Thanksgiving travel between Boston and Newark: Wednesday night or Thursday morning?
I am making a Thanksgiving trip between Worcester/Boston (Shrewsbury) Mass. and Newark (Fanwood) NJ, and given that this is a corridor that sees heavy Thanksgiving traffic, I want to know whether traffic is heavier on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, or if it is about the same. Also suggested routes would be appreciated.
Boston - 4 Answers
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1 :
avoid NYC on Wed. go with the early morning idea. no commuter traffic tied up with the holiday traffic on Thurs. morning. also consider I-84 to NY Thruway to NJ Parkway to Newark area. This will avoid NYC all together.
2 :
Mudpie is right about the route-the crossing at the Tappan Zee Bridge is your best bet. You shouldn't have too much trouble if you leave late on Wednesday night. People leave at different times from locations in New Enlgand throughout the week. The REAL nightmare is everyone trying to return at the same time on Sunday. If you can put off your return until midday Monday you'll be better off. There are loads of shoppers on the roads on Friday and Saturday.
3 :
Most of the roads (not even counting the NYC area) are nightmares pre-Thanksgiving. I traveled to visit relatives for years going from Boston to NJ and PA. Wednesday is possible if you take the day off and get a very early start. On Thursday a very very early start is almost bearable but the tiniest accident along the route and you will be there for hours you hadn't planned on. Besides the usual of 84 to 684 or 395 to 95 I have tried the Mass Pike to the NY Thruway and then dropping down Taconic Parkway to Rt287 across the Tappan Zee. I have tried taking I84 across the Hudson and then dropping down that way. I have tried Rte 1 and I 91 and Rt2 20 instead of the more popular roads. Each has its own problems and choke points. My present approach is Mass Pike to the NYC exit and then take I 84 W from near Hartford to I684 in NY. That gets me to I287 and the approach to Tappan Zee Bridge and then over it to NJ. Coming back I take I95 to 395 to Mass Pike.
4 :
I think traffic would be heavier on Thursday morning. All last minute travelers would think to start early Thursday morning. Try very off hours, like midnight, or 3am. Sounds silly, but that's your best bet.
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