Out-of-stater visiting - Need help and suggestions - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

CamaroSkooter · 08-09-2010, 03:15 PM

Hey all! I'm from Texas (obviously) and I'm heading to Connecticut for my high school friend's wedding on September 4th. My friend and I will be making a roadtrip out of this, so I wanted to get on the appropriate Regional Forums and get some advice from people familiar with the areas I will be passing through so I don't get myself in any trouble on the way up there.

Using google maps, it looks like our trip will be sending us from San Antonio, Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and then finally into Connecticut.

Can anyone here give me some pointers on what to watch out for in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut while cruisin' through?Are radar detectors frowned upon? What kinds of highway speeds should I expect along our route?

Google Maps has us on I-81 coming out of Maryland into Pennsylvania, hitting I-78 and then jumping on a whole bunch of diffierent roads as we make our way from Pennsylvania through New Jersey, New York and into Connecticut. If anyone has any better routes that might be quicker or less hassle, I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm trying to avoid toll roads, but it's not that big of a deal as long as I know where they are and whether or not I know I need to have exact change ahead of time.

We will be staying in either Coventry or Baltic, and I'm not sure if we're going to be trying to find a hotel or if we're staying at our friend's house. If anyone has recommendations there, though, that's certainly some information we wouldn't mind having, either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

(And yeah, we're roadtripping in the Camaro

)

POWERFREAK · 08-09-2010, 03:46 PM

Where in CT will you be? and where in NY will you be passing through? If you're passing through anywhere near NY City, stay away during rush-hour.

Radar detectors are illegal in Virginia, you should be fine everywhere else. Most highway speed limits around here are 55mph...but usually under 70 is safe.

For tolls, we have "EZPass" up here and I THINK you can get a temporary one...it works on most of the east coast, so it's worth looking into. It gets linked to your credit card and you will avoid traffic. http://www.e-zpassny.com

CamaroSkooter · 08-09-2010, 04:01 PM

Um, in Connecticut we'll be headed towards either Baltic or Coventry.

I think by the time we get to the New Jersey / New York area it should be well after rush hour (hopefully). It looks like Google Maps is telling me to use the George Washington Bridge and head north through Mount Vernon area.

The only toll road google maps has me on is US-9 North, but I told it to avoid toll roads, so if I uncheck that I think it takes me through a few others instead...

POWERFREAK · 08-09-2010, 04:18 PM

If the route has you taking RT95 over the GW Bridge up into CT, that is a traffic nightmare...definitely try and do that leg of the trip either late at night or early in the AM. also it also goes right by Yankee Stadium, so if there's a game...add MORE traffic.

If you can get an ezpass, the route might be a lot shorter by NOT avoiding tolls. worth checking out.

parksdjs · 08-09-2010, 04:21 PM

Do you have Navagation on your 2ss? If so use mapquest and down load the directions to your car. IT WORKS VERY WELL.

CamaroSkooter · 08-09-2010, 04:21 PM

I definately will look into the ez-pass. Thanks!

I have the OnStar eNav, but I like to plan the trip out ahead of time and get to know the route so I'm not driving into what I call the "fog of war."

parksdjs · 08-09-2010, 04:26 PM

You can plan it all out there, alter route, and avoid all tolls if you want. once you get it set the way you want just send to car. You can also print it out for a hard copy.

CamaroSkooter · 08-09-2010, 04:37 PM

See, I tried that before, but when I sent it to my car, all that was sent was the destination address. The route it took me on was the default route that came up on the website before I did all the alterations...

Maybe I clicked something wrong...

parksdjs · 08-09-2010, 05:52 PM

I did a three day tour and it worked perfect for me.

CamaroSkooter · 08-09-2010, 06:47 PM

Hmm, well, I've got a month. I'll try and get this thing figured out then

PAABM · 08-09-2010, 07:38 PM

Two suggestions. 1. Dont go over 10 miles over the limit in Maryland.
2. If you are going to Coventry CT I would highly recommend skipping i-95 and the George Washington Bridge and take the Garden State Parkway or the Pallisades Parkway North to Interstate 287 east to the Tappan Zee Bridge. Once across the Tappan Zee take the Sawmill River Parkway North to 684 North to 84 East. Oh yeah you will thoroughly enjoy driving on the Sawmill and the Pallisades!

POWERFREAK · 08-09-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAABM

2. If you are going to Coventry CT I would highly recommend skipping i-95 and the George Washington Bridge and take the Garden State Parkway or the Pallisades Parkway North to Interstate 287 east to the Tappan Zee Bridge. Once across the Tappan Zee take the Sawmill River Parkway North to 684 North to 84 East. Oh yeah you will thoroughly enjoy driving on the Sawmill and the Pallisades!

good advice...MUCH less chance of hitting major traffic. You can also catch rt95 in CT from rt287 after you go over the Tappen Zee Br.

CamaroSkooter · 08-10-2010, 07:51 AM

Sweet, thanks!

irocnroll · 08-10-2010, 07:58 AM

Rt 15 is also ok way to go. But 95 is a nightmare. I used to travel from CT to NJ. I always went 84 - 684 - 287 down to NJ. But on the way back I went Over the George Washington and took the very first Exit on the top of the bridge and went down to the Hutchinson Parkway which turns into the Merrit Parkway. Merrit is a very scenic route and if you arent up here often I highly reccomend taking that way. I always drove this way home from NJ because its very peaceful.

Even if in the event you got stuck in traffic here, its worth it because of the setting.

Dont use the GPS when you hit the NJ/NY/CT area. It will always take you to route 95.

