Sunday should be a breeze!! The most annoying thing about the Connecticut Hiway system (not counting rush hour traffic) is all those left lane exit ramps, and I-84 has several of them! The advice about staying in the center lanes is good, as you never know when the left or right travel lane will turn into an off ramp on you!
*Cliff*
Chaos reigns within. Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
2004 Trail Cruiser XP C-23B
1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1989 Thomas Diesel Pusher (Cat 3208/Freightliner)
Chesapeake, Virginia
I usually take 84 thru Hartford very early in the morning to avoid the hassle, but friends of ours who have camped for years tell us that taking the Mass Pike out to 87 South to connect with 84 is their preferred route. I'm considering that for a change this year. We also live in N. Central MA, but take Rte 2 west to 91 south for the start of our trips.
DanET wrote: I usually take 84 thru Hartford very early in the morning to avoid the hassle, but friends of ours who have camped for years tell us that taking the Mass Pike out to 87 South to connect with 84 is their preferred route. I'm considering that for a change this year. We also live in N. Central MA, but take Rte 2 west to 91 south for the start of our trips.
DanET,
We take backroads to Rt 68 in Hubbardston, then take Rt 56 into the Center of Rutland, Pleasantdale Road to Rt 31, then Meadow Road over to Rt 9, then Rt 49 to Rt 20 to 84. They are small backroads but I find it is less mileage and less time then going Rt 2 to I-190 to I-290 then the Pike. As for 84 thru Hartford, I have done it several times but if the alternate route around Hartford was better, I would try it. But by what everybody says, especially on a Sunday morning, take 84 and just stay in the Center lane, which is what I do anyway.
You might want to try the scenic route, go west in Mass then head south on Rt-7 down to I-84, you bypass Hartford and get a really scenic ride all the way down the Berkshires!
GoneCamping wrote: You might want to try the scenic route, go west in Mass then head south on Rt-7 down to I-84, you bypass Hartford and get a really scenic ride all the way down the Berkshires!
I would agree with this being very scenic, have taken this way down to NYC metro area sometimes in the past when I have to attend Monday morning meetings. More miles, but much more scenic and predictable. Nothing worse than early weekday mornings hitting traffic along Rte 91 and Rte 95. Much rather be winding along the Housatonic River than staring at the brake lights in front of me.
My wife would probably go nuts if I took that kind of detour with the trailer; shes more of a point A to point B type. Way back in '88 we picked up a 1955 Chevy in Arizona and drove it back to MA; could not get her to take the side trip a few hundred yards over to the 4 corner monument as we drove by.
DanET wrote: I usually take 84 thru Hartford very early in the morning to avoid the hassle, but friends of ours who have camped for years tell us that taking the Mass Pike out to 87 South to connect with 84 is their preferred route. I'm considering that for a change this year. We also live in N. Central MA, but take Rte 2 west to 91 south for the start of our trips.
DanET,
We take backroads to Rt 68 in Hubbardston, then take Rt 56 into the Center of Rutland, Pleasantdale Road to Rt 31, then Meadow Road over to Rt 9, then Rt 49 to Rt 20 to 84. They are small backroads but I find it is less mileage and less time then going Rt 2 to I-190 to I-290 then the Pike. As for 84 thru Hartford, I have done it several times but if the alternate route around Hartford was better, I would try it. But by what everybody says, especially on a Sunday morning, take 84 and just stay in the Center lane, which is what I do anyway.
Everybody, Thanks for all the input!!!
I remember taking that route south several times with the parents as a kid (grandparents lived on Main St in Hubbardston and we would usually stop there on the way to vacations). However, I worked a tough job in Southbridge for a few years and that route now brings back some unpleasant memories of commuting every day to a job I could not wait to get out of.
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