[Laker]

Originally Posted by Rsb23

Go this way. This the best route. I suggest that you add a FREE app to your phone or iPad… it’s called iExit. It shows you gas stations, restaurants, and lodging on your trip as you drive. And it’s FREE … NO advertisements .. there are additional choices on the app. It shows you the next 3 exits on your drive as to gas station… and the prices…. The same for lodging and you can call with just a touch on the app. Or get directions with a touch…..
I wouldn’t travel without this app.
I also use it here in TV to see what the local gas stations are charging with in about 10 miles radius….
Have a safe trip….

Just downloaded the app. Perfect, thank you.

[Nanettek3]

Take the Amtrak Auto Train which offers a daily, nonstop service between Sanford, Florida and Lorton, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., allowing passengers to travel with their vehicles. The train departs from Sanford at 4 PM and arrives in Lorton at 9 AM the next day. My parents have taken it and another time my cousin took it. Both enjoyed the experience. There are sleeper cars and restaurant/ food available. It will cover a nice portion of your trip.
When traveling to FL w my cats, (7 hrs) I used a calming spray on a towel in the cages. Half the trip they were out of the cages but pretty much just chilled. All the best to you on your journey

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Take 95 to 26 to 77 to 81 to 84 to 290 to 495 to 95

WESTERN Base route:
Take 95 to 26 to 77 to 81 to 84 to 90 to 290 to 495 to 95

Alternate slightly shorter NJ/NY/NE but slightly more congested and more limited services:
Take 95 to 26 to 77 to 81 to 78 to 287 to 87 to 84 to 90 to 290 to 495 to 95

Take 95 to 26 to 77 to 81 to 78 to 287 to 87 to 90 to 495 to 95

EASTERN Base ROUTE slightly more direct, but much more construction/congestion (NC) and more services, still avoids most of DC and Baltimore:

Take 95N to 495E DC Beltway to 50E to Delaware 301N to 95N NJ Delaware Memorial Bridge to 287 to 87 to 84 to 90 to 290 to 495 to 95

Scenic and slower but avoids all of DC/Baltimore,
Take 95N to Emporia NC 58E to the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel, to 13N MD/DE to 1N DE to 95N NJ Delaware Memorial Bridge to 287 to 87N to 84E to 90E to 290 to 495N to 95N

Have taken all of them, weekday vs weekend, time of day all can make a difference in NJ north, due to the increasing population density as you go North. With gas / potty breaks and meals, which ends up to be 45m to 60 min lost time for lunch, we plan average speed of 55 mph to estimate total driving time.

We use two drivers, so that can make a difference, as well as weekday/weekend and time of day. We haven't encountered many road closures / accidents in 5 years taking these routes several times a year.

good luck and have fun!

[Notsocrates]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

IMHO, I would head off 95 in Virgina and go towards Harrisburg PA, you avoid Baltimore and Wash DC, then you have several choices to continue north.

Agree, but plan on 24 hours. The Harrisburg route adds an hour but there is no risk of tunnel and bridge delay

[dougawhite]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

We used to go to Fredericksburg and then cut across to 81 in Winchester. Then we tried taking 26 to 77 to get to 81 and found that to be a much better route. I95 is just too unpredictable once you get north of Georgia. There is no way we would drive I95 north of Fredericksburg!

If you want to avoid Boston area traffic, try heading north on I91 in Springfield, MA. Then in VT cross into NH through Keene and then Concord, NH. Both beautiful places to stay and relax. From Concord, take Rte 4 to Portsmouth and then up I95 to Portland.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Rsb23

I suggest that you add iExit. It shows you gas stations, restaurants, and lodging on your trip as you drive.

iExit is an excellent app for services and distances to state lines/exits on the major interstates, and we use Gas Buddy app to also check local gas and diesel prices when not on a major interstate. However, gas buddy is crowd sourced, and subject to station owner manipulation, been burnt several times.

Pays to have a gas app for some gas savings as well, if you travel often. We use Shell for the discounts, and gas points from local shopping, but the shopping rebates are all regionally based. So FL gas points aren't usable out of FL. . Gas buddy has discounts as well for any station.

[Donegalkid]

Portland resident here. I agree with the excerpts from other posters below

“Take 95 to 26 to 77 to 81 to 84 to 290 to 495 to 95.”

