Route Help - Central NJ to Kennebunkport ME

[Jopopsy]

Hey Gang,

I'm going to be taking the drive up to Maine this summer (late August), and I'm trying to figure out what my best route is. I don't know if heading up I95 the whole way is smart (or even allowed w/ my rig?), or if I'm better off w/ a off the beaten path track that will take me many hours out of my way.

I'm flexible with when I leave, so if its 2AM or 6AM it makes no difference to me.

I was wondering w/ all the cities between me and my destination if there would be any value heading N into NY towards Albany and than cutting over? If so what does THAT route look like?

What do you guys advise?

Thanks much.

[Kim Gass]

its allowed. You really do not want to go through Providence and around Boston on 95/128
Especially Providence with all the s turns.
i 287 to i 87 north to I 84-through Hartford ( also has some s turns). Then Mass Tpk for ten miles. You will be getting on that at Sturbridge MA . Not fun on a Friday evening.
Get off at Auburn MA and go east on 290 to 495. You will be going through Worcester MA which can be annoying but usually no more than five minute delay.. Then to exit 55 on 495 which merges back to 95.
The toll booth in York ME is a nightmare on Friday evenings northbound. And on Sunday afternoons south bound.

The only cities you will see are Hartford and Worcester.

Tolls on the Thruway and NH on I 95 and Maine TPK.. Still way cheaper than going across any of the NYC crossings or even the Tappan Zee.

95 has major construction in New Haven.. several interchanges being done at the same time

You could do 287 to Tappan Zee, 95 to 395 and 395 becomes 290. That avoids Providence and Boston.

[Jopopsy]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

its allowed. You really do not want to go through Providence and around Boston on 95/128
Especially Providence with all the s turns.
i 287 to i 87 north to I 84-through Hartford ( also has some s turns). Then Mass Tpk for ten miles. You will be getting on that at Sturbridge MA . Not fun on a Friday evening.
Get off at Auburn MA and go east on 290 to 495. You will be going through Worcester MA which can be annoying but usually no more than five minute delay.. Then to exit 55 on 495 which merges back to 95.
The toll booth in York ME is a nightmare on Friday evenings northbound. And on Sunday afternoons south bound.

The only cities you will see are Hartford and Worcester.

Tolls on the Thruway and NH on I 95 and Maine TPK.. Still way cheaper than going across any of the NYC crossings or even the Tappan Zee.

95 has major construction in New Haven.. several interchanges being done at the same time

You could do 287 to Tappan Zee, 95 to 395 and 395 becomes 290. That avoids Providence and Boston.

The Tappan Zee route seems more direct - I'm assuming it wasn't your first choice because of construction in New Haven?

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

its allowed. You really do not want to go through Providence and around Boston on 95/128
Especially Providence with all the s turns.
i 287 to i 87 north to I 84-through Hartford ( also has some s turns). Then Mass Tpk for ten miles. You will be getting on that at Sturbridge MA . Not fun on a Friday evening.
Get off at Auburn MA and go east on 290 to 495. You will be going through Worcester MA which can be annoying but usually no more than five minute delay.. Then to exit 55 on 495 which merges back to 95.
The toll booth in York ME is a nightmare on Friday evenings northbound. And on Sunday afternoons south bound.

The only cities you will see are Hartford and Worcester.

Tolls on the Thruway and NH on I 95 and Maine TPK.. Still way cheaper than going across any of the NYC crossings or even the Tappan Zee.

95 has major construction in New Haven.. several interchanges being done at the same time

You could do 287 to Tappan Zee, 95 to 395 and 395 becomes 290. That avoids Providence and Boston.

X2

I avoid I-95 between northern CT and NY like the plague, especially with all of the construction in CT right now.

[Jopopsy]

Okay, so sounds like the I87 --> I84 route is the way to go. Thanks, I can at least map it out now. I'll post a health check on the route as we get closer to August to make sure things don't change. Google says 6 - 7.5 hours of driving. Check-in is after 1PM so I'm probably going to head out around 5 - 6 AM on a Sunday.

[robkelly]

Not sure where you're heading in ME, but if it involved I-295, something you may want to consider is using the Falmouth Spur to get to 295 as that cuts out having to travel through Portland. That said though, traveling through Portland isn't too bad either.

[Jopopsy]

We're headed to Kennebunkport.

[Kim Gass]

The trouble with I 95 in CT is partly construction and partly lane closures There is so much traffic too that kinematic waves happen bringing you from over 65 to stopped each half mile.

On bad days the journey from NY state line to Old Saybrook can take four hours( it should take a little over 1.5 hours). Its better in the wee am hours. Rush hour starts at five am.

The last I looked 295 IS the road through Portland. 95 goes just to the north and west. And there is a way to avoid the tourist toll in the Portland area. Dont use exit 44. Use 45. Exit 52-the Falmouth Spur is also extra toll

Lived here 17 years. Used to use the spur all the time.. Havent used it in 17 years now!

Aside from tolls traffic here in Maine is only on Forest Ave in Portland pretty much

Several times we have run from Parsippany to here an hour north of Portland. Its about seven hours. maybe six and a half.

And don't feel pressured. Mass drivers typically go five-20 over the speed limit.

