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weekend traffic--is there a better way? — Brooklynian

weekend traffic--is there a better way?

opossumqueen
opossumqueen
edited November -1 in Prospect Heights
posting here b/c I'm not sure where this goes and I want responses so I'm going with the most active board :)

I've been going upstate (Mohonk/Minnewaska area) on the weekends with friends and the drive back Sunday night always sucks. I think we usually (luckily I don't have to drive!) go 87 to Palisades to 95 (GW Bridge) and there's always multiple areas where traffic is almost at a standstill.

I'm looking at google maps and wondering if there's another main route that is better. Any input on staying on 87 over the Tappan Zee Bridge and just sticking with the BQE?

I have no idea about alternate routes so any suggestions would be appreciated.

We are out doing stuff during the day so we start back anywhere from 6 to 9 pm, and the traffic is always the same.


(I couldn't find any posts on this topic with a few searches so if you know of any, please post the link :D )

Comments

  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    i suggest you come back earlier during the day.
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    no dice...the point of the trips is hiking and rock-climbing so we use as much daylight as possible...we either go up after work on Friday or leave by 5:30am Sat and squeeze in a few hours in a tent after a hearty New Paltz dinner and a few drinks. Sunday usually ends as the sun goes down...

    I think we'll really just have to up the Monday morning caffeine intake! I think the time out of the city is worth the sleepiness but I was just wondering if there's some awesome route we (transplants) don't know.
  • innocent x
    innocent x
    If it's Sunday, that means that the malls are closed in Jersey (less cars on the road) so you could take 17 off the thruway and then 80. You still have to go over GWB.

    I'm not sure it's a great alternative, but it's an alternative. I used to go that way for a while before taking the Palisades exclusively.
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    just keep heading south on the nj turn pike till you get to staten island. should be slightly better than other ways.
  • kick rocks!!!!
    kick rocks!!!!
    When we come back to the city from upstate, we usually hook up to the Sawmill Parkway (easy from the Tappanzee) and head on down to the West Side HW...over the BK bridge! That is by far the BEST and cheapest way ($2.95) to make it back into the city. I have NEVER sat in traffic on the SMP, sometimes the WSH can be slow, but it's better than the FDR.
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    Thanks for all the responses so far. As someone totally new to driving in this part of the country, any guidance is welcome. I'll post if we try any and let you know how it goes.
  • kick rocks!!!!
    kick rocks!!!!
    By the way, the Sawmill is BEAUTIFUL in the fall, very scenic....but can feel like driving a race car game on PS2. Be careful and enjoy!
  • homeowner
    homeowner
    I used to drive from Albany every Friday and go back every Sunday. My prefered route was 87 to 17 south. Once I got on 17 I would tune to 1010 get the traffic update and either take 46, 3, or 1 & 9 (GW, Lincoln, or Holland Tunnel) back into the city.

    Whatever you do avoid the TZB. Traffic always sucks (and its falling down).
  • joncane
    joncane

    Subject: Re: weekend traffic--is there a better way?

    OpossumQueen wrote: I've been going upstate (Mohonk/Minnewaska area) on the weekends with friends and the drive back Sunday night always sucks. I think we usually (luckily I don't have to drive!) go 87 to Palisades to 95 (GW Bridge) and there's always multiple areas where traffic is almost at a standstill.

    I'm looking at google maps and wondering if there's another main route that is better. Any input on staying on 87 over the Tappan Zee Bridge and just sticking with the BQE?
    I made that drive Labor Day at 6pm and was worried. I took 17 to 6 over Bear Mountain to the beginning of the Palisades. Palisades all the way to the GWB, Harlem River Drive-FDR, BQE. Made it back to Prospect Heights in a little over 2 hours and never dealt with any traffic related delays.

    Hope this helps.
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    if you can get off the palisades around exit 4, in nyack, you can take local rd. 9W, to the entrance of the bridge. there's actually a closer rd, to the river, but i can't remember the name. and you can get onto the bridge via tolls long before the other tolls.

    and i have found that no matter how many ways i drive across the gwb, in either direction, day or night or whatever, it's nearly always faster to take the west side highway to the battery park tunnel. (or vice versa) it costs more, but it gets you here really fast. less mileage, too.
  • bassplaya
    bassplaya

    Subject: Re: weekend traffic--is there a better way?

    OpossumQueen wrote: posting here b/c I'm not sure where this goes and I want responses so I'm going with the most active board :)

    I've been going upstate (Mohonk/Minnewaska area) on the weekends with friends and the drive back Sunday night always sucks. I think we usually (luckily I don't have to drive!) go 87 to Palisades to 95 (GW Bridge) and there's always multiple areas where traffic is almost at a standstill.

    I'm looking at google maps and wondering if there's another main route that is better. Any input on staying on 87 over the Tappan Zee Bridge and just sticking with the BQE?

    I have no idea about alternate routes so any suggestions would be appreciated.

    We are out doing stuff during the day so we start back anywhere from 6 to 9 pm, and the traffic is always the same.


    (I couldn't find any posts on this topic with a few searches so if you know of any, please post the link :D )
    The toll roads are always going to have bottlenecks on the weekends. I would take the Taconic Parkway to the Sprain Brook to route 100 to 87 at the tail end and hit the west side highway.
  • elitt
    elitt

    Subject: Taconic

    Cross the Hudson way way north over the Bear Mt. Bridge or the Newburgh Bridge and take the Taconic -one of the most scenic routes in the East) South to The Saw Mill or Bronx River Parkway to the west side / pay a couple bucks to enter Manhattan by crossing the Henry Hudson Bridge - the East side is ass
    OpossumQueen wrote: Thanks for all the responses so far. As someone totally new to driving in this part of the country, any guidance is welcome. I'll post if we try any and let you know how it goes.
  • elitt
    elitt

    Subject: Taconic

    Cross the Hudson way way north over the Bear Mt. Bridge or the Newburgh Bridge and take the Taconic South to The Saw Mill or Bronx River Parkway to the west side / pay a couple bucks to enter Manhattan by crossing the Henry Hudson Bridge - the East side is ass
    OpossumQueen wrote: Thanks for all the responses so far. As someone totally new to driving in this part of the country, any guidance is welcome. I'll post if we try any and let you know how it goes.
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