Real Question is How Long Does it Take to Drive Home

[catskills]

At 5:30pm Monday night the NY State Thruway was bumper to bumper all the way to Kingston Exit 19 mile marker 91 and beyond. Everyone talks about how long it takes to drive to Catskill ski areas, Vermont ski areas, Gore, Whiteface. etc.

The real question is how long does it take to drive home from your favorite ski resort?

So how long was your return trip Monday night ?

 

[BenedictGomez]

I'm confused. It was bumper to bumper from the Kingston exit to where?

Normally on a typical weekend 87 isnt that bad. It's FULL with traffic, but generally moving, and it seems every 3rd car is with skiers and boarders, but frankly I think that's kindof cool. You stop at a rest stop and you see a medley of lift tickets on nearly everyone's jackets from DAX, Cats, n.VT, etc... It's like the traveling brotherhood of snow-lovers.

 

[lerops]

Had to be in Westchester by 5pm for a commitment, so left Plattekill around 2:30pm. There were a few traffic spots on 87, but generally fine. We were 15 minutes late. Not bad. I can see how it would be congested later, though.

 

[deadheadskier]

Traveling home from VT areas is never really an issue living in NH. 89 is a breeze. Worst traffic is pretty much getting out of the ski towns themselves, but once you hit the highways it's smooth sailing.

If I'm skiing Northern NH, 93 from Meridith South can get a bit annoying with traffic not getting much over the speed limit, if at all. You can also get stuck behind slow pokes on route 16.

Maine, I rarely have an issue. Occasional slowdowns around Portland on 295 and near the York tolls, but nothing too bad.

 

[catskills]

I'm confused. It was bumper to bumper from the Kingston exit to where?

Well there are two choices here.

1. Bumper to bumper going South on NY State Thruway 91 miles to NY City
2. Bumper to bumper going North on NY State Thruway 50 miles to Albany

On the last day of a 3 day weekend its very common to see traffic backed up on NY State Thruway going south for the return trip to NY City, Long Island, Westchester county, New Jersey and other points south.

 

[Rowsdower]

It always takes me the same amount of time each way. I try and get there early and then leave by the early afternoon when the crowds build, that way I miss most of the traffic.

 

[abc]

Well there are two choices here.

1. Bumper to bumper going South on NY State Thruway 91 miles to NY City
2. Bumper to bumper going North on NY State Thruway 50 miles to Albany

On the last day of a 3 day weekend its very common to see traffic backed up on NY State Thruway going south for the return trip to NY City, Long Island, Westchester county, New Jersey and other points south.

I've been wondering why traffic gotten so much more intense.

It used to be (some years back) traffic backed up to Newburgh due to the choke of toll booth in the southern end of the Thruway, though only in the summer. Rarely traffic in the winter. Then the winter holiday weekends, this started to happen. A couple years back, the back up often extend up to New Paltz.

Now to Kingston!

Yet, ski hills are struggling to stay afloat? What gives???

 

[BenedictGomez]

Well there are two choices here.

1. Bumper to bumper going South on NY State Thruway 91 miles to NY City
2. Bumper to bumper going North on NY State Thruway 50 miles to Albany

When you say, "bumper to bumper", do you mean, very heavy traffic but people are at least doing 50, or do you mean parking lot gridlock of 0 to 25mph?

 

[catskills]

When you say, "bumper to bumper", do you mean, very heavy traffic but people are at least doing 50, or do you mean parking lot gridlock of 0 to 25mph?

I was going North. I would estimate around 30MPH. There should be someone on this forum that can provide a more accurate speed.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I was going North. I would estimate around 30MPH. There should be someone on this forum that can provide a more accurate speed.

That's horrendous if it went all the way to the Jersey border. There have definitely been times when it's so bad I get off and take 32 South for miles and miles, but that's just another form of (less painful) torture.

 

[steamboat1]

Taconic State Parkway, F the Thruway.

 

[ScottySkis]

Taconic State Parkway, F the Thruway.

+1 I used to get to K from the Bronx in 4 hour with this route. Only in bad snow storms I wouldn't take it. 90% of winter driving it is a great route.

 

[drjeff]

Took me about an extra 30 minutes last night courtesy of an accident on I-91 South in the "Northampton/Mt Tom curves" a bit North of Springfield - other wise it was heavier than usual but still flowing well - and that was leaving Mount Snow at about 4:45

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[Smellytele]

Traveling home from VT areas is never really an issue living in NH. 89 is a breeze. Worst traffic is pretty much getting out of the ski towns themselves, but once you hit the highways it's smooth sailing.

If I'm skiing Northern NH, 93 from Meridith South can get a bit annoying with traffic not getting much over the speed limit, if at all. You can also get stuck behind slow pokes on route 16.

Maine, I rarely have an issue. Occasional slowdowns around Portland on 295 and near the York tolls, but nothing too bad.

+1 also Southern VT is never an issue either unless you get stuck behind a truck on a back road

 

[emmaurice2]

I usually don't take major highways so traffic isn't an issue. When I lived in NYC and Westchester I occasionally had the displeasure of waiting untold hours to cross the Tappan Zee Bridge on a Sunday night. I avoid that bridge at all costs now.

 

[4aprice]

Thruway can be bad in the summer, doesn't surprise me that it happens on big holiday ski weekends. That should now be in the past for this season though. My I-87 shuffle season is just about to begin. Never seen back ups in March and April.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[HowieT2]

Taconic State Parkway, F the Thruway.

exactly. first of all there is rarely traffic. the only spot that gets backed up on holiday weekends is NY7 in Hoosick and its pretty easy to route around it.
Problem with the thruway is that if theres an issue, you are stuck for 10 miles. anything on the taconic, you can get off, take some local roads and detour around the issue.

left sugarbush yesterday at 1 and got home at 5:35. 5 minutes longer than usual.

 

[VTKilarney]

Has the improved EZ-Pass system on I-93 made a difference in backups at the toll booth?

 

[Glenn]

The ride up Friday is always 15-20 minutes longer due to traffic. Sunday night, we're usually driveway to driveway in just a few ticks under 2 hours.

 

[bigbob]

65 MPH in the no stopping lanes.