[Jopopsy]

Okay, I'm going to take the first route you broke down and forget about the Tappan Zee route. I really appreciate your help here ! This will be the farthest I've driven the rig so far and I don't want to tack on hours sitting in traffic or making a mess of things b/c I don't fit under a overpass or I can't go through a tunnel.

[Kim Gass]

You probably would be fine on the TZ Bridge on a Sunday early AM. You will get to Maine in time to wave at the people sitting in line southbound!

The I 84 route is pretty but it has a good climb out of Newburgh NY and some dips and ups between Danbury and Hartford. Enough that there are climbing lanes.

Closer to the shore the elevation is flatter. I don't know if this is germane to your rig. Something we really never thought about before pre trailer and now we are.

When you first thought of Albany and then northeast... well that would have been a slow but exciting journey across the spine of the Green Mountains. We don't even do that with a car as Keene and Bennington and Rt 9 are slooow.

[Jopopsy]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

You probably would be fine on the TZ Bridge on a Sunday early AM. You will get to Maine in time to wave at the people sitting in line southbound!

The I 84 route is pretty but it has a good climb out of Newburgh NY and some dips and ups between Danbury and Hartford. Enough that there are climbing lanes.

Closer to the shore the elevation is flatter. I don't know if this is germane to your rig. Something we really never thought about before pre trailer and now we are.

When you first thought of Albany and then northeast... well that would have been a slow but exciting journey across the spine of the Green Mountains. We don't even do that with a car as Keene and Bennington and Rt 9 are slooow.

So if I'm leaving around 6AM from around Six Flags in NJ - would you take the Tappen Zee or the I84 route? I'm assuming I have no restrictions on the Tappen Zee w/ my Class 'C'? Keep in mind if this is the easier/more direct route I'll leave at 5AM or 4AM or pretty much whatever you advise.

[Kim Gass]

there are no restrictions. But the TZ is way longer than the Newburgh bridge so if the winds are up you might keep options open

You have probably picked the easiest time to travel. Of course stoopid things can happen to foul up the best laid plans but we have no control over that

[Jopopsy]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

Then to exit 55 on 495 which merges back to 95.
The toll booth in York ME is a nightmare on Friday evenings northbound. And on Sunday afternoons south bound.

Google maps is showing 495 to intersect 95 at exit 60. Am I missing something?

[Jopopsy]

In trying to avoid some of the mess that's mentioned on this thread, is this a viable alternative as well?

Tappen Zee --> 684N --> 84E --> Mass TPK E--> 495N -->95N

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by Jopopsy

In trying to avoid some of the mess that's mentioned on this thread, is this a viable alternative as well?

Tappen Zee --> 684N --> 84E --> Mass TPK E--> 495N -->95N

Overthinking. Sunday Morning it is viable but you really do want to pay! 95 is toll only in NH.

Mass TPK is toll all the way. The interchange with 287 and 684 I think is not fun but Sunday AM who cares. It does spare you that awful dipsy doodle west of Danbury on 84 ( which I dont understand either!)

Lets not get overwrought. I travel from ME( an hour past Kennebunkport) to New Haven at least once a month and it takes me 4.5 hours each time with proper timing ( not Fri night nortbound or Sun PM)


84 intersects Mass TPK at Sturbridge. Its a mess the rest of the week as it has a bad weave pattern and illogically placed EZ Pass lanes. Sun AM is not a worry time.

495 ends with a merge to I 95 just before the NH border. NH has a toll booth which is at speed if you have EZ pass.

So to summarize. TZ bridge to 287 to 684 to 84 just west of Danbury to Sturbridge Mass TPK to 290 to 495( left exit off 290..there are warning signs) to 95 will be your fastest route.

Continue on MassTPK to 495 if you want. Its got no advantage save it leaves you less money.

[Jopopsy]

Thanks much !

[Jopopsy]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

Overthinking. Sunday Morning it is viable but you really do want to pay! 95 is toll only in NH.

So to summarize. TZ bridge to 287 to 684 to 84 just west of Danbury to Sturbridge Mass TPK to 290 to 495( left exit off 290..there are warning signs) to 95 will be your fastest route.

Continue on MassTPK to 495 if you want. Its got no advantage save it leaves you less money.

Okay so I'm heading up there in two weeks. Just making sure this route is still viable (no closures, etc.). Also are there any height issues on this route?

Looking forward to taking the ride; I've never been anywhere much farther than the TZ bridge, so much of this journey will be something of an adventure !

[Jopopsy]

Originally Posted by Jopopsy

Okay so I'm heading up there in two weeks. Just making sure this route is still viable (no closures, etc.). Also are there any height issues on this route?

Looking forward to taking the ride; I've never been anywhere much farther than the TZ bridge, so much of this journey will be something of an adventure !

Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?

I found this interesting read: http://www.hudsonvalleytraveler.com/...estriction.pdf

I don't want to be one of those guys !

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by Jopopsy

Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?

I found this interesting read: http://www.hudsonvalleytraveler.com/...estriction.pdf

I don't want to be one of those guys !

Funny it don't say anything about Travel Trailers or RV's.
They are over 6'11" I do believe?????

[Jopopsy]

Well I went and grabbed a trucker's atlas from Rand McNally and it doesn't look like there are any height restrictions on my proposed path. I'd love to here from Kim Gass though; always nice to get it straight from somebody who has done it before.