Newbie - Raleigh NC to Cape Cod, MA

[rallyd]

About to take my 3rd and longest haul with my Bambi 16 + 2017 Honda Pilot AWD with trans cooler.

I need to take the shortest route there but saw there are some challenges I normally don't think about when traveling. (ie. propane in Baltimore tunnels, potholes, traffic)

I was thinking of 85 / 95 / MD295 / 95 in Baltimore / 195 in Providence / Capecod

Any sage advice is welcomed! Thanks in advance! Rally

[mbubbaca]

We've gone from NC to the NE many times in the past 18 years. We do all we can to avoid 95. We are a little further West in NC and take the 77 81 78 route and cross into NJ on 78. You might want to check it out. There are some hills but no stop and go to speak of the major towns aren't too bad even at rush hour. Just a suggestion.

[Bill M.]

I stay west and north of the NY city area when we make that trip.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by rallyd

. . .

I need to take the shortest route . . .

Welcome to the forum!

Please define shortest:

-- distance
-- time
-- annoying interaction with other human beings and their vehicles
-- risk of accidents and vehicle damage
-- repairs of vehicles and human bodies after accident
-- etc.

Personally I would go NW from Raleigh to I-81, N to PA, then east on I-84 to the Hartford CT area, then on to the Cape TBD. Except for distance this is by far the best "reward/risk" route IMO. At certain times of day and week, it may also be the quickest. Definitely safer and less risky.



Happy Trails!

Peter

[Bill M.]

OTRA has a good post and route. That "shortest route" thinking can cause you some pain in this area of the country.

[Tan Son Nhut]

Stay off 95!
When we purchased our 2014 AS from Colonial, in N.J., we brought it back to Brewster, Mass on Cape Cod.
WE CIRCUMVENTED NYC and drove up the west side of the Hudson River and crossed east bound in the Hyde Park area. Went up the Tatonic Parkway to the Mass Pike. east bound to Rte 128S/95S to Rte 3S. Ovah the Sagamore Bridge onto Cape Cod to Brewster.

[OTRA15]

I thought trailers were prohibited on the Taconic Parkway?



Also the Mass Pike is way north of a normal route to Cape Cod. Have you checked your route on a physical map? See Post #4 suggestion to use I-84 to go east.

[thiel]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

I thought trailers were prohibited on the Taconic Parkway?



Also the Mass Pike is way north of a normal route to Cape Cod. Have you checked your route on a physical map? See Post #4 suggestion to use I-84 to go east.

Correct: no trailers allowed on the Taconic.

[wildhorses]

We had to go pick up a kit car in Wareham, MA a couple of years ago, we went up I-81 to pick up I-84 in Scranton, across to MA. Avoid I-95 like the plague, one minor incident and you are backed up for miles.

The only thing worse is I-90 thru Chicago!