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Penn Dutch Road Trip
Written on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 by That's Camping
Article Categories: Travel-Plans
I wanted to keep details on our road trip to PA Dutch Country. Mostly for our own reference for future trips, but at the same time, it also might help others to read about our adventure.
We live north of Boston, MA and when I requested a route from MapQuest, it told us to drive down Rte 95 South and over the Geo Washington bridge in NYC then down the Garden State Pkwy/NJ Trnpike. I knew better from past trips to stay away from NYC and the Geo Wash Bridge, so I had to modify my trip request into two sections. First, I requested directions from our homebase to Danbury, CT, (so we would be traveling across Rt 84) and then from Danbury to Narvon, Pennsylvania, where Lake-In-Wood campground is located.
The route worked out well, but it still took us approx 8 1/2 hours instead of the predicted 7 hours. There was rush hour/construction traffic in a few areas, and we wasted an unneeded 20 minutes trying to find gas 3 miles off the highway.
Okay, here is our route:
* Rt 95 to Mass Pike Rt 90 West (with trailer toll was $2.35)
* Exit off MA Pike at exit 9 I-84 towards Hartford CT
* (note: it took 3 hours to get to NY border)
* Exit 20 I-684 South
* Take I-287 West
* Cross over Tappan Zee Bridge in NY/White Plains area. Toll is eastbound only. Autos are $3.
* Keep on I-287 West thru NY and NJ (No toll for autos, $3.00 for trailer)
* Exit 21B, get on I-78 West. (Toll in PA $1.50 with our trailer)
* Our MapQuest directions suggested taking Rte 222 South (Exit 54A) but we chose to continue on I-287 and take 29A Rte 61 South.
* Then take Rte 222 south (from Rte 61).
* Depending on where you are headed in Pennsylvania, the directions will probably differ at this point. We took Rt 422 towards Pottstown then onto Rt 176 South to Rt 10 South, and then onward to Lake-In-Wood.
It is so important to refer to maps of all the states/areas you will travel in. If you belong to AAA, they have really good maps. It is essential to actually "visualize" where you are headed on a map, not just to read printed directions from a piece of paper.
Now for the horror of our return trip. Ugh. Please learn from our mistakes! Everything went according to plan until we somehow missed the exit for I-287 North from I-78(east). We ended up on the NJ Turnpike to the Geo Washington Bridge. It cost us a fortune in tolls and a million hours in traffic. Okay, I exaggerated on the million hours in traffic, it was about 2 hours, but it really drained us and was a big waste of time! We were exhausted by the time we got home. It took us about 10 hours to get home, and we will never go that route again! Please stay away from the Geo Washington bridge. It is never easy to cross and the traffic is miserable.
Article Categories: Travel-Plans
Comments
The comment area is open for approximately one year after the article date.
Glad that you got home safely and hope you had a wonderful trip!
Whenever we go to Hershey or VA (from Northern Mass as well) we always go I84 to I81. The tolls across the Newburgh Bridge is only $1.00 (not sure about towing).
Overall it is 20+ miles more than I84 to I684 to I287 to I78 but if you are going during traffic times it is more than worth it because I287 seems to be under construction (for the last 10 years!).
Another thought for your readers. I84 to I81 is very hilly and unless you have a superb tow vechile you may get in trouble on a hot day, therefore I suggest taking I84 to I87 to I287.
It is easy to get confused. We once missed I684 and ended up on I95 and got stuck in hours of CT traffic.
Welcome back into New England… Are you venturing out of 5 states anymore this year?
Happy Camping!
Bob
Posted by Bob on 06/17/04Oh Bob, you are soo sweet to write. And thank you so much for your route advice.
I did look at the I-81 route before our trip, and I wasn’t sure how much it added; 20 miles would be approx 20 minutes, and I estimate that with the rush hour / construction traffic we added about an hour in travel time. But no matter what, the I-95 route is a horror show, and should be avoided at all costs! And that is why I am blogging my experience, so when we go back there in a few years, I can remember my experience!!!
And yes, I am soo happy to be back in New England, and we don’t have any trips planned other than good ole Maine, NH and Mass so far. There is a slight possibility that in the fall we might go to NY, but that is easy and quick!
Thanks Bob!!
Posted by That's Camping on 06/17/04
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