Rt 93 to Alton Bay ??? Advice ?

[tis]

I find it interesting that none of you go all the way to Concord and get off there onto 28. Can you tell me the reason for this. We always thought it was quicker to stay on the highway as long as possible. ????

[Rattlesnake Guy]

We only go the highway route. Glad to hear so many go the other way.
Since we take the trip so often I plan to do several time trials to see for sure.

[Jersey Joe]

jerseyonbear - same here, we always get nailed on that stretch of the Mass Pike. If anybody knows a shortcut, that would be great to here. However, I have to say, the rest of the drive back on Saturday was pretty easy.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by tis

I find it interesting that none of you go all the way to Concord and get off there onto 28. Can you tell me the reason for this. We always thought it was quicker to stay on the highway as long as possible. ????

First,you don't pick up 28 in Concord.The way you are describing must go through Concord which can have heavy traffic backup during peak times.That would lead you to I393-rt4/202 to get to 28.Certainly another alternative.I think both ways are a toss-up unless you have heavy traffic and the Hooksett option is faster.I just did this route on Saturday night.

[mets3007]

When we went this Summer to NH we went:

I-95 to exit 27A 9/15 then onto Merrit Pkwy then Exit 68 91 N then 84 East then the Mass Pike to Exit 10 then 290 to the end then 495N to rt 3 Exit 35 ( I think) which leads us to exit 20. If you do this route at 530am ( saturday) its fast and easy, we left at 540am this year at got there at 1050am.

Going home its the same way backwards 3-495-290-90-84-91-95 to the Throgs Neck Bridge, but.... this yr we stayed on 84 all the way to 684 and it was better since we left on a Wednsday we beat the truck hell on route 91 and 95.

[Rattlesnake Guy]

Some good news this week. The 9 miles of 28 south of Alton have been resurfaced by the over stimulated asphalt industry.

[tis]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

First,you don't pick up 28 in Concord.The way you are describing must go through Concord which can have heavy traffic backup during peak times.That would lead you to I393-rt4/202 to get to 28.Certainly another alternative.I think both ways are a toss-up unless you have heavy traffic and the Hooksett option is faster.I just did this route on Saturday night.

Sorry I should have been more explicit. That is what I meant, of course you can't pick up 28 from the highway in Concord. So you are saying you think Hooksett is faster if there is heavy traffic in Concord, otherwise they are about the same, right?

[SIKSUKR]

I would say that is true.I used rt 3 to 106 this Saturday and it was about the same as 93 to Tilton and past Winnisquam.It all depends on the traffic.

[IslandRadio]

I'm going to have to give the Route 28 path another try. The boat is docked at West Alton Marina, and so far, I've been coming, eventually, to Route 93 to exit 20 - to the bypass, Lake Shore Drive, etc.... to West Alton Marina.

The times I've taken 393 to 28, it *seemed* longer... probably due to traffic lights and all that, and the fact that you can't drive as fast. I have never actually measured the difference in time. Not that there aren't a lot of lights between 93 and the Laconia bypass, but the rest of the trip is usually event-free.

Has anyone ever compared the routes?

Regards,

IslandRadio

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by IslandRadio

I'm going to have to give the Route 28 path another try. The boat is docked at West Alton Marina, and so far, I've been coming, eventually, to Route 93 to exit 20 - to the bypass, Lake Shore Drive, etc.... to West Alton Marina.

The times I've taken 393 to 28, it *seemed* longer... probably due to traffic lights and all that, and the fact that you can't drive as fast. I have never actually measured the difference in time. Not that there aren't a lot of lights between 93 and the Laconia bypass, but the rest of the trip is usually event-free.

Has anyone ever compared the routes?

Regards,

IslandRadio

I am not sure what you mean by traffic lights. From 93 anywhere south its highway, 393 is also highway, Route 4 has one light at the intersection with Horse Corner Rd and Main st in Chichester, then you have the traffic circle in Epsom, North on 28 you have one light at the intersection with 107, from there its straight to the Alton Circle. That is two traffic lights in the 30.1 miles from the 393/93 junction to the Alton traffic circle. 393, Rt4, Rt28 are all posted 50-55 MPH with some 35 thrown in for good measure. Total driving time 37 mins to Alton Bay.

You have more lights getting off exit 20 and down route 3. Rt3 is almost completely 35 MPH, the cutoff and Rt are 50-55 zones with the 35's mixed in.
42.6 miles total driving time 50 min.

Directions below are from Fort Eddy road to alton bay, going both ways.

