Driving from New York to Philly on a weekday morning - when to leave?

In My Humble Opinion
1

The title sums it up. I’d like to get to the place before noon; they open at 10am. I prefer to drive for a variety of reasons given that I am starting in the burbs of Westchester.

  • Leave at 6am, get a bit underneath NY traffic and across the GW, but deal with closer-to-Philly 8am rush hour traffic? If I get there early, I hang out for a bit; no biggie.

  • Leave as late as 8am, deal with the tail end of NY rush hour, but hit Philly at mid-morning so dealing with less traffic?

What say you, 95 corridor Dopers?

2

I don’t where you are in Westchester, but it might be better to take the Tappan Zee and then down the Garden State till you get to the Turnpike. To be sure I would leave at 8. Of course, it also depends on where in Philly.

3

I don’t have an opinion about the drive, but definitely think you should email me so we can set up lunch or coffee or something while you’re here!

4

Hey - I hadn’t thought of that. I will PM you.

5

OP, do this to avoid problems. Or take the Palisades down to the Turnpike. It’s fall, so the best route is to go up 9 to the Bear Mtn. Bridge, take Seven Lakes Drive through the park to see the foliage, then down to 87 to get to the parkway or turnpike.

6

I am in South Westchester; just above the Bronx. I have to go 15 - 20 minutes north to get to the TZ. Hmm, need to think about this.

I am going to downtown Philly, I think.

And hopefully connecting with **twicks **for lunch or a cuppa joe!

7

Your pretty close to the GW already. Should be okay to leave at 9:00AM since you’re going outbound. You just never know what day there will be some giant mess there. But that could happen on any route. Have fun, tell Twix I said hi. Eat a cheesesteak. A real one with real cheese.

8

All that makes sense. Thanks. Mmm, cheese steaks.