<p>Here’s another vote for not leaving Princeton at 4. You will just sit in bumper to bumper traffic for hours. If you stay in Princeton for dinner and leave later you will probably arrive in Boston the same time, but have a much more pleasant ride.</p>
<p>Thanks to all.</p>
<p>I’m convinced. I’ll delay as long as possible and take thumper’s route. Any estimates on how long it will take if I leave at 5:00 vs. 7:00?</p>
<p>Please listen to Thumper’s directions.
Last summer we drove from Princeton to Boston. I think we left Princeton around 3:00. Went the GW bridge - 95 through CT route. It was bumper to bumper from the GWB all the way through CT. Unbelievable!!! We got to Boston so late it was ridiculous. Don’t do it !</p>
<p>“We have found the best route to be 287 north to the tappen zee to the saw mill river to 84 to mass pike (90)”</p>
<p>This is my route too. I have done this about two or three times a year from Philly back to Boston dropping my son off at his school. Leaving Philly around 4-5pm and there would be some busy traffic on 287 before tappen zee but it does not get to be stop and go crawling on the highway like if you go into GW bridge. Am I the only one finding Saw Mill a joy to drive, 2 stop lights but they never have any backups, either you go right through them or 1-2 minutes stop. Winding and yet a fun drive.</p>
<p>My husband does the driving (not me) and he likes the saw mill also - kinda like an old driving video game! We always make good time on this route - never more than 4 1/2 hours!</p>
<p>Yes, an old style video game!</p>
<p>Interesting side note - at one of the two lights on the saw mill - the one in pleasantville - is the iconic reader’s digest building (up the hill) - the one on the logo on the magazine back when we were kids!</p>
<p>I’ve driven along the East Coast many times and always go through NYC off-peak; either in the middle of the day or in the evening or very early morning. I’ve done NYC once during the afternoon commute and once was enough.</p>
<p>My DH used to regularly drive to (or from) NYC. He avoids the Saw Mill like the plague. If there is an accident on that road, you can really get delayed…two lanes…no way for emergency vehicles to easily clear the road with rush hour traffic.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine why someone would take this road when there are less congested options.</p>
<p>If your route takes you on 84 through Danbury, there is a rush hour stoppage/slowdown there that can sometimes add a lot of time to your trip. Avoid that area between 4 and 7.</p>
<p>
This is my preferred route.</p>
<p>No trucks allowed on the Hutch/Merritt, although they can get a bit of traffic during rush hour. I don’t like 84 west of Hartford, plus you have to go through Hartford. If you come up 91 you can take 3/2 or the Charter Oak bridge and avoid downtown Hartford.</p>
<p>Going through Hartford after rush hour is like going through a ghost town! </p>
<p>Merritt is fine but has no shoulders. An issue if there is an accident or whatever on the road.</p>
<p>Bottom line…take any of these routes…they are all fine (depending on tpyour preferences) and they will ALL get you from Princeton to Boston.</p>
<p>Just don’t do any of them during rush hour!</p>
<p>Not during rush hour, that’s the main point. On the map web sites, the raw differences are inconsequential; you can play with Google Maps or MapQuest. Maybe 280 miles up through New Haven versus 315 on the alternate. At 7pm, 95 is a possibility, but you’ll still likely get stuck around Bridgeport CT where they seem to be doing perpetual road work.</p>
<p>If the OP has never driven the Merritt I would avoid that route. It’s windy, there is the no shoulder thing so feels like you’re driving on a highway with only one and a half lanes, and the driveway like entrances/exits might be disconcerting to someone whose never driven that road - especially at night. </p>
<p>I would also avoid the Taconic. There are deer everywhere and driving at dusk or after you really have to drive slowly (like 35 MPH) because of that.</p>
<p>True, I would agree.<br>
One must be extra cautious driving on the Merritt, Saw Mill, Taconic and parts of the Hutch at night.<br>
But it beats standing still on the GW or 95.
Just drive slow and be alert.</p>
<p>Deer is always a possibility. That’s just the situation. Might as well stay home then. Though there should be less deer now than in the fall.</p>
<p>As far as when to leave – yes it is always better if one can avoid rush hour traffic. But sometimes one can’t. I drove from DC to New Jersey last week and it really didn’t make any sense to wait until “after rush hour.” Rush hour can last until 8:00pm around here.</p>
<p>Kids watched a movie in the back seat and I listened to my favorite CDs. Just grin and bear it.</p>
<p>I find the Merritt pretty enjoyable to drive, I don’t think it is anything to fear. It’s a little curvy at the bottom, maybe.</p>
<p>Take a helicopter ride and call yourself “Helicopter MOM/Parents”? :)</p>
<p>I travel from Boston to Philadelphia every few months and I think everyone has his/her favorite route–I don’t think there’s any one “best” route–much depends on how comfortable you are driving on certain roads. I have no problem with the Merritt, but my D hates it. In fact, I enjoy driving the Merritt because there aren’t trucks! Only advice I have would give the OP is to definitely avoid rush hour and avoid the GW Bridge. Two years ago, I got caught in traffic and it took me 3 hours to cross the bridge. Never again.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>;) See post # 4.</p>
<p>Commuted on GWB for 10 years during the rush hour, Office was near the West End in Midtown, its not the bridge the problem, but that Cross Bronx is a bear to handle. For all intensive purpose, never heading that direction during the rush hours.</p>
<p>I got stuck on the GW bridge for over an hour. The driver next to me thought it was cute to be sexually suggestive. I took the TappanZee from then on. This was many years ago, but it left bad memories.</p>