Need some route help

We are driving from New Brunswick (Canadian side of the Maine border, eh?) to Orlando in March and I need some input on routes. We had originally planned to hop on the I95 all the way down, skirting the big cities, but someone suggested going inland. We looked at leaving the I95 below Portsland, Me, going through Hartford, Ct and heading in to hook up with Rte 81, then take that down to Charlotte, NC, before joining back up with the I95.

Its farther in distance but supposedly faster in terms of time as you avoid the major city traffic. We are doing the drive in two loooong days and would hit Washington, DC at about 6pm on a Friday evening if we did the I95 route all the way. Probably not good.

Anybody have any experience with this drive, or part of it?

I am not an easterner.... but my experiance with I-95 is FREEWAY CLOSED Accident Ahead!! :eek:

Glad I live in Wisconsin... no tolls... country back roads that run E-W or N-S for miles...

:)

Have lived on east coast since 93, have driven 95 from Bangor, Maine to Key West (not all at one time).

The following route will keep you out of 95 in CT, the greater NYC area, Philly area, Delaware Bridge, Delaware turnpike, Baltimore, and more importantly the Washington D.C. area.

95 south to 495 to MA turnpike to 84 south to 81 south to 77 south to 26 south to 95 south to destination.

The 84 to 81 south will make your trip longer, but out of the congested areas.

I live in NE Pennsylvania and about 2 years ago I went to Hilton Head, SC. I took 81 to Virginia where I got on 77, through North Carolina to Columbia, SC, taking 26 to 95. I avoided Baltimore and DC. If you get on 81 you would also avoid NYC and Phila (that is, of course, if you can make it through Boston:D ).
As you can tell, I do not care too much for traveling through cities. The trip on 81 was good since I did not have any traffic problems and I was able to make good time.
How would you get from 95 to 81?

95 south to 495 to MA turnpike to 84 south to 81 south to 77 south to 26 south to 95 south to destination.

The 84 to 81 south will make your trip longer, but out of the congested areas.
What he said! And, while longer in distance, this route can actually be shorter in time if you happen to be unlucky enough to hit a major snag in metro NY, Philly, Baltimore/DC, Richmond, etc.

It's also a much more scenic route. There are a number of other options that would keep you closer to the ocean but they all route you through either some heavily congested areas and/or on state/county roads where you're more likely to be held up behind local traffic.

Technically, the route would be more accurately portrayed as:

I-95 SOUTH to I-495 SOUTH (towards Lawrence & Worcester, MA) to I-90/Mass Pike WEST to I-84 WEST/SOUTH (towards Hartford, CT) to I-81 SOUTH (Scranton, PA) to I-77 SOUTH (south of Roanoke, VA) to I-26 EAST/SOUTH (south of Columbia, SC) to I-95 SOUTH to the Sunshine State.

FYI, here in the states all U.S. Highways and Interstates have even numbers for East/West routes and odd numbers for North/South routes.