General non-pod discussion: Avoiding NYC Heading North

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Avoiding NYC Heading North

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Category: Non-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: General non-pod discussion
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14394
Printed Date: 29 Apr 2024 at 6:16am
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Topic: Avoiding NYC Heading North

Posted By: pedwards2932
Subject: Avoiding NYC Heading North
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 9:26am

We are planning to go north this spring. I have made the trip to Maine several times and would really like to avoid NYC even if it means going out of the way by going north west before heading back to east. I would also like to avoid really mountainous runs if possible. Is there any maps available that include elevations of the roads? I was thinking of going towards Scranton maybe run i276 to i84 back to i95?

Replies:

Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 9:52am

I don't have an app suggestion for you but I've done the trip from Florida to Maine and back several times. I go towards Scranton as you suggest but I don't get back on 95 until I'm north of Boston.

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Julie

Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 11:54am

You might want to try Allstays app, you can do some research on road grades and height restrictions. Hope this helps.

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Jay

179/2019

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 12:17pm

I agree with echogale, don't get onto I95 till you get near the New Hampshire border. I95 brings you right into Maine, depending where your going.

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 3:39pm

You could take I287 in NJ and southern NY and then connect to I87 (NY Thruway). Then get off at the I84 interchange and head east until you get to Sturbridge where you will pick up I90. Then continue east to I495 North to avoid Boston. At Amesbury, you will be able to pick up I95N into Maine.

I'm sorry, but there is no way to avoid mountains completely. The routing above should not be too bad though.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 4:37pm

I've done Stephen's route for years and years (in a car before the pod). It's how all we Mainahs get home. When you cross the boarder into Maine from NH in Portsmouth, at the top of the bridge, you must sing the Maine State song.

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Julie

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 7:22pm

Thanks for the input. I'm not too worried about mountains just don't want any surprises. I know what you mean about avoiding Boston traffic is miserable there. We have gone to Bar Harbor area several times and NYC and Boston can be the pits. I'll load your route into Basecamp and see what I get.

I think I have Allstays on my phone....will see what it can do.

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2021 at 10:10pm

Good. I hope it works out for you. One of these days, we'll make that trip also. If we do, that is most likely the route we would take unless we wanted to visit family in western NY first. In that case, we still would avoid NYC and Boston.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 10:56am

I was punching this in to BaseCamp and I assume you take I495 to I95 from I90?

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 11:12am

Yes, I90 east, to I495 north, which runs right into I95 in amesbury, which runs right into the maine turnpike. Pretty much a straight ride.

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 12:43pm

Why not stay off the Interstates for most of your bypass around metropolitan NYC? We used to take US 6 over the Hudson River and followed it to where our daughter lives in Putnam County, NY. It continues on through rural NY and into CT. There are lots of old US highways and state highways that are much nicer drives and you have the added benefit of avoiding most of the heavy and fast truck traffic.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 1:29pm

Hear ya! I avoid DC as well.

I just returned from the Gulf Coast and I tend to run I81/I84/I290/I495. I go I93 to NH, yet I495 will connect to I95. I'll drive what Google says another couple hours to avoid the traffic of the major cities.

It's a pretty drive through the Shenandoah Valley with boondocking opportunities. I'm still trying several different routes on the lower part of this run. I tend to get off the interstate as soon as I can and run byways, but I'm retired and have all the time in the world to get anywhere that makes us smile. I've yet to run the Blue Ridge Parkway (Skyway) which I do plan on doing.

This last return I tried running close to NYC and came up the Hudson Valley. As pretty as it was, I'll never go that way again! No to insult any members of the area, but... the drivers there are nuts!! Seems most speed/construction/warning signs are taken as suggestive..

For me, getting in and out of NE is 290 through Worcester to 90 to 84 to 81 and get south enough to get off the Interstate and relax.

Safe travels!

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2021 at 2:24pm

Big part of our trip will be Maine but we are open to explore. What I usually do is set up a route in BaseCamp and then I can use the route to see where we can stay based on our daily mileage.....I'm retired as well and we don't like to do much more than a max of 400 miles. If we stop I like to stop for at least 2 days to do some exploring.

Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2021 at 6:54am

Originally posted by pedwards2932

Big part of our trip will be Maine but we are open to explore. What I usually do is set up a route in BaseCamp and then I can use the route to see where we can stay based on our daily mileage.....I'm retired as well and we don't like to do much more than a max of 400 miles. If we stop I like to stop for at least 2 days to do some exploring.

I kinda do the same, just different software. I'll also push 6hrs plus driving if on a interstate, yet mostly only plan 3-4hrs (tops) if on byways. That will take us all of 8hrs with all the stops and typically not make the planned destination. Hanging out for a couple days in an area depends on what we find..

I do like running through the Delaware Gap and yet to overnight there. It's just the season I usually travel and the CG's are gated. I keep working on extending that run and why I keep looking at the Blue Ridge Parkway (Skyway) as an option. Washington and Jefferson National Forests are in this region as well and so much history. I need to take a slow drive just in this area for some dedicated exploration.

Safe Travels!

P.S. I do explore Maine often as well. You coastal folks or inland woods folks? Maine has lots of each to play on!

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2021 at 8:58am

Two thoughts:

I've found since I drive slower with the pod anyway the actual time for both an interstate route and a route on secondary roads takes close to the same amount of time (I end up actually doing the speed limit on the secondary routes but never on interstate). Took me a while to recognize this in my planning.

Also, I am in southern Maine (Bath) from late may to early August most years (this year it'll be more like May to October) and I'd love meet forum members traveling the state. I have a big driveway I can offer. Bath is a great stopping off point but we also have gorgeous beaches and the coolest marine museum I've seen other than Liverpool.

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Julie

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2021 at 9:11am

+1 to EchoGale

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2021 at 9:20am

My only worry with secondary is the "unknowns". I have run into long streches of 2 lane roads that are in sketchy condition. These aren't always obvious on the map. I do agree that the secondaries can be just as fast and much less traffic. I am able to go about 63mph in ideal conditions but when conditions change it can go to 55 and below.

Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2021 at 10:14am

Originally posted by pedwards2932

My only worry with secondary is the "unknowns". I have run into long streches of 2 lane roads that are in sketchy condition. These aren't always obvious on the map. I do agree that the secondaries can be just as fast and much less traffic. I am able to go about 63mph in ideal conditions but when conditions change it can go to 55 and below.

Funny, I find the Interstate to mostly be in worst condition then the secondaries I travel. The only places I've had issues traveling is only the Interstate. With that said, I did find I10 as one of the best E/W Highways I've been on.

I agree that about the only time I'm doing the speed limit is on the byways. The only time I pass someone as well (or so it seems)..

Side note: Some of the best roads I found in the Atlantic Maritimes (Nova Scotia east coast especially) were dirt!

-------------
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: Blue Ridge
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2021 at 8:48am

I81 to Scranton I84, to I87 in NewBurgh (toll road), pick up I90 around Albany, then I91 before Boston. If you want a more scenic ride with less traffic you could go up to Binghamton on 81 and then take I88 to Albany.