PA rt40 and PA rt68 to MD?

[HGC]

Was wondering if anyone has taken PA rt. 40 to PA rt. 68 to I70 to MD? Heard there are some serious grades. We once took PA rt. 30 from Breezewood to Gettysburg.OMG what a mistake. Climbed hills in 1st gear at 4500rpm and the same way down. Going up the highway to Estes CO was nothing in comparison. Gave us some "white knuckles" in PA. Thanks for any input.

[User1011]

Yes, Breezewood east on Us 30 is not recommended for trucks. There are warning signs on US 30 stating that.

Don't know exactly where in PA you are traveling from or where your destination is in MD but I-68 and I-70 are fine. If you provide more info may be able to suggest something other than 40.

[HGC]

Thanks for the response!
We are going from South Hills of Pittsburgh to Millersville,MD to the Capitol KOA. Planned to take rt.51 to rt.40(?) to rt.68. Was going to avoid the PA Turnpike. Never want to do the rt. 30 way again!!!!!
Thanks for your advice.

[cj23andout]

You should check out the new toll road to I-68. It's called the Mon-Fayette Expressway. Also named PA Rt 43, it goes from the South Hills area to I-68 east of Morgantown near Cheat Lake. It is like-new condition and has virtually no truck traffic.

The grades on I-68 are much more tolerable than US 40. US 40 also has some choke points and traffic at times.

It is well worth the money to take the 43 toll road in my opinion. Just get on 43 and ignore your GPS, if you are using one. It may tell you to get off on 40 then back on to 43 later. Ignore that part. PA 43 goes all the way through once you get on just north of Elizabeth.

It may look longer on the map, but you will not have any stop signs or traffic. Also, If you don't have an EZ Pass, I recommend that for sure. That way, you won't have to stop at a toll booth. You just slow to 55 and go through the EZ Pass Lanes.

If you don't like Pennsylvania's EZ Pass plan, look at Illinois' options. I'm from WV and have the I Pass from Illinois.

[JiminJersey]

Agree with CJ23 - I-68 is a perfectly easy drive.

East of Hancock, MD, June 2012:

[HGC]

Thanks for all the great info. Never even new about the MonValley Expressway. Have driven under it (real feat of engineering) but not on it. Rte 68 looks great. Will let you know about the complete route drive. Thanks again!

[Deek]

HGC --

I-68 is our "go to" highway to get to I-70 anytime we head that way. The PA Turnpike is crazy in terms of tolls, construction and curves, all in that order.

I-68 is a great road in the best tradition of great roads -- scenic, well maintained (but not congested with construction), easy curves and grades, a great way to get across Maryland with considerably less stress than Pennsylvania roads.

For us, coming from northwestern Pennsylvania, that says a lot because to get to I-68 we have to come all the way south on I-79 to get onto I-68. But, for the above reasons, it is now a no brainer to us if we are headed east to Hagerstown, Baltimore, Washington, DC, points east and south.

Happy motoring!

Deek