Driving from West Hartford to Cape Liberty

[bsbcgirl]

Leaving on a Thursday morning for Explorer. Which route? What time to leave? How long? Thanks for your help.

[138east]

Take 91 south to exit 17 to W Cross Parkway, which becomes Merritt Pkwy. or to the Hutchinson River Pkwy (Merritt renamed in NY) at I287 at the NY/CT line. From the Hutch take exit 15 in New Rochelle to get on the Cross County Pkwy. Stay in the middle left lane, which will become the left lane when the road "scrunches". This leads onto the Saw Mill River Pkwy South which becomes the Henry Hudson Pkwy at the NYC line ($4 toll). Take the GW bridge and get in the middle left lane to get on I80 west to the NJ Turnpike. Follow the first set of signs to the Lincoln Tunnel (this puts you on the eastern turnpike spur), but don't get off at the real Lincoln Tunnel exit 3 miles later. Stay on the turnpike and follow the signs to exit 14A in Bayonne. Go directly across the toll plaza and take the up ramp that curves left. Stay to the right and bear right at every opportunity until you reach the traffic light at route 440. Make a left, stay left, and make the first left turn onto Port Terminal Blvd.

I don't know how far west of Hartford you are. Some folks take 84 west to 684 south to the Hutchinson River Parkway, but I've never been a fan of driving I84/I684 with the trucks. Perhaps you can cut across I691 to Meriden to pick up the Wilbur Cross. Once you get on the Wilbur Cross Parkway you will not see a truck until the ramp onto the GW Bridge. Whichever way you go, the most important thing is to take the cars only parkway route through Westchester and NYC.

It should take you about 2.5 + hours depending on traffic. I'd leave around 8 am if you can avoid the awful Hartford rush hour traffic. This should put you at the port between 10:30 and 11.

[bsbcgirl]

Thanks, 138 east