Overnight docking for 4 days/nights

[bilproject]

CateP, The shortest route for you (I travel up from Howell almost every weekend) Is GSP to the turnpike, over GW Bridge follow 95 to New Haven and 91 to 84 in Hartford. 84 to Mass pike exit 290 to 495, Rt 3 (Everett TPK) to 93. This way is 40 miles shorter than the route you take and you avoid 84 west of Hartford which is hilly and curvy. Of course you will have a few tense moments after the GW Bridge. For towing it is best to take the Tappan Zee to 95. I also leave at 230 in the morning and with one stop make it in 5-1/2 hours later I'm having breakfast at Georges. By 9:30 I'm on the island

[CateP]

Originally Posted by bilproject

CateP, The shortest route for you (I travel up from Howell almost every weekend) Is GSP to the turnpike, over GW Bridge follow 95 to New Haven and 91 to 84 in Hartford. 84 to Mass pike exit 290 to 495, Rt 3 (Everett TPK) to 93. This way is 40 miles shorter than the route you take and you avoid 84 west of Hartford which is hilly and curvy. Of course you will have a few tense moments after the GW Bridge. For towing it is best to take the Tappan Zee to 95. I also leave at 230 in the morning and with one stop make it in 5-1/2 hours later I'm having breakfast at Georges. By 9:30 I'm on the island

Ahh.Nice to "meet" you, NJ neighbor. I think the key to your route is the time you leave. Lower CT on 95 and 91 can be a nightmare and it's white knuckle driving all the way. My route is showing an extra 25 miles and I'll take that over the wild and wooly 95.

[gf2020]

You can tow boats on the Garden State Parkway.

The route that Cate outlined is more or less the way I go to PA and have been since 1987. I usually shortcut 684 with the Saw Mill.

Tappan Zee is better than the GW both ways 8 times out of 10. Especially if you are towing a boat!

I agree that 495 to 3 to 93 is generally quicker, unless there is an accident in downtown Manchester. Towing a boat, however, I would probably just stay on 495 to 93.

[Dave R]

I often go right by 290 on 90 east and go directly to 495 north. Much nicer ride with a boat in tow and not much longer (if it even is longer). Towing through Worscester can be exciting.

If you ever have a little time to kill and want to skip CT traffic entirely while enjoying a beautiful ride. Stay on 684 north when it turns into NY route 22 north. You can take 22 all the way to 90 and then head east. Adds 60 to 90 minutes to the trip, but it's stress-free and lovely.

You can also stay on 22 until you reach 7 east which becomes 9 east when you hit VT and NH. Route 9 will take you all the way to Concord NH and is a very nice ride as well. These roads are mostly posted at 55 so they are not that much slower than the highway. You do go through towns though.

[upthesaukee]

You can also head north on I91 to Brattleboro VT and then pick up NH9 to Concord. Misses the Mass Traffic on 290/495/rt3/93.

Also a pretty ride, but NH9 does have a steep hill or two between Brattleboro & Keene.

[ghfromaltonbay]

You couldn't pay me enough to take the GW Bridge and 95 to 91 on my trip up, and I'm only 15 minutes from the Bridge. I take the Garden State Parkway to the NY Thruway, Tappan Zee, 287 and then the Merritt Parkway up to 91 in Meriden. Take 91 to 84 in East Hartford and then 84 to the Mass Pike. If it's not rush hour, I do go thru Worcester on 290 and then 495 to the Everett Tpke. Then 93 to 393 in Concord, Route 4 to Chichester taking the back road shortcut at the light by the Hess station. Then 28 to 11 at the Alton Circle. This trip is 305 miles from Clifton and takes me 5 hours and 15 minutes with 1 pit stop in CT. Of course the Merritt Pkway is out if you are towing a boat, but it cuts 11 miles off the 684 to 84 route and NO TRUCKS! I hate the Danbury to West Hartford section of 84.