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Driving from NYC to Pittsburgh, PA - Your opinions please
Fellow CFers, I'm planning on driving from NYC to Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Google Maps makes 3 suggestions:
(1) Via I-76 West - 375 Miles - 6 hours 18 minutes*
South towards Philly then along the south of PA through Harrisburg and then up.
(2) Via I-78 West - 372 Miles - 6 hours 21 minutes*
West towards Allentown/Bethlehem then through Harrisburg and then up.
(3) Via I-80 West - 380 Miles - 6 Hours 31 minutes.
North towards East Stroudsburg through tiny towns and then down.
I know nothing about traffic, congestion, the local constabulary, speed traps etc.
What would you recommend? Option 2 looks like the most direct route. But Option 1 is claimed to be 'faster' even though it's through Philadelphia. Option 3 looks more like a low-key route...perhaps less travelled. Options 1 and 2 involve the PA Turnpike Toll.
I've done some reading and the sentiment seems to be this "While the turnpike is faster, I-80 is a much nicer interstate. The turnpike is very narrow and under constant construction. You'll be less stressed out on I-80."
Last edited by Track Monster; 09-10-2009 at 12:40 AM.
Location: ...Southampton, PA I love you & miss you Linda
From NYC: Come out to NJ Turnpike and take it to exit 14 at Newark Airport.
From there take I-78 west into Pennsylvania.
Follow I-78 west to I-81 south to exit 52 for I-76 (PA Turnpike).
Take I-76 (PA Turnpike) west to Pittsburgh.
That is an easy way to go and all Interstate highway...
To give you ideas of miles
From NJTP at Newark to PA State line on I-78 = 59 miles
PA State line on I-78 to I-81 = 77 miles
I-81 to PA Turnpike (I-76) = 36 miles
I-76 to first Pittsburgh exit = 161 miles.
The first exit on PA Turnpike for Pittsburgh is exit 75.
Location: ...Southampton, PA I love you & miss you Linda
The PA Turnpike is fine... IF You want to avoid 78, take NJTP south to exit 6, that connects you directly with the PA Turnpike just north of Philadelphia.
When you cross bridge from NJ into PA you will have 284 miles straight out PA Turnpike to the first Pittsburgh exit (#75)
Location: ...Southampton, PA I love you & miss you Linda
Another Alternative. Come out of NY over George Washington Bridge and take I-80 west into PA and follow to exit # 161. Take route 220 for 55 miles to Altoona Pa then take rte 22 west for 90 miles to Pittsburgh....
Miles
GWB to I-80 exit 161 = 222
Exit 161 to Altonna = 55
Altoona to Pittsburgh = 90
Location: ...Southampton, PA I love you & miss you Linda
Quote:
Originally Posted by mvcrash
I drove to Pittsburgh via Route 80. Nice drive. Rt.80 starts at the GWB and ends at the Golden Gate Bridge...Just keep going!!
If you "Just keep going" on I-80, you'll never see Pittsburgh.....
Keep an eye out because you will have to leave 80 somewhere along the line or the next thing you'll know you'll be in Ohio... I-80 runs about 55 miles north of Pittsburgh....
From NYC: Come out to NJ Turnpike and take it to exit 14 at Newark Airport.
From there take I-78 west into Pennsylvania.
Follow I-78 west to I-81 south to exit 52 for I-76 (PA Turnpike).
Take I-76 (PA Turnpike) west to Pittsburgh.
That is an easy way to go and all Interstate highway...
To give you ideas of miles
From NJTP at Newark to PA State line on I-78 = 59 miles
PA State line on I-78 to I-81 = 77 miles
I-81 to PA Turnpike (I-76) = 36 miles
I-76 to first Pittsburgh exit = 161 miles.
The first exit on PA Turnpike for Pittsburgh is exit 75.
I did the drive on a Friday afternoon about six weeks ago and that's the way I went. We left Long Island at about 1:00 PM, went through Staten Island, and picked it up from there. The trip wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and we didn't hit any construction delays back then.
Mapquest and my GPS wanted to steer me the I 80 route from here, but I didn't want to chance the Long Island to Fort Lee leg of the journey on a Friday afternoon in the summer. It could easily take two hours to travel that distance if things get ugly.
I've done the I 80 thing through NJ and PA in the past and while not a bad ride once you clear the GWB area traffic, there weren't a lot of convenient places to pull off to use the facilities, get snacks, or get gas once you get further west.
I80 does not have the rest stops like other roads but usually in under a mile right off most exits for the larger towns there are 24 hour gas stations and places to eat. There are signs that state the stations, restaurants and the distance from the exit in most cases.
Since I am already on the Jersey side the I80 route is close to me as is the 78 and NJTP to PATP. I think depending on you exact point of origin and the day anyone one of the routes could be a crapshoot with construction or traffic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JVM225
I've done the I 80 thing through NJ and PA in the past and while not a bad ride once you clear the GWB area traffic, there weren't a lot of convenient places to pull off to use the facilities, get snacks, or get gas once you get further west.
Location: ...Southampton, PA I love you & miss you Linda
Quote:
Originally Posted by Humanoid 2.0
.......................... I think depending on your exact point of origin and the day any one of the routes could be a crapshoot with construction or traffic.
Location: ...Southampton, PA I love you & miss you Linda
Quote:
Originally Posted by VetBoyZR1
The Turnpike isn't free, either. I can't believe how high the tolls are now.
This is hilarious. I went to the PA Turnpike website and you can punch in your entry and exit and it will calculate your toll.
From Carlise exit 226 to New Stanton, exit 75 the cash toll for a class 1 vehicle (car) is $10.95. But if you use EZpass, you get a discount. The toll for that same stretch using EZpass is $10.94.
When I driven across PA, I have taken both the Penna Pike and I80, I prefer I80, the Penn Pike is the highway of perpetual construction.
Often, true, but this month it is the other way around.
I just took 80 West and it was a zoo on the East bound side for construction.
We took 76 to 81 to 78 on the way back and it was really quick and smooth.
Just did the trip in the last 2 weeks.
Scott
This is hilarious. I went to the PA Turnpike website and you can punch in your entry and exit and it will calculate your toll.
From Carlise exit 226 to New Stanton, exit 75 the cash toll for a class 1 vehicle (car) is $10.95. But if you use EZpass, you get a discount. The toll for that same stretch using EZpass is $10.94.
It's worth the $10.94. I've done that drive many times and it's a piece of cake. $50k+ car, under $11 bucks for tolls, $2.60 for gas, 28mpg, seems like a cheap trip to me.
Location: ...Southampton, PA I love you & miss you Linda
Quote:
Originally Posted by carboman
It's worth the $10.94. I've done that drive many times and it's a piece of cake. $50k+ car, under $11 bucks for tolls, $2.60 for gas, 28mpg, seems like a cheap trip to me.
My actual point of the post was how rediculous the Turnpike commision is, giving a lousy 1 cent discount for using EZpass. What an incentive...
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Driving from NYC to Pittsburgh, PA - Your opinions please
