How is Route 2 to Southern VT resorts from Boston?

[New Daddy]

On my recent trip to Stratton from Boston, I took I-90 & I-91. It was not the fastest route according to Google Maps, but the difference was minimal (3 minutes according to Google Maps), I prefer interstates where I can put the car on cruise, and gas consumption, too, is correlated with the duration of the trip not the mileage. It took about 3 hours.

On my way back, however, I decided to take Google Map's advice for once and took Route 2. It wasn't bad at all. I actually made it back to Boston in less than 3 hours. I think I might have gotten lucky not getting stuck behind a slow moving truck in a one-lane section.

In general, how does Route 2 fare when you travel to Southern Vermont resorts from Boston?

 

[makimono]

I would never take the pike to 91, too far south, but I used to take Rt 2 to 91. Now I prefer to take 2 to 140/12 through Keene to 91, seems to be about 15 minutes faster and 30 miles shorter which saves about $10 round trip in the Jeep.

 

[Katadinagain]

The majority of the traffic goes into Boston in the morning and west in the afternoon. If you leave Boston on Fri afternoon at 4 you may hit some traffic at the Concord rotary and in Leominster at 190. Other than that you should have smooth sailing

 

[JonD]

It's a more interesting ride, plus less mileage(gas) and tolls than the pike.

 

[marcski]

I would never take the pike to 91, too far south, but I used to take Rt 2 to 91. Now I prefer to take 2 to 140/12 through Keene to 91, seems to be about 15 minutes faster and 30 miles shorter which saves about $10 round trip in the Jeep.

Wow, I never really broke it down like that....$1 for about 6 miles in a Jeep. (I'm assuming your $10 figure was based on the round trip..)....makes driving sound a lot more expensive that way.

 

[New Daddy]

It's a more interesting ride, plus less mileage(gas) and tolls than the pike.

Ok, this thread was not so much about the mileage as about the overall driving experience, but as far as gas consumption is concerned, I think it's more correlated with the amount of time the motor is running rather than the actual mileage.

For example, the Pike + I-91 to Stratton is 173 miles from where I live, whereas the Route 2 route is about 140 miles, a difference of over 30 miles. But I consumed just about as much gas going to as coming back from Stratton. I've experienced such phenomenon time and again. If you can drive faster on a longer route and make it in about the same amount of time as one a shorter but slower route, the gas consumption too will be about the same.

 

[jrmagic]

Ok, this thread was not so much about the mileage as about the overall driving experience, but as far as gas consumption is concerned, I think it's more correlated with the amount of time the motor is running rather than the actual mileage.

For example, the Pike + I-91 to Stratton is 173 miles from where I live, whereas the Route 2 route is about 140 miles, a difference of over 30 miles. But I consumed just about as much gas going to as coming back from Stratton. I've experienced such phenomenon time and again. If you can drive faster on a longer route and make it in about the same amount of time as one a shorter but slower route, the gas consumption too will be about the same.

A friend of mine on the North Shore uses Route 2 every week on his way to Magic and it takes him about 3 hours.

I don't agree with your gas consumption hypothesis though. If I'm understanding you correctly, your saying that if you drove down a flat road for 80 miles at 80MPH and another flat road for 40 miles at 40 MPH your gas consumption would be the same cause each trip was an hour and I contend that there is no way that could be true.

 

[New Daddy]

I don't agree with your gas consumption hypothesis though. If I'm understanding you correctly, your saying that if you drove down a flat road for 80 miles at 80MPH and another flat road for 40 miles at 40 MPH your gas consumption would be the same cause each trip was an hour and I contend that there is no way that could be true.

Ok, now we are going beyond skiing logistics, but I'd say 40 miles at 40 MPH would probably consume more gas than 80 miles at 80 MPH. I wish someone with expertise on this topic could answer. I've heard that there is a sweet spot for efficient gas consumption.

The problem with shorter routes in many cases is that there are often traffic lights, which force you to stop and go. That consumes a lot of gas. Those shorter routes are rarely 40 miles at constant 40 MPH-types.