Time Mile Instruction For Toward
Summary: 46.2 miles (50 minutes)
9:00 AM 0.0 Depart Fort Eddy Rd, Concord, NH 03301 on Ramp (West) 0.3 mi I-93
9:00 AM 0.3 Merge onto I-93 18.3 mi
9:18 AM 18.5 At 20, turn RIGHT onto Ramp 0.4 mi US-3 / RT-11 / RT-140 / Tilton / Laconia
9:18 AM 18.9 Turn LEFT (North-East) onto US-3 [SR-11] 12.1 mi
9:32 AM 31.0 Keep STRAIGHT onto Ramp 0.2 mi
9:32 AM 31.2 Keep LEFT to stay on Ramp 76 yds RT-11 / Alton
9:32 AM 31.2 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-11 [Lake Shore Rd] 8.0 mi
9:42 AM 39.3 Road name changes to Mt Major [SR-11] 1.5 mi
9:43 AM 40.8 Road name changes to SR-11 5.4 mi
9:49 AM 46.2 Turn LEFT (North-West) onto SR-28A [Lake Shore Rd] 43 yds
9:50 AM 46.2 Arrive Alton Bay

SUMMARY
Driving distance: 46.2 miles
Trip duration: 50 minutes
Driving time: 50 minutes
Cost: $3.42


Time Mile Instruction For Toward
Summary: 30.1 miles (37 minutes)
9:00 AM 0.0 Depart Fort Eddy Rd, Concord, NH 03301 on Ramp (West) 0.3 mi I-93
9:00 AM 0.3 Merge onto I-93 142 yds
9:00 AM 0.3 At exit 15E, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-393 [US-202] 4.9 mi I-393 / US-4 / US-202 / Loudon / Portsmouth
9:05 AM 5.2 Keep STRAIGHT onto US-202 [US-4] 2.5 mi
9:08 AM 7.7 Turn LEFT (North) onto Main St 0.4 mi
9:10 AM 8.2 Turn RIGHT to stay on Main St 2.0 mi
9:14 AM 10.2 Turn LEFT (North) onto SR-28 [Suncook Valley Hwy] 17.8 mi
9:34 AM 28.0 Merge onto SR-11 [SR-28] 0.1 mi
9:35 AM 28.1 Turn LEFT (North-West) onto SR-11 0.2 mi
9:35 AM 28.3 Keep LEFT onto Local road(s) 54 yds
9:35 AM 28.4 Merge onto Local road(s) 54 yds
9:35 AM 28.4 Bear RIGHT (North-West) onto SR-11 [SR-28A] 1.7 mi
9:37 AM 30.1 Bear RIGHT (North-West) onto SR-28A [Lake Shore Rd] 43 yds
9:37 AM 30.1 Arrive Alton Bay

SUMMARY
Driving distance: 30.1 miles
Trip duration: 37 minutes
Driving time: 37 minutes
Cost: $2.23

All driving speeds are just above average of the posted speed on each road except streets and secondary roads. Hope this helps.

[IslandRadio]

Thanks for the info!

There's no doubt it is shorter taking route 28 from Concord to Alton Bay. Then, from Alton Bay, it takes approximately 10 minutes (a bit longer if there's traffic) to drive to West Alton Marina. According to Google maps, it is shorter in time to take the exit 20 route, going from Concord to the West Alton Marina.

But, I wonder which *actually* takes longer? The traffic between route 93 and the bypass (along with the numerous lights!) is a problem and can be unpredictable.

Hey, why wasn't that bypass built all the way to 93?

Regards,

Steve

[CrawfordCentury]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

There is a short cut throught Chichester if you are not towing which cuts off Epsom Circle. This is the very fastest way. (I learned it from ghaltonbay).

IG

I was wondering who was responsible for all of those vehicles with outta state plates on that windey section of road.

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by CrawfordCentury

I was wondering who was responsible for all of those vehicles with outta state plates on that windey section of road.

And if they only knew that it is really not faster, because of the increase in traffic it slows a 35 mph road even further, while Rt4 and 28 are posted 50+ in both those sections that they are trying to bypass.

[CrawfordCentury]

Originally Posted by jmen24

And if they only knew that it is really not faster, because of the increase in traffic it slows a 35 mph road even further, while Rt4 and 28 are posted 50+ in both those sections that they are trying to bypass.

Route 4.

I still can't make up my mind if those 55mph signs are a goodhearted joke ... or a malicious jab at everyone in a 50-car train of autos tailing the little old lady at the front of the line content with going 35mph.

[ghfromaltonbay]

Originally Posted by CrawfordCentury

Route 4.

I still can't make up my mind if those 55mph signs are a goodhearted joke ... or a malicious jab at everyone in a 50-car train of autos tailing the little old lady at the front of the line content with going 35mph.

That's why I like taking the Main St. shortcut through Chichester. The speed limit is 35 mph and since I travel to and from the lake on weekdays, there are many times when I'm the only car on the road all the way from Rt. 4 to the Chichester General Store. An Alton Bay native took us that way on a trip to Concord one day.

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by CrawfordCentury

Route 4.

I still can't make up my mind if those 55mph signs are a goodhearted joke ... or a malicious jab at everyone in a 50-car train of autos tailing the little old lady at the front of the line content with going 35mph.

Thats to funny, in a way. It happens everywhere, but through there it is really bad. If it happens on 28 its probably my grandmother.