# NYC traffic question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830 "2014-05-20T14:30:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/1 "2014-05-20T14:30:04Z")
I haven’t driven in that vicinity in a long while. I’ll be driving from Wallingford CT to Baltimore MD next week and want to avoid traffic jams. I could leave Monday (Memorial Day) evening if best but then I have an extra hotel night to pay for…or I could try to leave early enough to get past NYC before rush hour begins… or I could wait a little later Tuesday morning to let it clear. TIA for info and advice! ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/2 "2014-05-20T15:08:33Z")
If you leave later on Tuesday and cut over to the west before you get to the city it shouldn’t be too bad (maybe take the Tappan Zee Bridge?). The Jersey Turnpike isn’t exactly pleasant, but it should keep moving. Just bring plenty of money for tolls; between the Turnpike, Delaware, and Maryland it’ll add up. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/3 "2014-05-20T15:12:50Z")
I wouldn’t try actually going through the city during the day, even after rush-hour ( the wee hours of the morning are usually ok). Take the NJ Turnpike. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/4 "2014-05-20T15:48:57Z")
I agree about avoiding the city. I’d take the Tappan Zee Bridge. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/5 "2014-05-20T16:00:04Z")
One more vote for the Tappan Zee. Take the Parkway down to exit 9(?) to pick up the Turnpike. ETA: If it’s exit 9, that’s the Turnpike number, not the Parkway. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/6 "2014-05-20T16:17:15Z")
You can give yourself an option. Get onto 95, or the Merritt/Hutch and once you get in range, listen to the NYC AM stations, 880 and 1010 both give traffic updates every 10 minutes (880 on the 8’s and 1010 on the 1’s). If everything is clear, the GWB is a more direct route, but if that route has traffic, you’re hearing about it early enough to change to the Tappan Zee. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/7 "2014-05-20T16:46:57Z")
He should be able to hear those stations from Wallingford. And I think the decision point, at least on I-95, is right on the New York State border, where you’d have to decide between the two bridges. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/8 "2014-05-20T16:58:05Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > If everything is clear, the GWB is a more direct route, but if that route has traffic, you’re hearing about it early enough to change to the Tappan Zee. Ha! You’re funny; when does that occur, 3am? Another vote for the Tappan Zee. BTW, some cool shots of it from [last week](http://newyork.cbslocal.com/photo-galleries/2014/05/13/tappan-zee-bridge-progress/) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/9 "2014-05-20T17:00:46Z")
If you have a smartphone I suggest the gps / traffic app Waze - it will actively change your route in response to traffic. Also make sure you have a way to charge your phone and support it like a suction cup to windshield. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/10 "2014-05-20T18:43:31Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Ha! You’re funny; when does that occur, 3am? > > Another vote for the Tappan Zee. BTW, some cool shots of it from [last week](http://newyork.cbslocal.com/photo-galleries/2014/05/13/tappan-zee-bridge-progress/) I’m rarely up that way, but isn’t the construction of the new Tappan Zee bridge causing all kinds of traffic headaches? Unless you can clear NYC before 6am, skip it all together. And do keep your ears on the traffic reports. A good GPS can re-route you if something gets bogged down or closed. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/11 "2014-05-20T22:14:15Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > One more vote for the Tappan Zee. Take the Parkway down to exit 9(?) to pick up the Turnpike. > > ETA: If it’s exit 9, that’s the Turnpike number, not the Parkway. If you’re heading south on the Parkway, you take Parkway exit 129 to pick up the Turnpike. That interchange is at exit 11 on the Turnpike. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/12 "2014-05-20T22:22:25Z")
I agree with others that the Merritt to the Tappan Zee to the Garden State Parkway to the NJ Turnpike is the best option. I also agree that listening to the traffic info (or an app) is a good idea. The only reason that I wouldn’t do the TZ bridge is if there was a huge accident there. The traffic report may say that the GWB is moving well, but they often ignore the fact that there is a two mile backup trying to get onto it. I should note that the Merritt is a long slog going toward NYC in the morning. A couple of years ago, I drove from the NYC area (Hoboken, NJ) to Trumbull, CT, a couple of times a week for work (so glad that I left that job). Driving to Trumbull in the morning, I got to see the parking lot on the other side of the Merritt quite often. That was at 8 or so in the morning. So if you choose the Tuesday morning option, get out really early. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/13 "2014-05-21T13:46:24Z")
If you need traffic news once you get into Jersey, try 101.5 FM. I don’t know how often they do reports. The Parkway and Turnpike usually move pretty well, but there’s been construction around exit 8A on the Turnpike lately that’s caused me some big problems the few times I’ve been down that way. (I’m not going to confuse you with alternate route suggestions, especially as they’re obvious from looking at a map.) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/14 "2014-05-21T14:14:20Z")
Why would you drive into NYC if you were just passing through? Go around. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/15 "2014-05-21T14:25:41Z")
I haven’t lived there in a long time, and I’ve never owned a car there, but I’ve rented a car and driven in a couple of times. Look on something like mapquest and count your tolls. It’s possible (or, it used to be, and I assume it still is) to get a one-time use EZpass that deducts from your credit card. There’s a website for the EZpass, probably. If you hit traffic, it will save you about 10 minutes per toll, because visitors don’t know how much each toll is until they get there, and they count pennies and nickels. Plus, the cash tolls break down more. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-traffic-question/688830/16 "2014-05-22T08:43:51Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Why would you drive into NYC if you were just passing through? > > Go around. My fault…I should have referred to the metro area in general. I don’t need to go into or thru the city and was more curious about the timing.