I'm going to be driving up north through Philadelphia to northern New Jersey this summer for an internship. Anybody have much experience driving up north? I've stayed mainly around NC and I've always heard about how people are pretty aggressive drivers up there. Tips? Suggestions? Stories?

2/19/2009 5:43:30 PM

it's illegal to drive in the left lane unless you're passing and there are a lot of jug handles; everything else is pretty much the same

2/19/2009 5:49:55 PM

depending on where you are going, it might make more sense to take the turnpike instead of 95 in philly

2/19/2009 5:54:06 PM

I grew up in NY about 15 minutes from the NJ border and I will vouch that NJ drivers are some of the worst in the country.

While we're stereotyping, here are some other bad/agressive drivers to be on the lookout for while you're in NJ:

people from Long Island or the immediate NYC metro area
Massachusetts Mass-holes
Hasidic Jews
truck drivers on the NJ turnpike

2/19/2009 6:06:08 PM

^forgot to mention asians and women, and god forbid asian women

2/19/2009 6:31:04 PM

ah yes, there's tons of Asians in northern NJ

look out

2/19/2009 6:49:15 PM

2/19/2009 7:00:43 PM

Make sure you take enough cash. It's gonna cost you 15 bucks in tolls to get there.

2/19/2009 8:44:50 PM

^ jaysus

2/19/2009 9:29:27 PM

Noen's right on about the tolls. Last time I drove the turnpike (2004) it was I think $13 in tolls end to end. Don't think the GSP (Garden State Parkway, which runs parallel for a while) is much better if any.

The drivers are fairly aggressive, but if you don't let it get to you, it's no big deal. Just stay out of the left except to pass, keep up with the flow of traffic, and don't freak out. If someone cuts you off etc. just stay calm and don't let it get to you.

Where in Jersey are you interning?

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 4:15 AM. Reason : I've never lived there but I have family in Bergen County...]

2/20/2009 4:15:21 AM

other assorted tolls along the way



you get assraped

2/20/2009 4:23:53 AM

theyve changed the amounts recently, but this is what it was over thanksgiving

theres a $3 toll in baltimore for the tunnel.
$5 toll for the canal bridge in north md (northboujnd only)
$3 toll soon after going into delaware

take the delaware memorial bridge to get to the nj turnpike, via exit 4 in de i think.

theres no toll for the bridge if going into nj, there is when you come back.

when you get onto the tp, youll get a ticket detailing the toll rates, determined by how far you go.

i think the full shebang is like $18 for the tp.

btw, if your job is paying for your move, tolls are also reimbursable so ask the toll person for a receipt, its not out of the norm

2/20/2009 6:34:30 AM

Quote :

"depending on where you are going, it might make more sense to take the turnpike instead of 95 in philly"

Yeah, I was going to say, there is no reason to go through Philly unless you're just wanting to stop there for sightseeing or something.

2/20/2009 7:15:27 AM

^I agree, why go through Philly? Take I-295 in Delaware to the Del Memorial Bridge into NJ.

And all this crap about northern drivers is ridiculous. They're aggressive, but decisive. And they don't stand for BS. If you're a timid driver you'll be run off the road. Keep pace and drive like you know what you're doing and you'll be fine.

Quote :

"Make sure you take enough cash. It's gonna cost you 15 bucks in tolls to get there. "

Lol, more like $25. You also pay tolls in MD and Delaware, plus the Del Memorial Bridge. pilgramshoes, where'd you get that $3 figure? It hasn't been that low in years. It's at least $5 for the Fort McHenry Tunnel in Baltimore. and all tunnels/bridges in NYC are $8 or more (I know he's not going to NYC)

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 10:09 AM. Reason : where in NJ? I grew up there.]

2/20/2009 10:04:47 AM

I have had no clue what the tolls cost ever since EZ-Pass.

Also, I suggest 64 to 95 out of Raleigh. Speed limit is 70 all the way to VA.

[Edited on February 20, 2009 at 10:20 AM. Reason : +]

2/20/2009 10:19:45 AM

^yeah that's totally the way to go from Raleigh. EZ Pass is great! Discount at every toll and not having to stop (usually) FTW!!

2/20/2009 10:25:41 AM

i got the figures from what i remembered on the signs in november when i drove back to nc for thanksgiving

ezpass is great indeed


i dont drive back from DE often

2/20/2009 10:27:08 AM

Hmmmm. Well I made the round trip to NYC 4 weeks ago and coulda sworn it was more than $3. round trip tolls were fucking $50 (with EZPass.)

