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I'll be driving our fifth wheel from Dallas to Providence in the next couple of weeks. My biggest concern is going through New York City. Does anyone have any suggestions or warnings about this? I know not to drive there when the traffic is at it's worst. Any routing suggestions, please?
Welcome to the RTA Forum!
Trying to pull a 5th wheel through NYC would certainly be cause for concern, which is why I'd recommend you simply avoid the city altogether.
Take I-30/I-40 to I-81 in Tennessee, and use that to head north. But instead of cutting east towards NYC on I-78, like many online map programs will tell you, continue north on I-81 all the way to Scranton. Then use I-84 to head onto Connecticut, which keeps you well north of NYC. From CT, you've got a few options to get to Connecticut, depending upon where in Providence you're heading, but CT-9 down to I-95 would be one option.
The most efficient option from I-84 to Providence is this:
Just east of Waterbury, take I-691 to I-91. Go north to CT-3 and cross the river on the Putnam Bridge. Get on CT-2 and take that to I-395. Take Exit 90 to US-6 into Providence. This covers all parts of Providence because you will have access to I-295.
A good way to make the transition from I-84 to CT-9 is to leave I-84 after getting through Waterbury and take I-691 east to I-91 north to CT-9. That completely bypasses Hartford and is all freeway except for a very short segment of dual carriageway through Middletown. CT-9 will then put you onto I-95 for the rest of your trip into the Providence area.
Another place where an 'extra' dozen miles or so might be in order is to bypass Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Rather than take I-81 through the length of that metropolitan area, you can leave I-81 at Exit 151 and get on I-80 east to I-380 north to I-84 east.
AZBuck
You might find you get a better run if you take I-81 to I-80 and then head up to I-84 on I-380.
It is no where near as steep, nor as congested as I-81 north of I-80. The extra dozen or so miles make it well worthwhile.
Lifey