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I-86 thru NY

Abubob

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My wife and I are planning our annual sojourn to Ohio from Central NH. We usually cross VT on Rte 4 and make our way to Rte 90 through NY which is a great road but the tolls are a bit much so we're thinking of using I-86 instead. I see right away it'll take an extra hour but any thoughts or advise on this route?
 

Abubob

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I see that heading west after Binghamton Rte 17 and 86 are one and the same but I don't think I come anywhere close to Orange County. Thanks for the input anyway, Scotty.
 

Cornhead

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Route 17, aka 86, used to be a nightmare between Binghamton and NYC. I can remember leaving for a trip on my motorcycle to visit my Sis in NYC, I almost turned around, kathunk, kathunk, kathunk, on every expansion joint. Now, it is pretty nice, they have paved over the concrete with asphalt, the road is smooth, and it is quite scenic through the Catskills. I haven't been past Elmira but once, I took my Son to Cedar Point about five years ago. There was much construction out that way then in preparation to making it an interstate, no at grade crossings allowed. It is in much better shape than 88, the route I take for most of my trips to the Adirondacks and New England. I say, go for it.
 

mattchuck2

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If he's coming from NH, he's going to pick up 17 (I86) in Binghamton (after taking 88 down from Albany) and won't do that section between Binghamton and NYC (where there are still a couple of at grade crossings left). From Binghamton west, it's all highway and is smooth sailing (although kind of a boring road - the southern tier isn't great in terms of scenery . . . Not that I90 is that great either).

It's definitely the route I would take if I were driving to Ohio . . . Particularly if you've never done it before.
 

Abubob

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Definitely looking forward to the change of pace on this trip. Thanks for the input Cornhead and mattchuck. If anyone know of places to stay (we aren't all night drivers and like to stop for the evening) please let me know. We usually stop around Dunkirk on the way out and Syracuse on the way back to give you an idea. Thanks again.
 

ScottySkis

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ScottySkis

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darent

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where in ohio I 90 is good if you are heading for northern ohio. I grew up in southern ohio and I take I 80 across PA . my starting point is cape cod.I 86 wanders. I bet I 87 to I 84 to port jarvis,209 to I 80 would be better. I don't like I 90, to much construction, tolls and is no faster from where i start. also if you are in a car you can cut down the Taconic PKWY to I 84 when you cut through vermont
 
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180

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I have taken 86 all the way to Jamestown. Very nice road with a Casino and plenty of hotels. It also goes through some high areas of the Allegheny Plateau.
 

Abubob

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where in ohio I 90 is good if you are heading for northern ohio. I grew up in southern ohio and I take I 80 across PA . my starting point is cape cod.I 86 wanders. I bet I 87 to I 84 to port jarvis,209 to I 80 would be better. I don't like I 90, to much construction, tolls and is no faster from where i start. also if you are in a car you can cut down the Taconic PKWY to I 84 when you cut through vermont

I'd forgotten about I-90 construction - glad I'm not going that way. Seems like it was ramping up on last years trip. There's alway's a southerly jog we need to make to get to southern Ohio but we've found Rte 71 to be an excellent road with very little traffic with an easy beltway around Columbus. If I can avoid NY and PA I will. (Am I the only one to find some of the PA truck stops dismal?) When we lived in CT we'd take 81 to 68 to 79 and I never cared for it.
 
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