Have driven these roads a number of times. You would take I-84 to I-81 and as a result go up the mountains in the Poconos. This can have some serious snow and a lot of deer.
The other way is i-84 to 209 and go down to Stroudsberg and then I-80 to
I-81. Better route although 209 is only 2 ways but trucks are prohibited from using it. Both ways will get you to Harrisburg and then on down. It will take
more time (would guess 2-2 1/2 more hours) and although there is a lot less
traffic it is still longer and you do hit some serious mountains.
If you want to avoid the terrible Washington/Baltimore area there is always
the route going down through Delaware (get off at the end of the NJ Turnpike) and cross the Chessapeak Bridge and then back to I-95. Would be better than the Harrisburg route.
I also found that going through DC on i-95/or 295 ?? is faster and better than the beltway. It comes out on the beltway just before the bridge on I-95.
Just some ideas.
Another option to avoid the NY City traffic is to stay on I-84, cross the Newburg bridge, take 9W south to the Palisades Parkway and take that to
Fort Lee NJ and pick up the NJ Turnpike to Wilminton, Del. and then take the route to the Chessapeake Bridge?? (You pick up the Palisades Parkway at the Bear Mountain Bridge).
