Driving Frederick, Md. to the Spa - route recommendations

[BillW]

I see 2 reasonable routes (looking at Google maps) the first is Harrisburg/Scranton/Binghamton/Schenectady and the second is Harrisburg/Allentown/Poughkeepsie. Both estimated travel time around 7 hours.

For those familiar with the area - any comments? Is one route obviously preferred over the other?

[Figman]

Route 88 from Binghampton to Schenectady is free and less traveled than is the NYS Thruway. I have traveled both ways and prefer the I-88 way.

[pktruckdriver]

From a former truck driver, I agree with the fellow poster, the scenery is better and the roads are free. More ups and downs , but for a car , no problem.

Watch closely as you go thru Binghampton to make your connections, but great traveling.

As they say from Florida Arrive Alive

Patrick

[BillW]

Watch closely as you go thru Binghampton to make your connections, but great traveling.

As they say from Florida Arrive Alive

Patrick

Thanks guys. I'll be using a nav computer to get me through - I just didn't want to allow it to make any major route decisions. After the drive from Frederick to Rutherford NJ last week ... I've had enough ;)

[Mike at A+]

I've lived in the Allentown, PA area for the past 23 years and I beg to differ with the other posters. I've used I-78 East to I-287 North which turns into the NYS Thruway. Take exit 24 (Albany) and pick up the Adirondack Northway (north to Saratoga). It's about 3:45 door to door for me. I don't need scenery on the road up to distract me from my driving. There's enough scenery in Saratoga. :cool:

[BillW]

I've lived in the Allentown, PA area for the past 23 years and I beg to differ with the other posters. I've used I-78 East to I-287 North which turns into the NYS Thruway. Take exit 24 (Albany) and pick up the Adirondack Northway (north to Saratoga). It's about 3:45 door to door for me. I don't need scenery on the road up to distract me from my driving. There's enough scenery in Saratoga. :cool:

After spending 45 minutes just to get through a toll gate on the NJ turnpike the other day, I'm gun shy. I'm looking for the easiest (and fastest!) way. My moving avg. from Oceanport to Frederick was 43 MPH. Moving avg from Frederick to Lexington was a few ticks over 69 MPH (this is what I'm looking for :cool: )

[Mike at A+]

After spending 45 minutes just to get through a toll gate on the NJ turnpike the other day, I'm gun shy. I'm looking for the easiest (and fastest!) way. My moving avg. from Oceanport to Frederick was 43 MPH. Moving avg from Frederick to Lexington was a few ticks over 69 MPH (this is what I'm looking for :cool: )
The route I noted doesn't take you anywhere near the NJ Turnpike. I-287 crosses I-78 about 30 miles west of the NJ Turnpike. As long as you aren't traveling during rush hour, both 78 and 287 move very fast. The speed limit is 65 and the police basically give you an extra 5-10 mph before they even look at you. If you're doing 75, you're being passed. The only traffic I ever hit is where 287 turns into the NYS Thruway but if you have EZ-Pass, even the tollbooth area at the entry point goes very quickly. When you exit the NYS Thruway at the Albany exit (24), sometimes there's a little backup at the toll booths but I've never waited more than 5 minutes.

[BillW]

The route I noted doesn't take you anywhere near the NJ Turnpike. I-287 crosses I-78 about 30 miles west of the NJ Turnpike. As long as you aren't traveling during rush hour, both 78 and 287 move very fast. The speed limit is 65 and the police basically give you an extra 5-10 mph before they even look at you. If you're doing 75, you're being passed. The only traffic I ever hit is where 287 turns into the NYS Thruway but if you have EZ-Pass, even the tollbooth area at the entry point goes very quickly. When you exit the NYS Thruway at the Albany exit (24), sometimes there's a little backup at the toll booths but I've never waited more than 5 minutes.
:ThmbUp: Thanks.

[John]

Have a safe trip, Bill,

I hope I get to see you .


:) :) :)

[Tom]

What day are you hitting the Spa, Bill?

[BillW]

What day are you hitting the Spa, Bill?

Wednesday the 18th and staying thru the 22nd or 23rd depending on who hangs around and the weather. I hope you can make it - going to be a good gettogether.

