Anyone driven from raleigh to boston? about how long does it take, bad areas for traffic, alternate routes to avoid said traffic, just general info.

7/10/2006 3:38:56 PM

nope...i can ask my friend though. she drove up there when she moved. i wanna say it took her a hot minute. and it's only about $200 to fly round trip fyi...

7/10/2006 3:46:20 PM

cheapest i could find was around 280 a person round trip, and with two people going gas split should be ~ 100 per person but i would be interested in those tickets

7/10/2006 3:47:49 PM

Quote :

"how long does it take"

Varies widely, but you can use mapquest as well as anyone for an idea

Quote :

"bad areas for traffic"

Most of the I-95/turnpike corridor depending on when you travel.

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" alternate routes to avoid said traffic"

Highway 17 from Fredericksburg to Warrenton, Route 15 North to I-81, I-81 to Scranton,PA and then cut across to Boston. Your other option is basically avoiding daytime on any weekday.

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"just general info."

Do NOT get gas in New Jersey.

7/10/2006 3:50:40 PM

good advice

7/10/2006 3:54:04 PM

i was planning on just taking I-95 the whole way

7/10/2006 3:55:40 PM

well then do the drive at night or on the weekend

7/10/2006 3:59:24 PM

yea prob leaving thurday at around 6pm or so and get a hotel somewhere up around the way to get a little rest to have most of friday free to do whatever

7/10/2006 4:00:37 PM

I'm doing the same trip in reverse this weekend with my girlfriend. She's done it a lot, and I think the only advice is AVOID NEW JERSY LIKE BUBONIC PLAUGE!!

7/10/2006 4:02:16 PM

Took me about 12 hours when I did 3 years ago.

The only problem I had was NY/NJ, added about an hour to my trip. Just plan an alternate route around there if you want to save time.

7/10/2006 4:14:26 PM

Quote :

"Do NOT get gas in New Jersey."

why is that, i always get gas in NJ. (well i never venture out of south jersey), its cheaper than PA.

The woodrow wilson bridge in DC right now is in the process of reopening on the new bridge and transferring traffic. youll wanna check http://www.wilsonbridge.com/ for the days you wanna go through there so that you dont run into too many problems.

7/10/2006 4:30:20 PM

Do yourself a favor and get off 95 just north of Kings Dominion on 301. Stay on 301 until it spits you back onto 95 just near that Delaware memorial bridge. This way you will bypass DC and Baltimore. During the day it can shave well over and hour off our trip.

7/10/2006 4:37:54 PM

95 sucks through DC, so listen to these people

Gas in Delaware or NJ, for sure.

7/10/2006 4:39:21 PM

95 is discontinuous through New Jersey. When you get to Delaware, you have the option of taking 95 to Philadephia or the NJ Turnpike to New York. Take the Turnpike, it merges with 95 again near NY.

7/10/2006 4:44:34 PM

Quote :

"Do yourself a favor and get off 95 just north of Kings Dominion on 301. Stay on 301 until it spits you back onto 95 just near that Delaware memorial bridge. This way you will bypass DC and Baltimore. During the day it can shave well over and hour off our trip."

i really dont like this advice. thats a long fucking way to be on a road littered with stoplights. if you get off after KD and go to DMB thats like nearly 200 miles on 95, trading that out for a 55 speed limit with stop lights.

unless you drive like a pussy through dc and maryland.


after having driven from raleigh to wilmington, delaware or visaversa round trips 4 times in the past 3 weeks, just do it at night and you wont have a problem.

[Edited on July 10, 2006 at 4:51 PM. Reason : e]

7/10/2006 4:49:11 PM

I just made this drive 2 weeks ago for a wedding. Followed the norma I-95 route. The worst spots are outside DC/ Baltimore. Make sure you get through there before 3pm. There some minor construction through there but not bad on the slow downs. Be prepared to pay about $30 in tolls each way going up and back. The next place where you may hit some traffic is going through new york city. Make sure you don't go through there during rush hour. We left at 10am and hit dc/ baltimore around 3pm. Then hit new york at about 7:30.. got to Boston at about 10:30pm. The trip on the way up took about 12.5 hours. We stopped 3-4 times for a total of about an hour. By the way we drove up on a thursday.

The way back was another story. We left boston on monday morning at 9am. However the weather was very rainy. It was during that week of rain that they in the northeast 2 weeks ago. We hit a ton of traffic in new york city at about noon and did not get out for a couple hours. We made it home at midnight. So the way back tool an extra 2.5 hours. The weather was a big part of that.

My biggest suggestion would be to time so you hit DC before rush hour and hit new york well after rush hour.

Have a safe trip. Its actually a pretty cool drive...

