new subscriber needs help

[chihuahuabus]

I'm planning a trip from long island ny to wilmington NC and would like to know the best route.I see alot of people are in favor of avoiding 95 in the DC area and taking 81 down.From what I've read on this site many recomended 84 to 81 but from long island it seems that I would have to travel north in order to do this.Any help would be appreciated.

[Dixieray53]

Welcome ... I can't speak for all...But when we head out...We let the GPS show the way...Only once has it brought us to an overpass that was too low, that's another story . Good Luck and enjoy NC. If you make it near Charlotte, send us a Private Message (PM) we would love to show you our fair city ....When are you heading out? Good Luck...Peace D

[ImagineIF]

I would take I-95 and the MANDATORY beltway around Baltimore. You're big decision is whether to take I-95 of the Jersey Turnpike.

[Bob and Inga]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chihuahuabus I'm planning a trip from long island ny to wilmington NC and would like to know the best route.I see alot of people are in favor of avoiding 95 in the DC area and taking 81 down.From what I've read on this site many recomended 84 to 81 but from long island it seems that I would have to travel north in order to do this.Any help would be appreciated.

With DC, the big thing is timing. If you can do it on a weekend you will be ok. There was some construction going on, but it was fairly short. NJ tkpk also had some construction, but little impact on travel lanes. 81 will add too much to your fuel bill, so if it was me I would work on the timing.

Bob

[chihuahuabus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixieray53 Welcome ... I can't speak for all...But when we head out...We let the GPS show the way...Only once has it brought us to an overpass that was too low, that's another story . Good Luck and enjoy NC. If you make it near Charlotte, send us a Private Message (PM) we would love to show you our fair city ....When are you heading out? Good Luck...Peace D

Thanks for the info.We're heading down in April but only staying one night then it's a 2 day drive to Key West with a stop in Daytona area.

[ImagineIF]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chihuahuabus 2 day drive to Key West with a stop in Daytona area.

Daytona to Key West is going to make for a very long 400+ mile day. Given the rates in Key West, you may want to consider stopping on the southern FL mainland and arriving a more reasonable hour in Key West a day later. Much of the roadway from the mainland to Key West is only 45mph and traffic is sometimes slower than that!

[RVThere]

Chihuahuabus,

You probably already know that you need to take the Expressways in NY and NOT the Parkways as they have low clearance. I've driven my RV from NJ to Riverhead so I've done that nasty trip through NYC.

Your safest route through NYC would be to take the LIE to the Clearview over the Tappen Zee to the Cross Bronx and get on the GW bridge UPPER LEVEL (since you have propane). You probably know this route already.

Once you're over the bridge, you can take I95 to the NJ Turnpike and then deal with the Baltimore/DC mess.

Since I have hit Baltimore/DC traffic any time I go through, I avoid that route and would take the following:

I-80 West to
I-287 South to
I-78 West to
I-81 South to
I-66 East to
VA Rt. 17 South (make left in Opal, VA) to
I-95 in Fredricksburg, VA

We go to the Keys every Easter and stay in the Sugarloaf Key KOA.

[lllkrob]

Just a word of warning, DO NOT GO THROUGH THE TUNNELS ON I-95 IN BALTIMORE. The Transit Police will stop you and if you have propane on board they will write you a very sizeable citation.

[chihuahuabus]

Thanks everyone.Still undecided whether to do the 80 route or to just go 95 south and deal with whatever D.C./Baltimore area throws me.Also I saw alot of people hit the florida turnpike before they leave the mainland going to the keys-is that the way to go?

[WeBeGone2]

Pick up the FL Turnpike at Ft Pierce. It will take you directly to Homestead. From there it is US1 the 18 mile stretch into the Keys all the way to Key West.