South Slope to Verrazano Bridge—best route?

We're hitting the Verrazano Bridge tomorrow around rush hour to visit family in Maryland.

Is there ANY way to avoid the BQE traffic from roughly exit 23 to the bridge.

Has anyone taken 4th Avenue all the way down to 92nd street and gotten onto the bridge from there?

We have a 6 week old and I don't feel like being stuck in traffic in Brooklyn for hours on end.

Help!

doing it at rush hour is your first problem.
there's as much traffic going down 4th ave to bay ridge with traffic lights, but you certainly give it a go.
you're going to get f---ed no matter which way you drive.
espcially 'cause you're going over the vz to si then to nj and the bottleneck south of exit 9 on the pike.

Yes, I've done both the BQE and 4th Ave (or is it 3rd Ave?). If I am going during rush hour, I stay off the BQE, because you can get REALLY stuck there

Another way to go is to take Ft. Hamilton Parkway all the way down and it puts you right at the entrance to the Verrazzano.

Subject: Re: South Slope to Verrazano Bridge—best route?

The 3rd ave 4th ave ft hamilton options are all good.

In all honesty though,
hitting the Verrazano at rush hour is tempting fate on a normal day.

Hitting it at rush hour on a holiday getaway day as the beginning of a long trip is not something i would do unless there absolutely was no option.

the little one will likely need a bathroom break/diaper change b4 you even reach jersey.

gl & happy holiday

Any of the alternate routes suggested are OK - on a normal day. I can only offer my sympathies that you must travel and must travel at that time. The New Jersey Turnpike and I-95 will be parking lots.

The only thing that will work is patience, loads of music, and xanex. Have a happy holiday.

I have to do this exact same thing tomorrow (slope to verrazanno to NJ turnpike) and I was originally planning on hitting the road around 4:30/5pm. But now that sounds like a terrible idea...

Any of you in the know -- do you think I'm any better off waiting to leave Brooklyn around 7?

The Friday morning before Veteran's Day, I left from Terrace Bagels in Windsor Terrace at 6:36 and took Ft Hamilton Parkway all the way to the Verrazano. I was on the bridge at 6:48. It wasn't as big a holiday as Thanksgiving, but there wasn't much traffic on Ft Hamilton Parkway and you are dumped off right on the bridge so you get right onto the span.

That would be my vote.

Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of taking Ft. Hamilton Parkway, but that doesn't really come from park slope, does it? Doesn't that start on the east side of the park?

Any thoughts on taking 6th Ave all the way down, and picking up FHP in the 80s? Or am I better off cutting east further up to get the FHP, even if it seems out of the way?

I never drive in Brooklyn, so this feedback is so helpful. Thanks guys!

guys just don't drive tomorrow lol. i made that mistake once on a thursday trying to drive to my aunts house in nj on thanksgiving . from bayridge to staten island was a parking lot. i just drove home.

Quigley wrote: Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of taking Ft. Hamilton Parkway, but that doesn't really come from park slope, does it? Doesn't that start on the east side of the park?

Any thoughts on taking 6th Ave all the way down, and picking up FHP in the 80s? Or am I better off cutting east further up to get the FHP, even if it seems out of the way?

I never drive in Brooklyn, so this feedback is so helpful. Thanks guys!

You can pick up Ft Hamilton at the circle on the SE side of park.

6 ave gets interrupted by Greenwood Cemetary so that wont quite work

[quote="Garfunky
You can pick up Ft Hamilton at the circle on the SE side of park.

6 ave gets interrupted by Greenwood Cemetary so that wont quite work

Oh, didn't know that about 6th!

But if I'm coming from 5th ave in park slope, does it really make any sense to go all the over to the SE side of the park to pick up Ft Hamilton? Everyone on here is saying avoid 4th, which is why I'm asking...

armchair_warrior wrote: guys just don't drive tomorrow lol. i made that mistake once on a thursday trying to drive to my aunts house in nj on thanksgiving . from bayridge to staten island was a parking lot. i just drove home.

Man, you're really making me nervous... I was going to leave tonight around 8pm.

Maybe I should just drive into manhattan and go through the holland tunnel instead??

To get to Ft. Hamilton take 20th Street to McDonald, right on McDonald, right on Ft. Hamilton or take Prospect Expressway get off at Ft. Hamilton make a right and continue to the bridge.

I think either way you go you will hit a little bit of traffic. I don't like taking the Holland Tunnel on weekdays because of the truck and bus traffic.

Remember that many people leave work early today so rush hour might be thinner than usual.

theres a way to pick up Ft. Hamilton from the Prospect Expwy/ocean pkwy as well ( i think)

so i guess it depends where on 5th ave you are and whats most convenient for you.

6 of 1 ,
half dozen of the other.

Im goin thru the Linclon Tunnel tomorrow sometime and have no expectation of enjoying it. planning 90 minutes for a 25 mile ride.

Garfunky wrote: Im goin thru the Linclon Tunnel tomorrow sometime and have no expectation of enjoying it. planning 90 minutes for a 25 mile ride.

FYI I go that way every year and we leave about 1:00 p.m. and have never hit heavy traffic. The only traffic I hit is on the WS Hgway where the cars are going into the Holland. Once in NJ I never hit any traffic (although I go only as far as Monclair on 3 West)

Ive had it take that long in bad rush hour traffic. :shock:

thanks for the heads up.

ooohhh montclair !
wmsc radio - way cool

4th avenue will bring you straight to the bridge.

Subject: Re: South Slope to Verrazano Bridge—best route?

nyco wrote: We're hitting the Verrazano Bridge tomorrow around rush hour to visit family in Maryland.

I know this is a done deal by now but why would you do this? You think the BQE is bad? wait till you hit the SI Expressway.

Take the Holland tunnel and put the $9 in your pocket. If you must take the Verrazano I take Ft Hamilton Parkway (after a stop at Terrace Bagels for something to eat on the way.


Coming back is a different story. Follow the signs to the Holland Tunnel and take the Exit for the Goethals Bridge take that to the SI Express way and you'll be a few mile short of the Verrazano

It seems like the key is making sure you stop at Terrace Bagels first as it's been mentioned a couple of times. No matter how bad traffic is, you'll feel better chewing on a delicious, fresh, warm bagel!