Getting there...

[tahnan]

We're now in a hotel in Philadelphia. We've eaten. And we got here in one piece. (Note to certain Bostonian Haverfordians: had we gone door-to-door, rather than continuing south past the city to the airport and finding a hotel here, it would have taken us pretty much five and a half hours, perhaps closer to six, nowhere near eight.)

More, perhaps, tomorrow, should we survive.

Comments

[dr_whom]

What route did you take? Boston to Philly in five and a half seems awfully quick to me; does that include stopping for dinner and/or the suchlike?

[thedan.livejournal.com]

My dad has done Boston-Philly in 5.5 hours many times, though usually it only works if you leave very early in the morning.

[tahnan.livejournal.com]

Mass Pike to 84 through Hartford to 684 to the Tappan Zee to the Garden State Parkway to Trenton and across into Pennsylvania and then south on 95. Specifically, this route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=arlington+ma&daddr=Unknown+road+%4041.005120,+-73.649650+to:I-87+N%2FNew+York+State+Thruway+N%2FTappan+Zee+Bridge+%4041.070150,+-73.894610+to:40.060206,-74.97757+to:4800+pine+philadelphia&mrcr=2,3&mrsp=3&sz=11&mra=dpe&sll=40.098559,-74.742737&sspn=0.351911,0.672226&ie=UTF8&z=11&om=1).

We left at perhaps 2:50 and arrived around say 8:30 or 8:40, having stopped once at a drivethrough for lunch, once at a rest stop in Connecticut, and once in Jersey for gas.

[dr_whom]

Hang on, the route you display on the Google-map isn't the same as the route you describe. (And did you take Route 1 from the Garden State to Trenton?)

By-the-way, if you find yourself making that trip again (which I suppose is less likely now), I recommend taking the Saw Mill Parkway to the Tappan Zee instead of taking 684 all the way. It's a lot shorter and only a little bit slower, so I think it's ultimately quicker. Just don't use it if it's been raining.

I usually allow more than 7 hours for almost exactly that route (except I'm going farther, 'coz I'm usually starting or ending in Beverly MA), but it sounds like I take more rest time. I usually give myself at least half an hour's break in both Montvale NJ and Charlton MA.

[tahnan.livejournal.com]

Oh, right, we cut over south of Trenton. The map is the route we took. (As well you know, it's rainy right now, so perhaps not taking the Saw Mill was for the best.)

[leighjen.livejournal.com]

Stop for dinner? Are you crazy? I come from the Papa Leighjen's school of driving where you stop to pee if you have to, eat on the road (unless mom makes you stop to sit down at MickyDee's), someone gets you coffee while you fill up the tank*, and you keep driving until you either get there or you can't drive no more. :-)

*Last night I decided to forgo coffee because it would mean that I would have to park the car after having filled up the tank.

[lsl.livejournal.com]

Sounds like we have very similar driving trip styles. Glad you made it ok. Good luck (today).

[jadelennox]

mmmmaybe that's it. A few stops -- even if they're just wander aimlessly around the gas station while you get blood flowing back in your legs -- can add up on a trip that long.

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

Safe travels! Moving is such a PITA... but soon the worst will be over. Hang in there!

[jadelennox]

I suppose H'ford is 30 minutes past central Philly but I don't think I've ever done it in less then seven. Maybe the roads are better than they were 12 years ago?