I need to drive up Monday morning for a 3-day user conference. I am planning to take I95 to I91 to I84 to I90 back to I95 to exit 42.
The alternative is to take I95 the entire way, which is slight longer and takes me through Providence. Is it better driving through Providence then Hartford?
My third alternative is to take I95 to I395 to I90 back to I95 to exit 42.
If anyone is familiar with these roads, please let me know which the easiest drive is. I remember some unexpected heavy traffic in Hartford and road construction the last two times I made this run.
I would take I-95 to Route 15 (Merritt Parkway/Wilbur Cross Parkway) to I-91, and then I-84. Route 15 is a four-lane parkway (two in each direction) that’s limited only to cars and quite scenic. It also cuts diagonally northeast across southeastern Connecticut.
I think I have been on it once. It is a very old highway? Is that correct? The on and off ramps are tough, but that won’t matter for my trip.
It looks like that would eliminate the heavy traffic of I 95 in South West Connecticut. Where would I pick it up though, it looks like it starts as the Hutchingson River Parkway in the Bronx?
As Shagnasty said, 84 is the standard way. The only thing I’d add is try to avoid 84 through Hartford during commute hours. Apart from that, 84 is an easier & quicker drive than 95 up the coast.
There are no tolls anywhere in Connecticut, so yes, it’s a freeway. It more or less parallels I-95 throughout Fairfield County, so I would stay on I-95 until Milford, and then take the Milford Parkway connector to the Wilbur Cross Parkway (after Stratford). If you look at a map, you’ll see that it starts to run diagonally after that, so you’ll save some time over taking I-95.
Definitely take the Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkway. It’s freeway the whole way. It’s old, but the roadway is in good shape. The ramps are indeed a nightmare, so don’t get off the highway if you can avoid it. You can pick it up in New York.
Stay off of I-95 in southwest Connecticut if you can. It’s almost always backed up from the New York line to New Haven.
If you were to take your second option, I’d avoid I-95 thru Providence. It’s very windy and slow. You can bypass Providence by taking I-295, but it adds a lot of miles. The problem is that it forces you to take I-95 to get there.
Your third option is OK once you get past New Haven. I-395, in particular, is very fast. Again, the problem is that it forces you to take I-95 to get there.
No, the on-ramps are fun. Many of the older ones actually have a stop sign at the end, so you need to go from 0 to 60MPH in zero seconds. It’s great. Seriously, though, the Merritt Parkway through Fairfield County is very scenic with lots of trees (it’s great in the summer) and architecturally interesting overpasses.
I disagree that I-84 is the way to go from NJ. Taking I-84 the whole way through western Connecticut requires a lot more driving to get to I-84 in New York. Plus you’re stuck going right through the center of Hartford.
Taking the Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkway to I-91 to I-84 is more direct and allows you to skirt the edge of Hartford.
Fair enough. I dislike the Merritt because it’s so narrow and winding, with the added bonus of the 0-60 in 0 second merging cars mentioned above, but YMMV.
I’ll agree with what everyone says about taking the Merritt Parkway. It’s the quickest route and the most direct. I’ve never had any problems with the spreed on it. And it takes you direct from 284/Tappan zee all the way to 84. No tolls. Just don’t buy gas on it – it’ll cost you an arm and a leg. A big plus is that trucks aren’t allowed on it. (On your way back, though, don;t go directly from 84 to Route 15, because you;ll end up on a stretch of 15 that’s infested with stop lights. It’s better to take 84 to Route 91 (as robby seems to be saying), and then take the exit for 15/Merritt Parkway from there. No lights. Plus you go right past the old Winchester factory with the star-spangled cebula dome on top.
Going to Wakefield, from 84 get on the Mass Pike, then from there get onto 95/128 North. That goes right through Wakefield.
Absoutely stay off of this stretch of CT-15 (the Berlin Turnpike). It’s easy–on the way there, when you see the signs for I-91, get off. On the way back, you stay on I-91 south until Exit 17, which puts you back on it. Note that this section of CT-15 is called the Wilbur Cross Parkway.*
Confusingly, though, to get from I-91 to I-84 (and vice versa) farther north near Hartford, you do take a short two-mile stretch of CT-15. Just follow the interstate signs, though, and you’ll have no problem.
Colt factory.
*Note: The Merritt Parkway turns into the Wilbur Cross Parkway (and vice versa)–the Merritt is the southernmost section. The name change is that–there’s no exit to take or anything.
Thanks guys, I think I have got it. I am going to draw out the new map to take with me based on this advice.
I once drove up to Springfield and use I84 through NY state, I would rather drive the Cross-Bronx.
So I will take 95 into the Bronx and pick up the Hutch there which turns into 15. I will take that to I91 to I84 to I90 back to I95 to exit 42.
On that trip to Springfield, I actually took 15 coming home. That is where I remember the scary entrance ramps from and I did note the very nice overpass bridges. This sounds like a good plan.
I’ve done Baltimore-Maine and back again a million times. If you want to be in the mood to murder society, by all means take I-95 through southern Connecticut.
95 across the GW bridge and Cross-Bronx Expwy sounds rough, but going up and across the Tappan Zee is just as frustrating.
By the way – you’ll know when you’re in Wakefield. You can’t miss Jordan’s Furniture, especially when it’s lit up at night. This three-story furniture store has an IMAX movie theater, a jelly bean store, a Fuddrucker’s, a Home Depot, a Dancing Waters, and a Trapeze School in it, all to help drag in customers:
http://www.jordans.com/about/find_store_detail.asp?type=reading
If you go a little farther north than Jordan’s, you’ll find a exit for Pleasure Island Road. This is not a place where Pinocchio and Lampwick shoot pool and turn into donkeys, or the Disney grownup entertainment district. It’s the last remnant of the former Largest Amusement Park in New England
Wakefield itself is a neat little New England Town, complete with Quannapowitt lake, a town common (with a band gazebo), New England Steepled Churches, and an actual downtown with some pretty good restaurants. It also has commuter rail right into Boston, and a prettty goodcomic book store.
Cool, Monday I have a 6 hour drive followed by a 6 hour lecture, so unless I bag it part way through, Monday is shot for me. Wednesday I have the 6 hour drive back home.
Tuesday I may or may not have a some time at night to wander about. Is there anything else of nighttime interest?
Walk through downtown Wakefield. Take a stroll beside the lake. get ice cream at Cravings or a Gingerbread man at the Gingerbread Construction Company. Eat at one of the restaurants (but be advised that the Thai place is expensive, but good). Go to web Head Enterprises and look through the comics. Go downstairs and peruse their collection of used SF paperbacks.
If you’re looking for history, the Saugus Ironworks are unfortunately closed as they revamp it. Salem, Massachusetts is fun, but a bit of a drive.
You’re not far from Showcase Cinemas on 128. Further backl along the way you came is Burlington Mall. There are other malls in the area, but they require a bit of driving and navigating.