7/10/2006 6:08:58 PM

yea we plan to go through there late night early morning to avoid traffic, got a hotel for friday and sat in boston but not sure about stopping on the way between here and there for thursday night. sucks because there are so many large cities in the northeast and getting up early would put us right there in that traffic on friday morning

7/10/2006 6:11:13 PM

Quote :

"Highway 17 from Fredericksburg to Warrenton, Route 15 North to I-81, I-81 to Scranton,PA and then cut across to Boston"

This is good advice, except you can get to I-81 quicker on 17 (you'll get it in Winchester, VA). 15 is a 2-lane road in spots and backs up a lot by Dulles airport/Leesburg. 95 is a mess, and will cost ya like $25 in tolls. Don't underestimate the traffic in CT as well.

I'd also think about going past Scranton to Binghamton, NY and catching I-88 to I-90. You'l still pay tolls on the NY/Mass tnpk, but this has far less traffic headaches than 95.

7/10/2006 6:31:36 PM

95 through DC was assy on Saturday because a damn car broke down in the HOV lane and closed it down.

7/10/2006 6:32:49 PM

Quote :

""Do NOT get gas in New Jersey.""

This doesn't make sense either. It's the cheapest in the mid-atlantic, and you don't have to pump it.

7/10/2006 6:39:13 PM

i just did this drive last week, when u get to new york you kind of have two options, take the loop up to I-87 to the mass pike in albany and cut over or take 95 all the way through, if you do the later, take exit 13 off the NJ turn pike and follow across staten island until it turns into the BQE amd take it the the van wyck expressway and then to the throgs neck bridge back to 95. whatever u do do not take the tunnels through manhatten, oh, and anytime you cross some water in NYC its gonna cost u 6 bucks

[Edited on July 10, 2006 at 11:04 PM. Reason : sp]

7/10/2006 11:03:56 PM

Ask NCSUAm0s. She drove a U-Haul there this past Sunday.

7/10/2006 11:08:17 PM

Gas in NJ may be a few cents cheaper (but they expect a tip), but when I'm on a trip I'd rather not sit in a 45 minute gas line for their "full service only". My advice is to fill up before entering and not wait in line.

Quote :

"Quote : "Highway 17 from Fredericksburg to Warrenton, Route 15 North to I-81, I-81 to Scranton,PA and then cut across to Boston" This is good advice, except you can get to I-81 quicker on 17 (you'll get it in Winchester, VA). 15 is a 2-lane road in spots and backs up a lot by Dulles airport/Leesburg. 95 is a mess, and will cost ya like $25 in tolls. Don't underestimate the traffic in CT as well."

You are correct, 17 all the way to Winchester would be better. I was just thinking about 15 b/c I live up that way.

[Edited on July 10, 2006 at 11:27 PM. Reason : .]

7/10/2006 11:26:00 PM

as far as 95 through DC goes, realize that rush hour traffic starts at like 4am. if you're leaving raleigh 6pm, you should be ok. don't listen to that 301 stuff. you'll be fine.

7/10/2006 11:30:35 PM

^ i lived in new jersey and i never seen anyone tip... the gas is cheaper in jersey. delaware gas is expensive. But yes there are lines for the gas pumps at the rest areas off the nj turnpike.

7/10/2006 11:31:47 PM

when you get into de take 95 towards philly. dont take the nj turnpike. hella traffic and hella tolls. 95 in philly turns into 1 which you take alllllll the way to nyc and it meets 95 again. you never set wheel on nj pike and it shaves at least 30 mins off your trip (assuming you dont go through during a rush hour)

usually takes me about 11 hours and i always hit 1 or 2 rush hours.




[Edited on July 10, 2006 at 11:44 PM. Reason : o and richmond and dcs rush hours seem to be the worst]

7/10/2006 11:42:43 PM

ive driven that route many a time to Fall River, Mass.

the only detour you should take: get off on US 301 and take it through Md., away from DC. You'll cross the really long bridge near Annapolis and hit 95 again in Deleware.

Be sure to stop at Newport Creamery near Providence. Its like an IHOP with really good ice cream and milkshakes.

Don't fear NYC. Its only bad if you hit it at rush hour, and im sure youll avoid that. If you really want to avoid it, take the Tappan-Zee bridge just north of the city. You'll see plenty of signs for it in NJ. NJ is a shitty state, but the traffic keeps moving, so you wont be there long. The turnpike will seriously cost you like $3 and save you some time. Just get rid of that anti-toll NC mentality and youll survive

This I-81 stuff sounds like going around your ass to get to your thumb...how much time do you seriously save going to Binghamton.

Trust me, just take 95. The 301 route is good, but if its late morning, its optional.

Mass. rest stops suck, NJ ones are nice. Stop there for gas.

[Edited on July 10, 2006 at 11:59 PM. Reason : .]

7/10/2006 11:55:15 PM

nj turnpike is 6.45. thats over 2 gallson of gas!+ nazi troopers. 95 to 1 is the way to go

7/11/2006 12:14:36 AM

I WAS going to fly up there to visit my friend who is doing an internship in Cape Cod, and she'd have to drive an hour and a half each way to Boston to pick me up. I could've driven up there, but I did not want to deal with Tri-State area traffic. Plus, I would'nt be allowed to stay at the place she's staying at with her, for free, and I was not about to pay $130/night for a mediocre hotel room - there's not any hostels near Falmouth.



