Help! Directions FROM Placid TO NJ/PA

So, I'm going to one of two places:

Either West Chester, PA, or Kendall Park (near Rutgers and Princeton) NJ (partly depending on what ungodly hour of the morning I motivate to leave on Sunday). The mapquest directions indicate that getting to West Chester involves going through NJ anyway. Does anyone wish to refute this information?

Also, I'm looking for the best route to NJ from LP. Mapquest says to take 73 South (or West) for about 30 miles to I-87, and then just take I-87 straight to the GaSP. Of course, mapquest also says to take the GaSP to Route 1, and take Route 1 through NJ to PA, which is just plain ridiculous (GaSP>TP>I-95>1>Pa Tpk is far better).

Is 73 to 87 the best way down into Jersey? Is this also, by extension, the best way to Philly? I'm interested in speed and general ease of driving (yes, I know the GaSP sucks). Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

Also, if you need a ride, and are literally right on my way, I can definitely take you into NJ, and probably take you into PA. NYC is NOT right on my way, and neither is Philly.

Yes. Definitely no better way to get to NJ. And the Parkway doesn't suck, but if you want to avoid tolls, you can take I-287, which will take you right to New Brunswick (i.e. Rutgers).

And once you are in New Brunswick, taking Rt. 1 south from South Brunswick through Princeton, to Trenton, where you can pick up I-95 into PA to get to West Chester makes sense too. Just don't be on Rt. 1 during rush hour.

well
i have driven that route from albany to piscataway nj MANY times.
the best way from placid would be via the northway/thruway. there is no difference but tolls between the pike and 287. 287 is great up until around where u would hit route 1 in edison. if u hit that in traffic forget about it b/c there is contruction (or was when i was home in january).
i think that you have two ways to go. to take 87 south to 287 south and then route 1 would be a little out of your way.
i think that the best way would be to take 87s to 287s to river road east/south in piscataway to route 18 south (goes over the raritan into new brunswick) to route 1 south down to kendall park.
or you can take 87s to 287s to route 1s
another option is to take 87s to 287s to route 206 south and then follow signs to kendall park off of 206 (opposite way as to heathcote).
i think the best way is the river road way but if i would hate for you to get lost in my home town if u make the wrong turn
now to go to PA straight from placid i might do this:
87s to 287s to 202 west (or south? - from raritan/somerville to flemington) to 31s ( run together for a bit) and stay on 31s into trenton to route 1s to 276w onto west chester. 31 is a nice drive. anyway i would suggest looking at some maps if i confused u
LGR!

Thanks for the help guys!

Strictly speaking, I'm not going to New Brunswick. I'd be going to Kendall Park (if I go home before heading to my Grandmother's house), so 287 isn't *such* a great option. However, if someone is going to New Brunswick or Princeton and needs a ride I'd consider that to be "on my way" since I can take Route 1 (as Neil pointed out) down to 95 - Sunday afternoon won't be as awful as it could be, and if Princeton's a madhouse I can dodge some traffic so it won't even slow me down much.

I was mostly concerned with the Placid into NJ bit - once I'm in my home state with its lovely jughandles and ridiculously narrow Parkway Lanes(hence the "sucks" comment - it's like driving an American car on a Japanese highway - unless they've widened it) I think I'll be ok. Nice to know that Mapquest isn't screwing me with the directions down there.

JY3, that's not so bad, but traffic is more likely up there, and the Turnpike is probably still faster to PA. 206 is awful and not really on the way, and Edison is where all the nutcases hang out (no offense if that's where you're actually from). If I took 287 I'd probably take Easton ave to Cedar Grove and backroads to my house, which also is a bit out of the way (unless I'm going from Ithaca).

Really, GaSP to TP to 1 is the fastest way to my house from that part of Jersey.



Thanks again everyone! Have a safe trip!

yeah 206 is bad during rush hour! plenty of stories about that one. i am actually from Piscataway, which you will pass - wave from 287 ("piscataway next 5 exits". drive safely and have fun!

Did ya see which way he went?

Yeah, he went piscataway...