2/20/2009 10:33:41 AM

Shit, you guys reminded me I never turned in my EZPass before moving out here

2/20/2009 10:47:59 AM

Hell I kept mine, I still drive up 1-2 times a year which is a good enough incentive for me. (I'm aware there is a nominal fee every few months)

2/20/2009 10:58:55 AM

lol, is there a fee? Good thing the pass wasn't registered on my credit card

2/20/2009 11:06:32 AM

I didn't know there was a monthly fee

When did they start this?

I think I might get rid of my tag now

2/20/2009 11:08:10 AM

$1-2 every quarter or something. When I get a chance I'll check my account online (don't recall password now, lol)

2/20/2009 11:08:33 AM

I would skip the Fort Mchenry Tunnel and take 895 to the Harbor Tunnel. WAY less traffic and it's only 2 bucks. Also take 495 around DC. Like others have said, no reason to go through Philly unless you want to stop there.

From Raleigh I take US-1 to 85 to 95. I find it to be far less crowded and less police. Just make sure to slow down near weigh stations. I highly recommend driving at night. It will cut at least an hour off your time.

2/20/2009 11:54:03 AM

Thanks for the advice, when I said through Philadelphia, I was looking at google maps and the route was a couple miles outside of Philly.

@ richthofen I'm gonna be interning to the Delaware Water Gap.

2/20/2009 12:10:38 PM

this thread 10/10

2/20/2009 1:09:56 PM

oh

yeah and you cant pump your own gas and dont tip the gas monkey

just in case you're a total nj noob

2/20/2009 1:23:29 PM

Quote :

"It's at least $5 for the Fort McHenry Tunnel in Baltimore"

i live a mile away from the tunnel, its only $2.

2/20/2009 1:27:10 PM

so glad I live on the west coast where roads are paid for with my insane sales tax.

Seriously though, toll roads are the most jacked up shit ever. I can't even imagine how they manage to waste so much damn money (actually yeah I can, it's to employ all the retards required to keep the system going).

2/20/2009 3:06:23 PM

Quote :

"From Raleigh I take US-1 to 85 to 95. "

I did that for years in college. Then I went 64 one time just for fun and never looked back. There usually isn't traffic on 64, speed limit is 70, and you should be on 95 within 50 minutes. Try it next time!

2/20/2009 3:15:45 PM

Quote :

" yeah and you cant pump your own gas and dont tip the gas monkey"

Hey now, I used to tip the gas monkey at my regular station. But that guy would have jumped in front of a dump truck for me if the occasion called for it.

2/20/2009 9:17:23 PM

Quote :

"i live a mile away from the tunnel, its only $2."

That's what I remembered it being.

2/20/2009 9:58:25 PM

I've driven to Newark twice when my wife was doing an internship the last two summers. On both occasions I made better time when I avoided Baltimore, Philly, and all the toll roads.

Instead, I took 270 NW out of DC to Frederick, MD, highway 15 to Harrisburg, PA, then interstate 78 East to Newark. The maps say its 50 miles longer and 50 minutes slower but it was faster, easier, and cheaper. So much less traffic and none of the headache of NJ drivers and other general traffic

2/21/2009 12:35:15 AM

RULE NUMBER 1: DONT DRIVE LIKE A PUSSY

RULE NUMBER 2: WATCH OUT FOR COPS

2/21/2009 10:21:56 AM

personally, i like to get on 301 in richmond and take that up to the harbor tunnel. it's a nice drive and you get to skip baltimore and dc.

2/21/2009 10:34:30 AM

ive taken that route a few times, and to be honest, it pisses me off just as much as driving through DC. too many stoplights, and if it's rush hour, just as much traffic as 95. its like driving the whole way on capital blvd.

2/21/2009 10:37:31 AM

^

just man up and take 95 at night.

although my best time ever comming from just south of philly to nc (rocky mount, right on 95) happend last thanksgiving morning.

i can make it from my house to my parents house on one tank (~350 miles) and made it in 4h54 minutes

left my house at 7am and was there before noon

2/21/2009 11:22:46 AM

Quote :

"just man up and take 95 at night."

that's what i do now.

2/21/2009 2:05:50 PM