stevewin Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Going up in a couple weeks for the 4th, usually we go up through Va/W Va from Raleigh - but this time we are thinking up breaking up the trip by going up 95 and stopping at Paramount's Kings Dominion above Richmond for the day. This is the route Mapquest shows from there Mapquest dirs to Buffalo In my youth I drove to/from Fla a few times and this was not the route I remember taking to get to/from 95. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zow2 Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Personally, i prefer I-270 north to Rt.15 north thru Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Williamport, Mansfield, PA.... to I-390 north towards Rochester to I-90 West to Buffalo. just be careful to follow signs around Harrisburg for 15 north. A few lights along the way but it's just as fast and much more scenic than the turnpike.. 15 is pretty much a 2 lane highway/expressway the whole way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRH Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Mapquest's directions suck. That will take you through some seriously mountainous terrain over Appalachia and around Pittsburgh. I concur with the previous poster but a better way might be to take Rt 15 up past Corning and then a shortcut to I-90 via routes 36, 63 and 98. Like so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewin Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 Thnx - now I do remember taking 15 through harrisburg - with one speed trap in particular Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Going up in a couple weeks for the 4th, usually we go up through Va/W Va from Raleigh - but this time we are thinking up breaking up the trip by going up 95 and stopping at Paramount's Kings Dominion above Richmond for the day. This is the route Mapquest shows from there Mapquest dirs to Buffalo In my youth I drove to/from Fla a few times and this was not the route I remember taking to get to/from 95. 363529[/snapback] I heven't driven it in at least 7 years, but I found the best route was to go 70 west to the PA Turnpike(rt 76) to rt 199 through Johnstown, then eventually hooking up with 219 north. This way is very good if you are heading to the Southtowns, or ares near the stadium. My brother drives down here quite often from Grand Island and swears by RT 15, so I think that is the concensus. If you go that way, follow the advice on RT 63 etc. BTW, plan your trip through DC wisely. Rush hour now runs from 6-11 in the morning, and 2.30-8.00pm. You will get crushed with traffic on the Beltway from 95 all the way through to 270 on up to Frederick if you are on that stretch, especially after 3.00pm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scribo Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 I drive from DC to Rochester almost weekly. When leaving from DC, I take 95N to 695W to 83N to 15N to 390N to 90. When leaving from home, which is south of DC in Fredericksburg, I take Rt. 17W to 66W to 81N to 15N tp 390N to 90. I am pretty sure it is the best way to Rochester. You;d be getting on the Thruway in Henrietta if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 I drive from DC to Rochester almost weekly. When leaving from DC, I take 95N to 695W to 83N to 15N to 390N to 90. When leaving from home, which is south of DC in Fredericksburg, I take Rt. 17W to 66W to 81N to 15N tp 390N to 90. I am pretty sure it is the best way to Rochester. You;d be getting on the Thruway in Henrietta if that helps. 363583[/snapback] Was just going to post that taking rt 17 might be a much better option if your trip would put you in DC during rush hour. Catch it about 30 miles north of Kings Dominion right off 95 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayg Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 We've been from Richmond to Buf/Fredonia for nearly 30 years. The Map you gave is the fastest consistenlty that we have found, and we have tried many ways. We do like to travel at night. Hell, I havent driven in years. Southwest from BWI is a little over $100 round trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 The route they give you is the quickest. Just watch for state police as you get around Pittsburgh. Depending on where you are actually going there are quicker ways. If southtowns/Jamestown then 219 up through Altoona area is quicker. If Batavia/Rochester, then 15 is probably quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brihs2005 Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 When you guys say quickest, how long does the drive take for a guy that goes 80mph most of the way? Going to have to drive to and from school in DC starting in the fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 When you guys say quickest, how long does the drive take for a guy that goes 80mph most of the way? Going to have to drive to and from school in DC starting in the fall. 363605[/snapback] About 30 hours, while you wait to get bailed out in towns along the Penn-NY border. Or in Maryland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayg Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 The fastest I ever made it from Richmond was 8.5-9 hours in perfect conditions (weather/traffic). You could knock off an hour and a half or so in good conditions from DC. When you guys say quickest, how long does the drive take for a guy that goes 80mph most of the way? Going to have to drive to and from school in DC starting in the fall. 363605[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cåblelady Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 North. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brihs2005 Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 About 30 hours, while you wait to get bailed out in towns along the Penn-NY border. Or in Maryland. 363607[/snapback] Haha! make sure i leave friday night for a sunday game then. Are there a lot of speed traps? and are there a lot of patrolers out at the wee hours of the night when i like to drive long distances.... 1am-7am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finknottle Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 15 is definitely the best and most scenic way to go. The only thing you have to be mindfull of is the weather. Two-lane roads through mountainy Pennsylvania on a snowy winter night can get scary... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Tate Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 15 is definitely the best and most scenic way to go. The only thing you have to be mindfull of is the weather. Two-lane roads through mountainy Pennsylvania on a snowy winter night can get scary... 363648[/snapback] That's not a deer crossing, that's a car crossing on a deer highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsWatch Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 I-270 to I-70 to I-70/I-76 to I-99 to I-322 to I-219 is my route which takes me 7.5 hours to Orchard Park from No VA. I do not recommend it for the winter but otherwise good route, no tolls and roads in good shape with many minor alternates available when you get a traffic jam. I used to go the I-70/I-76/I-79/I-90 route, US 15 and US 14 route and the 83N routes. When I-99 opened up including the free toll between Bedsford and I-99 exit, that route reduced time by large factor. Took R. Rich and I 6 hours from Baltimore including turning around to get something we forgot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac17 Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 the best part about rte 15 is that it takes you right by Bucknell University, home of the mighty Bison who you may remember from such episodes as "Bucknell beats Kansas, 2005 NCAA Tourney"..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ in VA Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 the best part about rte 15 is that it takes you right by Bucknell University, home of the mighty Bison who you may remember from such episodes as "Bucknell beats Kansas, 2005 NCAA Tourney"..... 363736[/snapback] I drive from Williamsburg to OP and Bristol harbor(Roch area) monthly. The best way to Op is the 219 through central PA and to Roch or their abouts take the 15. OP 8.5 hours from Williamsburg Roch about the same depending on balt and DC traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crap Throwing Monkey Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 When you guys say quickest, how long does the drive take for a guy that goes 80mph most of the way? Going to have to drive to and from school in DC starting in the fall. 363605[/snapback] It is possible to do the DC-Buffalo drive in six hours on the 270-15-390 route. Difficult - and dangerous, as there's certain parts of 15 in N. Pennsylvania that are honest-to-God death traps even in good weather (four lane, undivided, 65mph speed limit, winding through the mountains...I've seen two people die on that road) - and insane, but possible, as I've done it in 6:07. Still...bet on 7 hours if you hurry, 8 if you obey the law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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