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MuckSavage · 07-20-2014, 07:44 AM

Hi all....Labor Day weekend, we'll be leaving our home in South Jersey to attend a wedding in Ludlow (south central) Vermont. By looking at the map, it looks like 95 north to 91 north. Is that the best way? I'm kinda worried about going thru NYC! We'll be driving our 38' class A towing our Jeep.
Thanks in advance for your help!

demoon · 07-20-2014, 10:56 AM

Oh, you don't want to go through NYC.
Go north to the Tappan Zee, when you get to 684, take that north to 84, 84 to 691, to 91, 91 north to 103 to Ludlow.
One alternative is to go north to Newburgh, and then take 84, continue as above.

JFXG · 07-20-2014, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuckSavage

Hi all....Labor Day weekend, we'll be leaving our home in South Jersey to attend a wedding in Ludlow (south central) Vermont. By looking at the map, it looks like 95 north to 91 north. Is that the best way? I'm kinda worried about going thru NYC! We'll be driving our 38' class A towing our Jeep. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi Muck..... You're right-- you should avoid Metro NYC if possible. From your area, I would take the Turnpike north, but then get on I-287 to go around the New York area. It will only add about 15-20 miles (15-20 minutes), and you'll avoid all the hassle. At the top end of 287, hook up with I-87 all the way to the Albany/Troy area, then NY7 to Bennington and US7/VT11/VT100 to Ludlow.

If you want to maximize Interstate, stay on I-287 all the way around to the Tappan Zee to White Plains, then I-684 north to Brewster, and I-84 east to Hartford. (This avoids the whole I-95 thing from Port Chester to New Haven, which used to be some of the worst road on the planet!!) Then pick up I-91 north to Bellows falls, and VT103 to Ludlow.

Its been a few years since I traipsed around southern VT, but my memory is that those through highways are darn good roads.

Nice trip!

JiminJersey · 07-20-2014, 03:11 PM

I'm headed up that way (only to Vershire VT) in a few weeks - but we're taking a leisurely path, across the TZ to Route 9 north most of the way until I have to pick up the Mass Turnpike and head east to I-91. We're probably taking I-295/NJ TPK up to the cross with the GSP, then take it around to the west, and then head over to the TZ Bridge when we get far enough north. I'll report back when we get home, around Aug 24th or so if there is anything to avoid on your way north in Jersey.

demoon · 07-20-2014, 05:16 PM

I did not notice that you are going Labor Day weekend. Traffic will be a problem from about Thursday through Saturday AM, and again Monday. I note that some other folks gave you some of the same advice I did. Personally, I would avoid the Albany route, as it is longer and you will pay tolls all the way to 84.
And, because of the holiday traffic, if you do take one of my routes - make sure to take 691 to avoid Hartford.
Travel safe, and enjoy VT. I lived there for 45 years and miss it every day.

JFXG · 07-20-2014, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demoon

.... ........ Personally, I would avoid the Albany route, as it is longer and you will pay tolls all the way to 84.........

Not so. Up 87 through Albany is the shortest of the routes discussed in both time and distance. If you drive the 287 loop its not shorter by much (5-10 miles), but still shorter.

As to traveling on the LD weekend, I'm not sure it makes a difference. There either will or won't be traffic on whatever route you select. I don't know about the Albany highways, but I suspect Hartford will be a zoo. Even if you take 691 as demoor suggested, you still have to go through Hartford on 91, and there's potential logjam a bit north where I91 crosses the MassPike. But 91 is a better quality road than 84.

milestogoB4 · 07-20-2014, 09:13 PM

Albany on Labor Day weekend will be heavy traffic, even though they are good wide interstates they back up sometimes to a standstill. Especially heading back towards NYC Sunday evening.
I would keep to 2 lane blacktop.