Let me know how it goes - she goes to school at Bates in Maine, so I might drive up there at some point.

7/11/2006 1:09:03 AM

sounds borderline homo

7/11/2006 1:20:49 AM

thanks for all the advice, sounds good. I'm going up there for two red sox games fri and sat so it should be a good time. DC doesn't bother me too bad because i went up that way when i went to syracuse for the NCAA tournament when we played wisconsin. we did that drive at night too so that helped. I was just kinda nervous about the nyc and phily baltimore traffic issues because i've never driven through there.

7/11/2006 9:35:28 AM

Quote :

"Gas in NJ may be a few cents cheaper (but they expect a tip), "

ive always been under the impression that they were not supposed to accept tips by law, but they do anyways.

and what are they going to do if you dont tip, pump slower after youve paid?

dont worry about baltimore traffic, its not an issue.

if you stick on 95 through philly, just dont get caught up in between the state line and the franklin bridge during rush hours.

7/11/2006 2:08:02 PM

Forget the tips, I just hate waiting in a 45 minute gas line for a monopolized full-service gas system with lazy pump workers.

7/11/2006 2:27:30 PM

^^^^^ Falmouth? your friend must be interning at woods hole

expect a 13 hour drive, you're bound to hit some kind of traffic... don't waste your money spending the night somewhere on your way up - especially if there's another able driver in the car

take the train to the games and save yourself 15 bucks a night parking....

yankees suck....jeter swallows

7/11/2006 7:28:10 PM

it sucks, but can be done in 12-14 hours

having someone with you really helps!

and new jersey is the shittiest place you will pass

7/11/2006 7:36:13 PM

Quote :

"Forget the tips, I just hate waiting in a 45 minute gas line for a monopolized full-service gas system with lazy pump workers."

I dont recall ever waiting to get gas in NJ.

7/11/2006 7:36:29 PM

i'm from central connecticut and have made almost the exact trip several times

avoid ny city and northern new jersey at all costs
same with washington d.c. and phili
there are plenty of highways like the beltline that go around the city

the trip will take ~12+ hours depending on if you hit traffic
and its summer so they'll be plenty of construction along the way
i'd say the trip will be 14-15 hrs long

7/11/2006 7:46:04 PM

I havent driven Raleigh to Boston, the last trip i took I drove to DC then flew to Boston but was going to both cities sooo....


But, from experience on 95 - take the above directions and DO NOT DRIVE 95 IN DC AND BALTIMORE!
Worst thing EVER.

As far as how long- last estimate I had was about 16 hours, from folks whove done it multiple times.

7/11/2006 8:04:13 PM

12 hours. 95 sucks in DC and CT.

Leave early in the morning to miss all the rush hours. I've made the drive quite a few times.

Quote :

"dont take the nj turnpike. hella traffic and hella tolls. 95 in philly turns into 1 which you take alllllll the way to nyc"

Yep. I do that nearly everytime. Though I hook back up with 95 in New Brunswick instead of taking it to the city. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT take the Del Mem Bridge..

** Yeah to whoever said NYC traffic on 95 isn't bad they are correct. DC and Southern CT is far worse..

[Edited on July 11, 2006 at 8:34 PM. Reason : x]

7/11/2006 8:32:37 PM

whoever said to take 301 is a moron

7/11/2006 9:00:16 PM

lots of routes, i just have to pick one

7/12/2006 8:36:19 AM

depends on the day and time traveled.
i suggest leaving around noon or after rush hour and driving at night on a weekday. that way youll avoid work and weekend traffic. if you average 70-75 with a few stops should be about 12 hours. but ive had it take 18 hours just to get to CT before.

best route is capital to 85N to 95N to the jersey turnpike to 95N...rest depends on where youre headed to up there

7/12/2006 11:41:24 AM

yea leaving thursday around 5 pm and will prob try to make it up to hartford ct to get a little sleep at a cheap hotel

7/12/2006 12:14:13 PM

hartford is a boring city. i would have stayed on 95 instead of taking 91 in ct, but thats me. id rather go through mystic ct, and providence ri.

7/12/2006 12:16:47 PM

yea i just looked that up, i thought hartford was on 95 but new haven or something else will do just a good. especially getting there around 1-2 just to sleep for a couple of hours and shower and leave

7/12/2006 12:23:06 PM

id suggest avoiding a hotel in a major city like new haven, theres plenty of smaller towns along 95 that would be much cheaper.

7/12/2006 12:54:17 PM

so i went to nyc the other week...

whats the deal with not being able to pump your own gas in NJ?

my friend was like, they gotta pump it, and i was like why, and he was like idk they just gotta do it

7/12/2006 1:00:18 PM

unions

7/12/2006 1:04:34 PM

state law probably

7/12/2006 1:05:29 PM

NJ switched to that law when a person lit themself on fire by accident.

7/12/2006 1:50:06 PM