tenths of a mile of pavement north of "ACC I-84 WB"–whether that's the actual ramp to I-84, or the overpass "with access" I'm not sure, but the NYSDOT topo map also seems to show that the dividing line is north of I-84, perhaps at the US 6/202 overpass.

I was on 84 from Middletown to Scranton back in March, anyway. I've done 78 both east and west but have only done 80 eastbound between 287 and 81.

That might be your answer: if clinching I-80 WB is a priority, then that's the best route. If just getting to Harrisburg expeditiously is the aim, then I-78. Both are pretty unpleasant through NJ; I-78 at least is a nice ride west of Allentown. For fun, you can take US 22, the original I-78 through ABE. Also, any worthy roadgeek should know how to escape New Jersey without paying a toll via the free bridge to Easton, provided your conveyance is under the 3-ton limit. After all, you may need to get off in Phillipsburg anyway for your last chance at NJ-price gas (though of course you can get cheaper by staying away from the state line).

I-80 to US 46 to NJ 57 to Phillipsburg is a halfway-decent cutoff, at least in off-hours, if you're jonesing for a substantially new experience.

[hbelkins]

Hate to say it, but given that you're "in a hurry", your best bet to Harrisburg given your origin is still 287 to 78.  If you had more time, there are plenty of non-freeway routes to choose from.

That's fine. I just hope I-81 in Harrisburg is back to full strength by then.