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Short-Cut Routes

kcyanks1

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Great thread!!!! Somebody please remember to bump this in November!!!

Just wondering if you drive from NYC to Killington which route do you take NYS Thruway, 91 or Taconic and back roads? I've always wondered which was the fastest.

I take the I-87 to Rt 149 (Fort Ann) route. I haven't tried the others so I can't really vouch for it being the fastest.
 

rachelv

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Just wondering if you drive from NYC to Killington which route do you take NYS Thruway, 91 or Taconic and back roads? I've always wondered which was the fastest.

We've found that the 87 & 91 routes are pretty simlar - Google maps puts 87 at about 260 miles and 91 at about 270 miles, so it's pretty much a wash. The stretch of 95 (or 15) from about Greenwich, CT to Norwalk, CT can really kill you during rush hour on the way up, though. On the way home we often take 91 instead of 87 to have dinner with my parents in CT it never takes any longer.
 

BeanoNYC

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I've gone that way for years now. It saves about 20 minutes easy. If the roads are in poor shape, it can be a wash.

Exactly what I was going to say. Mileage wise it isn't too big of a difference. But you'll miss all that traffic on 9 from 91. If it's snowing I stay away as you can get stuck behind a plow.

I usually follow the speed limit on that route because there is a large police presence, especially around Colrain. Rumor has it that the Sheriff's daughter was killed by a skiier rushing to/from the mountain years back. (Don't know the truth to this but it goes around in legend for those who take the route often.)
 

BeanoNYC

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The stretch of 95 (or 15) from about Greenwich, CT to Norwalk, CT can really kill you during rush hour on the way up, though.

A nice workaround for that has worked real well for me is to take I95 to I295 WEST (yes west) for a mile to the Hutch/Merrit. Seems like that saves some heartache during a rush.
 

millerm277

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Just wondering if you drive from NYC to Killington which route do you take NYS Thruway, 91 or Taconic and back roads? I've always wondered which was the fastest.

I come from Central NJ, and Thruway/Northway is the quickest way 99% of the time for me.

Also, in storms, that is a pretty good way to go, as NYS keeps 149 in good shape.
 

kcyanks1

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We've found that the 87 & 91 routes are pretty simlar - Google maps puts 87 at about 260 miles and 91 at about 270 miles, so it's pretty much a wash. The stretch of 95 (or 15) from about Greenwich, CT to Norwalk, CT can really kill you during rush hour on the way up, though. On the way home we often take 91 instead of 87 to have dinner with my parents in CT it never takes any longer.

Where are you coming from? From NYC I would try to avoid 95 or the Merritt (though I'd prefer the Merritt of the two). If I were going to I-91, I would take the Saw Mill / 684 to 84 to 91. I guess if you are coming from Long Island and are near the Whitestone or Throggs Neck it can be tempting to go to the Merritt/I-95.
 

kcyanks1

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That is the best way since you avoid the city traffic....but I usually take the ferry to Bridgeport or New London.

And get destroyed by the CT traffic :) I've never been on the ferry since I'm not coming from Long Island. How often does it run? How long a ride?
 

rachelv

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Where are you coming from? From NYC I would try to avoid 95 or the Merritt (though I'd prefer the Merritt of the two). If I were going to I-91, I would take the Saw Mill / 684 to 84 to 91. I guess if you are coming from Long Island and are near the Whitestone or Throggs Neck it can be tempting to go to the Merritt/I-95.

We come from the upper east side. If we're leaving from NYC we almost always take 87, but we haven't had any problems with the 95 route the times we've done it. From the upper east you can take the triboro to the bruckner to 95 and miss most/all of the cross bronx traffic.

What we *really* need is a helicopter, clearly. Then we can take it back and forth to VT ever weekend *and* use it for heliskiing. ;)
 

kcyanks1

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We come from the upper east side. If we're leaving from NYC we almost always take 87, but we haven't had any problems with the 95 route the times we've done it. From the upper east you can take the triboro to the bruckner to 95 and miss most/all of the cross bronx traffic.

What we *really* need is a helicopter, clearly. Then we can take it back and forth to VT ever weekend *and* use it for heliskiing. ;)

From upper east I'd do 87 all the way, GW Bridge to Palisades to 87, or take 87/Deegan to Cross County to Saw Mill to 684 to 84 to 91. I'd use the Willis Ave. bridge to get to the Deegan, not the Triboro.
 

roark

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I've tried to get Roark to take the shortest way to Snow (avoiding all of the coneheads on 9) but apparently he hasn't got it yet.
I did finally come back that way, just missed the covered bridge. Of course I caught a couple trucks with sleds on trailers so it was probably a wash at best.
 
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bigbob

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Does anybody have any Sugarloaf shortcuts?

I usually get off the I-95 in Waterville at the Home Depot, Main St, and head up thru Norigwock, Madison, Anson, and then Kingfield. Decent two lane roads and about an hour and 5 minuts off I-95. And rareley do I see any cops!
 

nycskier

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We come from the upper east side. If we're leaving from NYC we almost always take 87, but we haven't had any problems with the 95 route the times we've done it. From the upper east you can take the triboro to the bruckner to 95 and miss most/all of the cross bronx traffic.

What we *really* need is a helicopter, clearly. Then we can take it back and forth to VT ever weekend *and* use it for heliskiing. ;)

I am on the UES too. No need to take the Triboro!!! Take The Willis Avenue Bridge. Exit right off of Willis Avenue Bridge on to Bruckner Blvd a few blocks to the Bruckner Expressway.

You save the toll that way and aviod Triboro Bridge traffic!
 

rachelv

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I am on the UES too. No need to take the Triboro!!! Take The Willis Avenue Bridge. Exit right off of Willis Avenue Bridge on to Bruckner Blvd a few blocks to the Bruckner Expressway.

You save the toll that way and aviod Triboro Bridge traffic!

Details details. We do usually take the willis ave bridge. And we usually do take 87 when leaving directly from the city.

My point is just that either way we never really have traffic issues aside from going through fairfield county in CT on 95, and both take pretty close to the same amount of time in our experience, so I wouldn't really consider either route a shortcut.
 

essslsclsact

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I find no difference going that way from getting off I95 in Augusta and taking route 27 to Sugarloaf. I like the Waterville route when roads are clear and dry as there is less traffic. Prefer route 27 if the roads are snow covered. Either way on weekends (Friday going, Sunday returning) can get backed up as the roads are only two lanes.

Some folks like going to Auburn on I95 then taking route 4, the shortest mileage, but this route has way too many intersections, is slow thru Auburn and seems more dangerous and almost always takes about the same time as I95 to Augusta or Waterville.
 
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