Hey everyone,
Im taking the rex up to NYC in a few weeks, from DC area...but want to take the scenic route (which i know is longer) and avoid tolls..I know this can be done and have read the directions in some newspapers, but can't find them....anyone done it before or have advice? I'm not so much concerned with avoiding toll costs as I am finding a nice backroads way. I.e.- I don't mind if it takes even 2 and a half hours longer, cause thats just more time in the rex....any info would help

Im actually going to park in Hoboken NJ...

 

you think your gonna park in hoboken...there is no such thing.....every one double parks or leaves the car in one spot till the weekend....or has a garage....personally i wouldnt take side roads because it will be allot more than 2+ hours.....i would take the garden state parkway if your looking for scenery and forget about the turnpike.....its straight, ugly, boring and stinky....but it is the quickest way....and watch out for the cops in hoboken with your tints.....even though your out of state they may bust chops

 

you mean the NJTP isn't scenic enough for you???

 

im actually gonna park it in a garage, pay garage and all, I found one that is not valet, and I can keep my key to be safe, thats about 2 blocks from the Path....

thanks for the intel about cops and the tint-will definitely look out for that-

 

ha-there's a washingtonpost auto journalist, dr. gridlock, that has printed the scenic route before, im just havin trouble finding it..its supposed to take about 5-6hours, but also supposed to be twisty and pass through some nice towns

 

well damn, make sure you post the link if you find it! NJTP is hell in disguise, really, a piece of auto motoring purgatory...

 

thats why i suggested the parkway.....lots of trees and stuff....and while your up here try to make it to a few meets... :D

 

still searchin for the link to the directions, ill post if i find it-would love to check out other 8s up there if i have time!-
If i can't find the article with the 'official' directions, im just getting a huge road atlas and may make my own, which too I will post for everyone....

but any tips I'll takem!
thanks

 

for anyone who cares, i found the article..this is from Dr Gridlock, a wash post columnist-

Dr. Gridlock: Here are alternatives to the I-95 corridor, and waits at the toll booths:

East of Washington--Take I-95 to the Baltimore Beltway north (I-695) and get off at I-83 north to Harrisburg, Pa.
At Harrisburg, take I-81 north (Hazelton, Scranton), and then I-78 east across Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the New Jersey Turnpike, about two stops below the Holland Tunnel.

West of Washington--Take I-270 (or Route 15) north to Frederick, then Route 15 to Harrisburg, then Route 581 east, connecting to I-83, I-81 and I-78 (see above.).

Scenic and less congested, cheaper. Great home cooking (you probably don't need that this trip) at the Shartlesville Hotel, off I-78 near Allentown/Bethlehem.

unless i get more tips from others here, i'll probably take this route...Ill report on how long it takes, and if its rex friendly.

 

quoted your cut-n-paste so i can actually READ the text (it was navy text color, totally disappeared in with the forum's dark theme color :o )

thanks for the info!

 

I've never done it, and there are lights, dont really know what your looking for, but you can always try just taking 1 or 40 up.

 

DON'T take route 1 up, it's traffic hell in A LOT of sections on that road.

 

I've done the ride that is described above and it adds alot of time, but is definitely low stress. The route 15 suggestion is actually very, very pretty. I used to live up that way.

Another option it to take Maryland Rte 301 up the Delmarva peninsula by crossing the Bay Bridge at Annapolis then 95 to PA Rte 476 (Blue Route), which turns into (476) North East Extension, meet up with Rte 78 at Allentown, PA and take that East to the Jersey turnpike to right below the Holland exit as described above. Just another idea.

 

Dinhx8, how much time do you have to spare? I used to lead sportbike rides all over through central/northern NJ so instead of hitting NJTP (I hate the road, there's nothing to look at except concrete sound barriers and industrial buildings, along with getting shot at by rocks and other junk on the road) I can send you around all sorts of country roads but it'll probably cost you 3-4 hrs extra.

 

well, im leaving on a thursday morning, probably around 7:30 or so, with no where to be till thursday night in manhattan. But i'd love to be in NYC say by 3:30 or so, so that give me about 7 hours, (to leave time for path train, parking etc) . The turnpike route takes about 4 and change, so ive got close to 3 left over......

Im leaning towards the above route i posted, but if there are slight mods to that that would allow me to hit even more isolated windy roads, i'm game man...

 

Ok, I'll look at the map tonight and see what you'll pass coming in from I-78. One way or another, NJTP isn't a "scenic route" by any means.

 

Unless you like the smell of pesticides .

 

Just got back from my trip (from DC to NY, parking in NJ scenic non toll route)...was a good one...in the whole trip, including there and back, only saw one other Rex on the opposite side.
The route is pretty quick and definitely scenic as it takes you thru some mountains (well, an interstate next to mountains). I wanted something even more isolated though i think. The scenic route (posted earlier) takes about an hour and some change longer (if you are really movin) then the turnpike-that is assuming the turnpike has no traffic though. It didn't 'feel' much longer taking the scenic route.

On my way back, i bought a road atlas and spent some time on some more isolated roads, like route 70 which is pretty nice (2 lane highway which lets you practice your top gear passing times).

all in all, very happy with my first long trip in the rex. found a great garage in hoboken, only 17 bucks a day, gated, indoor, I kept my keys, plenty of nice cars in it. One stop from the path.

My car got 260 miles on roughly 14 gallons on the way up, with no cruise control, a/c on '3', and speeds between 70-90mph. Sure beats my day to day city mileage of about 15 mpg and around 200 miles per fill up.

 

Sounds like a great trip! Route 70 in which state?

 

route 70 is in New Jersey, and is a west bound route that takes you thru some small towns, but is a 2 lane highway pretty isolated so its fun to really loosen it up...very flat. ..it feeds to 295 just outside of philly....

from Hoboken, i took the GSP to route 9, which (in my case) takes you close to the jersey shore, where you can pick up 70. Take 70 west to 295 outside philly and from there, you'll work your way to the del mem bridge- cause it was on the back end my trip, i used 95 once i got into delaware but if i had more time (next time) i'd love to fine a real isolated way, in which case i'll share it with all and update