[BillW]

Have a safe trip, Bill,

I hope I get to see you .


:) :) :)

Thanks John, I hope you and Charlie can make it!

[Mike at A+]

Well, it's "T minus 24 hours and counting". We're all packed and ready to roll. SARATOGA HERE WE COME!!!

[Grits]

I see 2 reasonable routes (looking at Google maps) the first is Harrisburg/Scranton/Binghamton/Schenectady and the second is Harrisburg/Allentown/Poughkeepsie. Both estimated travel time around 7 hours.

For those familiar with the area - any comments? Is one route obviously preferred over the other?

Bill, I've driven the I-95 corridor for so many years, now and then, I take a break from it. I have to; its grueling! The Jersey tpk and the Northway are, both, a breeze. Its south of DC to just north of Baltimore that's the bear. I hate it; I wish they'd put an outer loop over the Atlantic ocean to get one from Point A to Point B.

This week, on Tuesday, I decided to come west. I came up to Richmond and took 64 W to Charlottesville and on to Staunton, here I-64 intersects with I-81 N-S. I spent the night in Harrisonburg, Va. in the Shenandoah Valley--left Harrisonburg at 7am Wednesday and came straight up 81 N through Hagerstown, Md, on to Harrisburg, Scranton, and Wilkes Barre, PA. At Wilkes Barre, I spent about a 30 minute clip on the Penn Tpk, paying something like $1.40 in tolls. (Have .70 cents in change for each of the two toll stops. Booths are drive thrus.) I then picked up 81 again crossing into NY just south of Binghamton. There, I took I-88 east for 139 miles towards the Latham/Albany/Saratoga area.

Lots of truck traffic on 81, but where 84-80 come in, somewhere in that region, much of the truck traffic heads northeast. Far greater number of trucks the entire rest of the trip north.

The drive across upstate NY on 88 is a beautiful one. You can easily roll at 70-73 mph.

Got here at 3 pm--8 hour drive. Not stressful or as tiring as coming through my usual Md, Del, NJ, etc. I've done this route before, and needed the break, again, this time.

Have a safe trip!

[KingChas]

I see 2 reasonable routes (looking at Google maps) the first is Harrisburg/Scranton/Binghamton/Schenectady and the second is Harrisburg/Allentown/Poughkeepsie. Both estimated travel time around 7 hours.

For those familiar with the area - any comments? Is one route obviously preferred over the other?

I would say get to Allentown then angle up which is shorter.

Allentown + I 78 East.
I 78 East to Rt 33 North,
Route 33 North to Rt 209 north.Which will land you in Milford,PA(Watch speed).
Were you will hit I 84 East.
I 84 East to NY thruaway.
Approx 3 + 4 hr drive Allentown to Saratoga.

3.5hr drive for me including 2 pit stops.
Plus a scenic ride thru the Pocono Mts.
Toll free, until the NY thruway.

All these routes are clearly marked with easy connections and large roadsigns on your way.
Good Luck.

[KingChas]

In a nutshell;

Allentown to I 78 east.
I 78 east to Rt 33 north.
Rt 33 north to Rt 209 north.
Rt 209 north to I 84 east.
I 84 east to NY thruway.
Ny thruway north to Heaven....... ;)

[rrbauer]

I've driven it 2 ways.

I-81 to Binghampton and then across to Albany, 2yrs ago.
81 was really torn up north of Scranton all the way to NY line.

Last year, I took I-81 to Scranton and then I-84 east to I-87 and north to
Albany. Better way to go IMO and it keeps you out of major metro traffic.

I guess there would be about 25-mile backtrack from Frederick to 81.

[traveler]

I would definetely take 15 to Camp Hill/Harrisburg, watch speed limit on 15, cops are always out. 81 North, if you want a break get off at Grantville just north of Harrisburg, the Casino and Penn National are right there. I go around the back of the casino thru Fort Indiantown Gap(like to see the choppers buzzing around). Brings you back onto 81N, Loves Truckstop is right there and gas is cheap too. Just traveled 81 to Canada and no problems around Scranton so I'd skip the $1.40 and the Turnpike option right now although it's an option when 81 is tore up. Clear sailing after that, 81 to Bing., 88 to the NYS Thruway and then the Northway.