08-09-2010, 03:15 PM	#1
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	Out-of-stater visiting - Need help and suggestions Hey all! I'm from Texas (obviously) and I'm heading to Connecticut for my high school friend's wedding on September 4th. My friend and I will be making a roadtrip out of this, so I wanted to get on the appropriate Regional Forums and get some advice from people familiar with the areas I will be passing through so I don't get myself in any trouble on the way up there. Using google maps, it looks like our trip will be sending us from San Antonio, Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and then finally into Connecticut. Can anyone here give me some pointers on what to watch out for in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut while cruisin' through?Are radar detectors frowned upon? What kinds of highway speeds should I expect along our route? Google Maps has us on I-81 coming out of Maryland into Pennsylvania, hitting I-78 and then jumping on a whole bunch of diffierent roads as we make our way from Pennsylvania through New Jersey, New York and into Connecticut. If anyone has any better routes that might be quicker or less hassle, I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm trying to avoid toll roads, but it's not that big of a deal as long as I know where they are and whether or not I know I need to have exact change ahead of time. We will be staying in either Coventry or Baltic, and I'm not sure if we're going to be trying to find a hotel or if we're staying at our friend's house. If anyone has recommendations there, though, that's certainly some information we wouldn't mind having, either. Any help would be greatly appreciated! (And yeah, we're roadtripping in the Camaro ) __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

08-09-2010, 03:46 PM	#2
POWERFREAK I.AM. Drives: 2011 2SS/RS/A6 cammed-n-whippled Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NY Posts: 2,638	Where in CT will you be? and where in NY will you be passing through? If you're passing through anywhere near NY City, stay away during rush-hour. Radar detectors are illegal in Virginia, you should be fine everywhere else. Most highway speed limits around here are 55mph...but usually under 70 is safe. For tolls, we have "EZPass" up here and I THINK you can get a temporary one...it works on most of the east coast, so it's worth looking into. It gets linked to your credit card and you will avoid traffic. http://www.e-zpassny.com __________________ NY5thgen.com

08-09-2010, 04:01 PM	#3
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	Um, in Connecticut we'll be headed towards either Baltic or Coventry. I think by the time we get to the New Jersey / New York area it should be well after rush hour (hopefully). It looks like Google Maps is telling me to use the George Washington Bridge and head north through Mount Vernon area. The only toll road google maps has me on is US-9 North, but I told it to avoid toll roads, so if I uncheck that I think it takes me through a few others instead... __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

08-09-2010, 04:18 PM	#4
POWERFREAK I.AM. Drives: 2011 2SS/RS/A6 cammed-n-whippled Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NY Posts: 2,638	If the route has you taking RT95 over the GW Bridge up into CT, that is a traffic nightmare...definitely try and do that leg of the trip either late at night or early in the AM. also it also goes right by Yankee Stadium, so if there's a game...add MORE traffic. If you can get an ezpass, the route might be a lot shorter by NOT avoiding tolls. worth checking out. __________________ NY5thgen.com

08-09-2010, 04:21 PM	#6
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	I definately will look into the ez-pass. Thanks! I have the OnStar eNav, but I like to plan the trip out ahead of time and get to know the route so I'm not driving into what I call the "fog of war." __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

08-09-2010, 04:21 PM	#5
parksdjs Drives: 2010 Camro 2SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cambridge, MD Lower Eastern Shore Posts: 100 View My Garage	Do you have Navagation on your 2ss? If so use mapquest and down load the directions to your car. IT WORKS VERY WELL.

08-09-2010, 04:26 PM	#7
parksdjs Drives: 2010 Camro 2SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cambridge, MD Lower Eastern Shore Posts: 100 View My Garage	You can plan it all out there, alter route, and avoid all tolls if you want. once you get it set the way you want just send to car. You can also print it out for a hard copy.

08-09-2010, 04:37 PM	#8
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	See, I tried that before, but when I sent it to my car, all that was sent was the destination address. The route it took me on was the default route that came up on the website before I did all the alterations... Maybe I clicked something wrong... __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

08-09-2010, 05:52 PM	#9
parksdjs Drives: 2010 Camro 2SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cambridge, MD Lower Eastern Shore Posts: 100 View My Garage	I did a three day tour and it worked perfect for me.

08-09-2010, 06:47 PM	#10
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	Hmm, well, I've got a month. I'll try and get this thing figured out then __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

08-09-2010, 07:38 PM	#11
PAABM Drives: 2010 2SS RS Manual ABM Join Date: May 2010 Location: Phoenixville PA Posts: 56 View My Garage	Two suggestions. 1. Dont go over 10 miles over the limit in Maryland. 2. If you are going to Coventry CT I would highly recommend skipping i-95 and the George Washington Bridge and take the Garden State Parkway or the Pallisades Parkway North to Interstate 287 east to the Tappan Zee Bridge. Once across the Tappan Zee take the Sawmill River Parkway North to 684 North to 84 East. Oh yeah you will thoroughly enjoy driving on the Sawmill and the Pallisades!

08-10-2010, 07:51 AM	#13
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	Sweet, thanks! __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

08-10-2010, 07:58 AM	#14
irocnroll Drives: '91 RS Vert, '11 Grand Cherokee Join Date: May 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,343 View My Garage	Rt 15 is also ok way to go. But 95 is a nightmare. I used to travel from CT to NJ. I always went 84 - 684 - 287 down to NJ. But on the way back I went Over the George Washington and took the very first Exit on the top of the bridge and went down to the Hutchinson Parkway which turns into the Merrit Parkway. Merrit is a very scenic route and if you arent up here often I highly reccomend taking that way. I always drove this way home from NJ because its very peaceful. Even if in the event you got stuck in traffic here, its worth it because of the setting. Dont use the GPS when you hit the NJ/NY/CT area. It will always take you to route 95.