 

[darent]

a car traveling at 80mph uses almost 40% more gas than a car going 40mph.at 40 it will take you longer to get there but will be more efficient with better gas milage. at a high rate of speed you are wasting alot of gas because of valve timing overlap so more raw fuel is spilling into the exhaust cycle, thus lowering your MPG

 

[darent]

I would never take the pike to 91, too far south, but I used to take Rt 2 to 91. Now I prefer to take 2 to 140/12 through Keene to 91, seems to be about 15 minutes faster and 30 miles shorter which saves about $10 round trip in the Jeep.

I tried that route and found to many places you had to slow down going thru small towns . also noted alot of local police out with radar. I come up 495 and take the 140 cut to rt 2

 

[neil]

I've often wondered about this when driving to Magic. Google maps want's me to go 2W then 140N. That seems crazy to me. I've always done 2W to 91.

I can just see 140N being a really slow slog. Anyone done that?

 

[riverc0il]

I used to go Route 2 for SoVT when I lived north of Boston. I never had any problems, especially on the drive out if you leave early. Ride home? Who cares if you get stuck behind a few slow pokes. The alt route through SoNH as quoted above is fine as well.

 

[steamboat1]

This sounds like one of those old math word problems I would get in school.

 

[drjeff]

Living about 25 miles South of the Mass Pike essentially right on I-395 in NE CT, and going to Mount Snow basically every weekend they're open, I've done both the Rte 2 and the Mass Pike to I-91 trips many times. Personally I prefer the Mass PIke to I-91. It's just regularly more predictable time wise for me, and if the road conditions are at all suspect, it's usually in better shape, and has more miles of road where passing isn't an issue.

Time wise it's essentially the same (as long as I don't get stuck behind someone poking along over the last 20 or so miles of route 2 from when it goes from a divided highway to a 2 lane road) as any traffic I might hit going up through Worcester getting to route 2 is often offset by the "55mph rolling Prius roadblock" that one often encounters between the PIke/91 interchange and Northhampton

 

[Geoff]

I would never take the pike to 91, too far south, but I used to take Rt 2 to 91. Now I prefer to take 2 to 140/12 through Keene to 91, seems to be about 15 minutes faster and 30 miles shorter which saves about $10 round trip in the Jeep.

I grew up doing this drive to Stratton every weekend.

I did the Keene route to Killington for a number of years. I still go that way from time to time when I know I'm going to hit Boston rush hour.

The Mass Pike is definitely a longer drive unless you're a cop with diplomatic immunity. 2 to Greenfield is a little bit quicker than 2 to 140 to 12 to Keene as long as I-91 has no construction. The advantage of Keene is the NH state liquor store and tax-free shopping if you need to buy anything.

 

[Newpylong]

When I lived in Boston I preferred Route 2 over the Pike if you're going to Vermont. You can get royally screwed heading west on the Pike friday afternoon/night or coming east on Sunday with people coming and going down I84 and 128.

the only big problem heading on 2 (if you live in Boston proper) is through Alewife and the rotary.

 

[deadheadskier]

I would never take the pike to 91, too far south, but I used to take Rt 2 to 91. Now I prefer to take 2 to 140/12 through Keene to 91, seems to be about 15 minutes faster and 30 miles shorter which saves about $10 round trip in the Jeep.

grew up in Westboro, MA. family had a home at Okemo. This was the route we took and definitely the fastest.

 

[billski]

I would never take the pike to 91, too far south, but I used to take Rt 2 to 91. Now I prefer to take 2 to 140/12 through Keene to 91, seems to be about 15 minutes faster and 30 miles shorter which saves about $10 round trip in the Jeep.

ditto

 

[billski]

I've often wondered about this when driving to Magic. Google maps want's me to go 2W then 140N. That seems crazy to me. I've always done 2W to 91.

I can just see 140N being a really slow slog. Anyone done that?

yep. It's a clear shot at highway speeds, except for Keene. Never gotten bogged down, even during snow times. I'm never more than 5mph over the limit, so no worry about radar. Did it last Saturday/Sunday.

 

[hammer]

yep. It's a clear shot at highway speeds, except for Keene. Never gotten bogged down, even during snow times. I'm never more than 5mph over the limit, so no worry about radar. Did it last Saturday/Sunday.

What was your drive time?