Driving from MA to FL, recommended routes, words of advice?

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

I read the lecture using the voice of Sir David Attenborough in my head. 

03Panther said:

Not figuring out that’s WHY they left. 

Nah, we left 'cause there were more jobs in the RTP area than back up in NY and through the rust belt areas.  I got called a Damn Yankee within the first month, and I've been here since 1996 now, so I guess they were correct. And to be frank, anybody that isn't from North Carolina south and west through Alabama is a Damn Yankee to lots of the people down here. Texans are not Southerners to that crowd, but they're still alright.
 
To take it further off topic: Large parts of Cary DO suck, because those areas a particular type of person. I call them the HOA areas.

To bring it back on topic: If you do travel through some of the Southern areas, be advised you *will* stick out like a sore thumb and you're about FIVE BILLION times more likely to get pulled over for a minor traffic offense. 

This isn't a jab at the Southern states, it's a jab at traffic based revenue generation. I've experienced the same thing going back up North to visit family with NC plates on my car. 

Back to the original topic - we've done the trip from CT to FL and back a bunch of times, here are some Cliff Notes:

- We avoid the GW at all costs, and usually take 84 to 684 to the Garden State Parkway on the way down

- NJ turnpike is far preferable to I-95 through Philly (only made that mistake once)

- South of DC is I-95

- Whoever is not driving is scouring Waze, Google Maps, etc to look for impending doom up ahead. Over the years, this has easily saved us at least 24 hours of sitting in traffic

- Timing is everything, we try to get by NYC before 6:30am and through DC around Noon, after that it's generally smooth sailing

- With 6 of us, we typically get a suite for $10-20 over a regular room. They almost always have a much better fridge (with a real freezer), which helps if you pack food and drinks for the trip.

Hope that helps, and enjoy the trip!

In reply to jgrewe :

Indeed.  I wrote it using this voice:

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Very well stated. If I took the time to think about it, I did know all that. Just didn't remember! Thanks for the excellent refresher.
I have traveled all over a lot of the same states as you... but not over seas. I do have more relatives in Denmark than the US, but have not made it myself. I have noticed that for all the regional differences, people from all over are more the same than the differences. The differences just stand out more than the similarities do (if that made any sense) I've seen the same similarities in the people from other cultures and countries I have met along the way as well. Different, yes. but we are all the same species, and it shows!

In reply to dj06482 (Forum Supporter) :

Great Cliff notes!

In reply to 03Panther :

I will respond privately to the Yankee stuff. 
 

But I would note that my comments are not based on my singular experience. I wish they were.  They are based on many conversations I have had with other people who have relocated and had similar experiences over the last 30 years.

SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter) :

When I lived in the Dominican Republic, they called all Americans Yankees. (Although it was pronounced "Janky" with a heavy Spanish accent). 
 

It was a riot. They had no idea how much that infuriated some of my friends from the South! 

Janky? Now that's funny. I guess most of Central and South America also refers to all Americans as Yankees.

I always associate the term with the baseball team that wins many championships and tends to have lots of money to buy expensive players. Everybody hates those guys. 

I'd advocate either the western or DelMarVa route. The bridge-tunnel is one of the most unique driving experiences I've had, feels like you're just cruising along the open waters at the mouth of the Chesapeake. The peninsula itself also has a distinct feel to it; quaint, sleepy, with heavy agricultural and maritime influences, but much of the route will be pretty slow going and the beach traffic can be a problem if you catch it at the wrong time.

I'll add my suggestions to the I-81 route:

-To avoid NYC traffic, I'd pick up I-84 and either run that straight out to I-81 in Scranton or go I-87>I-287>I-78, which intersects I-81 just north of Harrisburg. I've made countless drives between Carlisle, PA and the Albany, NY area during  my college years, taking both routes, and time wise it's about 6 of one half dozen the other. 84>81 will be the less populated route, there's a whole lot of nothing between the NY border and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area and then there and Harrisburg.

-South of Winchester, VA, pick up US-50 east for a few miles to US-17 south. This cuts down to I-95 around Fredericksburg, VA which should get you past the DC area traffic and also takes you through some really pretty country along the way. 

-The truck traffic on 81 sucks. Be prepared to spend 5 miles stuck  behind a tractor-trailer doing 66mph passing another one doing 65mph. 

If you're in need of a pit stop around Carlisle, give me a shout, my place is a quick and easy detour off of 81. That goes for you too Wally!

Live south of DC and have been driving north because of cluster isolating with some family.

Traffic has definitely been picking up. Everything depends on time of day and day of week headed through DC. Earlier it didnt matter, but lately I have been taking an extra hour on a round trip from Waldorf to Frederick at 4pm on a Friday. 

Good place to drop a warning: Dont get popped for over 80mph (or 20 over) in VA.  Yeah, traffic will be going right up there at 75+ on the highways with 70mph speed limit, but if you get pulled over its automatic reckless and possible court date that could lead to $2500 fine and 12 months in jail..    I got popped several years back for 81 in a 70 and thank dog the cop rounded it down to 79.  I dont like driving in VA, possible jail time for 10 over is some bull.