“I would recommend taking 485W & N around Charlotte, unless you like traffic. Also watch rush hour there. That would miss about 19 miles of 77. It is about 5 miles longer. You'll most likely still hit some traffic on 77, but you should miss the worst by not going through Charlotte.”

[JerseyGurl]

Check out pet friendly accommodations at bringfido.com

[Driller703]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

The route everyone is giving you, is probably the best ... going through Harrisburg. I make the drive 4 or 5 times a year and there's no way I'd go near 95 North of Richmond. I won't drive through Richmond, Washington DC or NYC under any circumstances ... you never know what you're going to get there.

I think you may want to re-evaluate your ETA. I don't know where in Maine you're going, but there's no way to do it in 21 hours, that I know of. I doubt you can do it in less than 23-24 hours of Driving.

Waze says it's 20 hours to Portland & if you can get within 20% of Waze time on a trip that long, you're doing well. In the history of Waze, I don't think anyone has beaten their time on a trip over an hour.

This is my Route:

Take 301N to Callahan, FL then in Gross, Florida, catch I95N

Take I95N through to Virginia.

Take I295N around Richmond, VA and back onto I95N towards Fredricksburg, VA

You're now 800 miles from TV

From Fredericksburg, VA, take Rt. 17 North Towards Winchester, VA & Harrisburg, PA, which picks up 81N (goes across W. VA, MD & PA)

Take 81N towards Scranton and then take 84E towards Orange Lake/Newburg and Worcester, MA. Get on the Mass Pike in Sturbridge and take the Pike to 290 in Auburn/Worcester. From Worcester take 290 to I495 in Marlboro/Berlin. Take 495 North to 95N in Amesbury.

(You'll cross the Hudson River in Newburg, so you'll avoid everything in and around NYC)

Do not go 301 a I-95!
Go 77 to 81 to 84 and onward.

[bigjohnny19]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Take 95 to 26 to 77 to 81 to 84 to 290 to 495 to 95

Start out with U.S. 301 N to FL 200 E to get to I-95 N of Jacksonville

[jabacon6669]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Take 95 to 26 to 77 to 81 to 84 to 290 to 495 to 95

I've gone this way several times. Distance wise, it's a little longer. Time wise, also just little longer but less of a chance for traffic tie ups. The fastest way, and we went to Berwick, Maine for several years, now to southern NH, is 95 all the way. but I would only do it on a weekend. Construction in No and So. Carolina can be bad, it's still only two lanes. They are widening it now. Plus, on weekend you don't get the commuter traffic in all the urban areas. If you want to avoid the GW bridge in NY, take the Garden State Parkway up to the Cuomo Bridge (687), then up to 684 to 84 thru Hartford.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by bigjohnny19

Start out with U.S. 301 N to FL 200 E to get to I-95 N of Jacksonville

The Villages is getting so big, the best way to get north of Jacksonville depends on where you live in the Villages. We cross 441 from Avenida Central to Griffin Ave., take 25 to Weirsdale to 42 to Altoona then take 19 north through the Ocala forest to Palatka to 17 to Orange Park to the 295 west loop around Jacksonville to 95. With the exception of a bunch of traffic lights on the last stretch of 17, it’s a very nice ride. We have tried just about every other possible route and found this to be the best and most consistent route from the LSL/SS area of the Villages.

[walterray1]

Originally Posted by Veracity

I hope this is not a permanent move (with the cats).

No, just a get away from the heat thing. First time traveling with these cats though.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Nanettek3

Take the Amtrak Auto Train which offers a daily, nonstop service between Sanford, Florida and Lorton, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., allowing passengers to travel with their vehicles. The train departs from Sanford at 4 PM and arrives in Lorton at 9 AM the next day. My parents have taken it and another time my cousin took it. Both enjoyed the experience. There are sleeper cars and restaurant/ food available. It will cover a nice portion of your trip.
When traveling to FL w my cats, (7 hrs) I used a calming spray on a towel in the cages. Half the trip they were out of the cages but pretty much just chilled. All the best to you on your journey

There are NO PETS allowed on the AutoTrain, under any circumstances.

Service Animals are allowed per Federal Regulations.

[Pharmer]

We are now too old to make the 2 ½ day drive but we always avoided I95 because of the congestion in and around NYC (especially the G. W. bridge.) We always found the inland route through PA. mountains to be better (Except when snow is a possibility) and only a little longer.