Need Advice Driving to NJ, avoiding 495... anyone?

hi folks! The Man is talking about trying to avoid 495 altogether and take 15 to near Harrsionburg PA... anyone know this route to get to NJ and have any feedback on whether it's better than 495 to 50, which does avoid 95 north...?

 

Where in Jersey? You can take 15N to 81 To 78, and that will lead you into Jersey.

 

We dont bother with 495/95 we always go this way... much faster and most of the time less traffic.

 

thanks! heading to Piscataway, near Rutgers... i think it's around exit 8 on the turnpike

 

We always take 15 -81 -78 when we go to NJ. I have never run into traffic this way like we used to on 95. You can always take 15 to the PA Turnpike then go into NJ from there but there may be traffic as you get closer to Philly.

 

Hubby went to Rutgers and his mom still lives up there, so we go up there fairly often. Sometimes we'll take 15 up to Frederick, then 70 over towards Baltimore, 695 up and around Baltimore and re-join 95 at White Marsh. Then it's usually pretty clear until you hit Delaware. That's always a bottle neck, but if you take the DelMemBridge over and go up 295 you avoid lots of traffic and tolls. We've never sat in traffic on 295 and there are no tolls. Once you get to the top of 295 (Princeton-ish) you can take Route 1 up towards where you need to go.

 

Once you get above Harrisburg PA on 81 there's never much traffic to 78 and beyond.

 

Another thumbs up for 15-81-78. Avoids traffic and tolls. We then grab 287 off 78 and hit the tappan zee to get to new england with a lot less traffic and tolls and only about 35 additional miles of driving

 

x2, plus there's the world's largest and cleanest rest-stop bathrooms in Emmitsburg.

 

We just drove up to Somerset, near Princeton, NJ using 495/95 then 206.

- 5hrs up, accident on 495 and a 1/2hr stop for lunch
- 4hrs on the way home including a stop at the Chesapeake House rest stop.

How does the time compare with using (15 to 76) or (15 to 81 to 78)?

From the West Chester, PA area I've tried taking the PA turnpike to 15 a couple times and it ended up being about 30mins longer vs an accident free 95.

I've experienced a similar 20-30mins additional time using 70 from 695 vs an accident free 95.

95 can be hit or miss with delays. EZ-Pass can help when traffic gets heavy at the toll plazas.

 

I drive up to Philly all the time. I always take 495/95 because that's the most direct route. Accidents are out of your control, that's just luck. What you can control is when you leave. Your success depends on time and day. My policy is if you're going up on a Friday night, either leave Broadlands by 1pm or wait until 7:30pm. If it's a holiday weekend, consider waiting until 8 or 8:30. I have gone 15/70/695 before when I had to leave in the middle of rush hour. It's definitely more miles, and while 15/70 are open, 695 is ugly at rush hour.

Know were the usual slowdowns are:
- There are 2 slight ones where they have the photo-enforced speed zones in the construction sites just north of 495 and just north of 695. (Apparently some lady's husband got killed working on a road in MD, so she petitioned to get speed cameras in construction zones on 95 in MD. Thanks...)
- Avoid Ft McHenry, 895 moves better (unless they reduce it to one lane which they have done a few times recently). Don't speed on that road, it's heavily patrolled, particularly south of the tunnel. They did just raise the speed limit from 50 to 65 though.
- There's always a mess at the Delaware toll. Easy solution, go around it. Exit 109, MD 279 north, pass cheap liquor stores, cross into DE, right on DE 4/DE 896 (Christiana Pkwy), pass dead chysler plant, right to stay on 896 south at U of Delaware stadium, get right back on 95 north. Saves time and $4 at the toll. Note: gas tends to be cheaper on the Delaware side, so don't stop right away when you get off in MD.
- Next there's a slight slowdown getting onto 295 to go over the Del Mem Br. If you're going to Jersey, it's worth it to wait in the line rather than deal with Philly traffic, unless there's a huge accident.

Coming home on Sundays, the earlier you can leave the better. Even at 1pm things are still pretty good on 95. If you wait until late afternoon, the roads will be more crowded, but you'll still move at speed. Sundays are never as bad as Fridays though. Turn on WTOP when you get south of Baltimore to see if there are any messes on the beltway, and always know when the Redskins or Ravens are playing at home.

 

Excellent advice. That area drives me insane! I don't care what time of day you hit Delaware... even without accidents it is a nightmare. We'll try your suggestion next time!!

 

thanks for the tips Sasquatch519, we'll be heading to Philly for new years...

 

all GREAT advice- thanks guys! we ended up leaving thanksgiving morning at 6:30am, because of the fog we stuck with 495 to 50 and hit no traffic, even on the turnpike.

but we will save ths route for our next holiday trip up north!