what's the best way to get from new york to i-91 without sitting in traffic on i-95/i-84/merritt parkway?

Submitted by zar1234 t3_z7w8jn in Connecticut

What's the best way? I often go from Long Island to my parent's house in New Hampshire. The Port Jeff-Bridgeport Ferry will cost me $120+ each way with my family, so that sucks. I can take the Taconic Parkway up to I-90 and come across that way, but the Taconic is loaded with NY troopers who will pull you over for going 5 over the limit and I'm sick of sitting in traffic in Connecticut. This past weekend for Thanksgiving, NYC wasn't an issue, it was Greenwich to Bridgeport on 95 on Wednesday and Newtown to the NY border on Saturday on 84. As for the Merritt seems like the DOT always has one lane closed to mow the grass and being a two lane road, if one lane is closed for any reason, it backs up like crazy. Are there any other routes that are relatively traffic and/or light free (like Route 25 up from Bridgeport to Newtown) that can make the ride smoother? Please residents of Connecticut, tell me your secrets.

edit- it's the orient ferry that's nearly $120 ($116.09 to be exact) each way. Port jeff is $92 since kids are free.

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JoeWaubeeka t1_iy8sgfz wrote

As someone who frequently drives from NYC to CT and VT, it all sucks. The best way is to figure out the hours when traffic is the lightest and go then. Helpful hint- Do not drive south on the Merritt before lunch. Do not drive north after lunch.

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8svd6 wrote

Thanks. We generally try to go off hours, sometimes it doesn’t work out though.

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JoeWaubeeka t1_iy8ztx4 wrote

Yeah, ever since the pandemic, traffic in CT has gone from awful to apocalyptic.

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zar1234 OP t1_iy97xbn wrote

It’s crazy to me because traffic for me on Long Island has been better than it was pre-pandemic. What was my 1:10 drive to work is about 55 minutes now and my drive home went from 1:15-1:20 down to about 1:05.

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zar1234 OP t1_iy97wf9 wrote

It’s crazy to me because traffic for me on Long Island has been better than it was pre-pandemic. What was my 1:10 drive to work is about 55 minutes now and my drive home went from 1:15-1:20 down to about 1:05.

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coolducklingcool t1_iyamveu wrote

This weekend was very weird, even for Newtown. It was exceptionally trafficky at all times.

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kppeterc15 t1_iy8fx54 wrote

Take the Taconic but don't speed?

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8jtit wrote

Those cops will pull you over for anything and ticket everything. I’ve gotten pulled over for going 57 on it. It’s unreasonable.

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SilverIdaten t1_iy8jrut wrote

How can you speed on that thing anyway with all the crazy curves?

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8ln0c wrote

I'm not talking about going 85 mph, but a comfortable 65.

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8lgmk wrote

Forgot to mention, the Taconic also adds about 45 miles of driving bc it goes further north than Springfield, so when I get on I-90, I'm coming back south to get to Springfield, then north again when I get on I-91.

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kittytittymeowmeow t1_iy98cyu wrote

Your best bet is to drive at whacky hours. It sucks. I am so so so glad I don't have to deal with that area of CT.

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Sens9 t1_iy9lbqv wrote

You could try 284 to 84E by Brewster, NY into CT. My parents would do that when traveling from NJ, to avoid the hell that is 95

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Phantastic_Elastic t1_iybat6m wrote

Yup, I used to do this when I lived in North Jersey while my future wife lived at UConn. I got so sick of every other route that I would take this one quite often. It's a nice enough drive. Hamilton Fish Newburgh–Beacon Bridge is pretty cool.

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[deleted] t1_iy8ip88 wrote

[deleted]

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sagetraveler t1_iy97fw4 wrote

You can go from the north end of route 8 over to Windsor locks. Did this in reverse coming back from VT one time. We just followed our nav, but there were several cars all making the same turns so it must be a bypass known by others.

Also look into I684 we have used that a couple times.

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8mtu5 wrote

i'll look into route 8. thank you!

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coolducklingcool t1_iyan9u1 wrote

I’ve never taken it to NH, but if you take 8 all the way up, it turns into a rural route into MA where you can pick up the Mass Pike in Lee. This is how I go to Rochester, NY - Mass Pike to I-90.

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[deleted] t1_iy8j9zk wrote

Orient Point ferry 49.50 each way, 395 to NH

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8jorv wrote

$116.09 each way with car and family.

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[deleted] t1_iy8lh11 wrote

Big savings over port Jeff!

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8m9n8 wrote

port jeff is actually cheaper at $92 each way.

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[deleted] t1_iy8mfni wrote

Well you have solved your issue! Welcome to NH, flat lander.

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8mkd9 wrote

i don't really think spending $200 has solved my problem, but thank you.

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[deleted] t1_iy8nkhb wrote

You have options. Taconic at speed limit; 95 off hours; pay the ferry; don't go. Consider the pain/benefit and choose. You're welcome.

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zar1234 OP t1_iy8npp8 wrote

Thank you for your input. TIL there’s only 3 ways to get to nh.

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[deleted] t1_iy8u4oi wrote

This is why I love Reddit. #Amtrak #FlyManchester #Busways

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phunky_1 t1_iy99jbk wrote

Drive there at 3am

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afapracing t1_iy9y2rs wrote

Fly from LGA to BDL/Worcester/BOS. Wave at traffic below. Delta gets me to LGA from BDL in under 30 mins.

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coolducklingcool t1_iyamszv wrote

Route 25 is an option but it would put you on 84 at Exit 9 and you’d still hit the major slowdown around 7.

Route 7 might be a better option, you pick it up in Norwalk and it will take you to Exit 3, pretty close to the NY border and theoretically past most of the Danbury traffic. Only challenge is that the speed limit is naturally lower and there are lights. Plus no real opportunities for passing if you get stuck behind that student driver.

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