<p>My wife is driving S to school from Philadelphia to Middletown, Connecticut tomorrow and I would like advice about directions. Normally when we to neck of the woods, we take the Garden State Parkway and go east across the Tappan Zee bridge. However, she want to arrive about 11 A.M., and that would bring her near New York during rush hour–not good. The only alternative that I can see from the map is to take 95 north around Trenton to 206, and to follow 206 north to 287 and then across the Tap. However, I’m not sure what kind of road 206 is, or how the traffic would be on that route during rush hour.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any opinions about this route or any possible alternatives?</p>
<p>The Tappan Zee hasn’t had much in the way of problems recently, nor have many of the roads around here, except for random accidents. Probably because so many people are on vacation. I’m not sure there’s any reason to avoid the GSP. Was she planning on TZ to Cross Westchester to 684 to 84?</p>
<p>Merritt is almost always better than 95, unless there is a lane closure (and maybe even then!). Used to drive 84 sporadically on trips from Boston to upper PA, and found it a mess a good deal of the time. It has a terrible choke point in Waterbury, for example.</p>
<p>There isn’t any perfect way. I would follow your original plan – Tappan Zee to Cross-Westchester to Merritt Parkway.</p>
<p>I drove from Philly to Connecticut (and beyond) on Friday. There was terrible traffic on 95 right at the state line, then again Trumbull-to-New Haven – and it was the middle of the day. And every time I take 84 there’s bad traffic in western Connecticut.</p>
<p>I drive from the NJ side of Philadelphia to visit my sister in CT, and have tried a number of different route combinations. There is no foolproof way, unfortunately, but keeping the radio station to WCBS (880 on the AM dial I think?) and knowing the alternate routes has kept me out of a few tie-ups. I sometimes check state department of transportation websites before I depart to find out if there is any major construction on 95 or any of the Hudon River bridges.</p>
<p>Lost all respect for 1010 WINS. Spent over 3 hours trying to get to the GW from 95/CBE Thursday afternoon. The reports never made it seem that the 95/GW was a worse choice than the TZ. Same thing returning on Sunday. Nothing about the GSP being a better or worse choice than the NJT. In over 30 years of traveling the NJ to NE route, it remains a minute-to-minute crapshoot. I’d leave at night or crack of dawn.</p>
<p>I live in central Jersey, right off of route 206. We have a second home in Mystic, CT so make the drive frequently. Traffic on 206 N should not be that bad, although it gets a little congested in some towns like Hillsborough, and the Somerville Circle can be tricky. I’ve never had a problem on 287 except if there’s an accident. After the Tappan Zee, definitely take the Merrit Parkway!</p>
<p>A guicker way to get to 287 from I-95 N is 579 to 31 to 202. If you look at a NJ road map, you will be able to find this route. This is the route our family always uses.</p>
<p>You loathe the Merritt? But it’s beautiful! (I know, if it’s jammed it’s awful, but at least there’s nice greenery and those lovely bridges to look at.)</p>
<p>I would do the Tappan Zee to the Cross Westchester to the Hutch/Merritt. OTOH if reports for some reason are bad on that route … go up the Saw Mill to 684 to 84. The Saw Mill cuts off all the crummy stuff on the Cross Westchester. THEN … after Waterbury take 691 across to 66 and Middletown. </p>
<p>I-691, 66, I-91 and the Merritt(15) all come together in Meriden.</p>
<p>Waterbury on 84 has the potential to be horrid – but the construction bottleneck is gone.</p>
<p>EMM1–My daughter goes to school outside Philly. I make this trip very often from my house in Madison, CT. I like direct routes and always feel the shortest distance between two points is a straight line!! If I read your post correctly, your wife wants to arrive in Middletown by 11 am. She should leave no later than 6:45 am. Take NJ turnpike, stay to the right approaching the GWB and take the Local/lower level lanes. After a short time there will be a lane to the left for the Upper Level, take that one to go over the GWB. As soon as you are on the GWB stay to the right to get on the H. Hudson (route 9A). Take the H.Hudson north. You stay on this highway which will change names to the Saw Mill PKWY. Look for signs for the Cross County Pkwy. I think it is exit 4. (single lane exit on right). Stay on CCP which will turn into the Merritt PKWY and you are home free in CT. Stay on the Merrit PKWY which runs into 91 north to Middletown. There is a way to Middletown when the Merritt comes into Meriden, CT.
I’ve lived in Connecticut all my life and have always used this route to go to the GWB and beyond. If you run into traffic on this route, you can be sure the traffic elsewhere is worse. I just made this trip last night and the worst area for traffic was at exits 7 and 8 on the NJ turnpike and it was a Sunday at 6:30!!! Good Luck! Going to Weslyan by any chance?</p>
<p>As noted, there’s no foolproof route. Merritt is scenic but intimidating for some during the night (or fog) because of all those curves and trees adjacent to the roadway. I used to take I-84 often but for some reason I’ve encountered thick traffic northbound often lately (I’m a weekend driver). Leave early enough and you shouldn’t experience anything out of the ordinary. One more thing, stick with 880AM WCBS Radio. From NYC it’s signal reaches all the way into western Massachusetts.</p>
<p>We live in Northern NJ and DH’s family was in NJ. As previously mentioned, we take from Philly 95 to 579 (country cut through) to 31 to 202 to 287N.</p>
<p>From our Northern NJ home to son’s school at Wesleyan, we take 287 to 684
to 84E to Exit 27 which is Rt. 691/66 and leads to Wesleyan. We avoid the
GW Bridge and 95 at all costs. My family lived in different parts of CT and we found 84 preferable to 95. Good luck – and my S loves Wesleyan!</p>
<p>Sorry BookLady! I know, it IS beautiful, when it isn’t crowded…but I can’t remember the last time it wasn’t crowded!! Spent a year @ Fairfield while my BF (now DH) was at UConn and we drove that route too many times to count!! (Those were the days!)</p>
<p>206 can be very bad, 2 lanes, lots of traffic and lights. I would do the " I-95 N is 579 to 31 to 202" to get to 287 route. THere are back roads which make it much easier and quicker, but not for the uninitiated! Good luck.</p>
Spent a year @ Fairfield while my BF (now DH) was at UConn and we drove that route too many times to count!! (Those were the days!)</p>