Erie PA to Albany: I-90 Thruway or I-86/88

[joevdb]

What would you choose? We're towing a 25' AS. I like scenery, but might choose the thruway for ease. Anyone traveled either route lately and have some insight? Thanks!

[paiceman]

Yep, done them both a number of times, with trailer and without. The Truway is expensive but it too has scenery so it should not be discounted for that reason in my opinion.

I-86-88 is less populated until you hit some of the cities or towns and there it can be quite congested, for the country, with people as everyplace going way too fast. Nice quite rest areas, spread out though. They are free, they are also quite bumpy, not so much broken up but because they are free a number of 18 wheelers are using these routes to avoid tolls and damaging the road.

We went to Ithica from Pittsburgh about three weeks ago and stayed at the bottom of one of the finger lakes. We took the 88 route out but decided to take 15 south thru Williamsport and then 80 over west to 79 to avoid the bumpy 88.

Bud

[Dexterpix]

Hi,

88/86 is a little rough. Old concrete road, seams every 25' or so. Ride is scenic but the seams make the thump, thump, thump all day a little annoying. 90 is in good shape just more expensive. 88/86 is more up and down (hills) than 90 as well.

Joe D

[WayneG]

For less hills I90, for better scenery I88 (I88 hills are not to bad if you have good power)
I90 has food/fuel rest stops, I88 you need to get off the highway for that.

[joevdb]

I've seen the thruway and I'd like to see I-86/88, but the thump thump thump I can do without. Enough of that in Michigan, thanks for the replies! Tolls it is.

[kdinnar]

My son lives outside of Jamestown, NY and we live in Maine. I've gone both ways. I 88 and parts of the Southern Tier Expressway are really bumpy. You also have to go off the route to find gas in many areas. Traffic around Binghamton and Elmira can get heavy. We much prefer the NYS Thruway, even with the tolls. It's much less wear and tear on the Airstream. Also, traveling on the weekends reduces the truck traffic.

[TinkersToy]

We travel this every 4th from CT to Erie / Edinboro. Just traveled I86 over this 4th with 22AS. Short section near Binghamton with some thump but otherwise a nice drive. I have also trailered I90 and prefer I86 any day. Tons of traffic on 90 around buffalo.

We usually drop down to Ives Run Army Corp CG in PA off of 15. Beautiful CG with a great price, especially for Senor Park Pass.

Safe travels.

[heitkergm]

I live in Albany. It's a no-brainer to take the Thruway. I86 is hilly and bumpy. I88 from Binghamton is not as bad.

Yes, the Thruway is expensive. My 1axle Bambi and TV cost almost $23 in tolls, as I remember. Between Utica and Albany, it's hilly but not as bad as I86/I88, in my opinion. The road is very well kept in most places; asphalt instead of bumpy concrete.

And the Mohawk River adds lots of scenery (and occasionally floods near Canajoharie in the spring).

[Adam2026]

Take the 90. It's quicker and and a great easy ride. Who cares about the toll. Get an ezpass too. That speeds up the toll both process.

[4mer Paddler]

Originally Posted by heitkergm

Yes, the Thruway is expensive. My 1axle Bambi and TV cost almost $23 in tolls.

You wanna see expensive, come to Toronto and drive the ETR407 toll highway. You need a second mortgage to drive that one. On the plus side....a very smooth road and it avoids all that Toronto congestion.

[gkoche]

Watch your speed on the thruway. Colonie got me twice for single digit overs.

[ktmkirby]

Originally Posted by 4mer Paddler

You wanna see expensive, come to Toronto and drive the ETR407 toll highway. You need a second mortgage to drive that one. On the plus side....a very smooth road and it avoids all that Toronto congestion.

You can drive coast to coast and back again in the US, for less than what it costs to drive the 407 end to end!

My vote is for I90 if you're pulling a trailer.

[Dan Barker]

I live in Vestal, NY and have had occasion to travel to Erie quite a bit, and up to Albany too. If you want less traffic and no tolls, I-86 and I-88 are by far the best. I haven't checked the mileage so don't know which way is shorter.

[WayneG]

Originally Posted by gkoche

Watch your speed on the thruway. Colonie got me twice for single digit overs.

You must have ticked off some cop! In my car, I pass through that section to work and back for 30+ years between 75 & 80 MPH with no problem. Just drove to & from Boston at 75+
With the old motorhome I am usually below 65 on the Thruway

[Adiredneck]

I'd recommend the Thruway/I-90. Pretty ride, especially through the Mohawk Valley. Can't speak for I-86, haven't driven it. I-88 is a beautiful ride, but seems to have been the subject of some heavy artillery shelling from Binghamton to Oneonta. Oneonta to Schenectady is not *too* bad, but that first half of the route is very hard on the equipment (and the butt!)

Tim

[Cwithers11]

Lots of ups and downs on 86 and the road is not always as good. The Thruway rest stops are more frequent and trailer friendly. I am from Rochester originally and am therefore biased.

[joevdb]

thanks we ended up going over the thruway with no problems and enjoyed a stop at the Erie Canal rest stop.