Driving directions: Ithaca to Providence

[Ben Doyle 03]

Anyone care to share the most efficient route? I'm sure there are plenty of people who would appreciate the input.  ::help:: :-)

[edit]: So far the best route I can come up with is;  NY 79-> NY 206 -> I88 -> I90 -> I495 -> I95

[kingpin248]

When I went in May, I used the following:

NY 79 to Whitney Point --> NY 206 to Bainbridge --> I-88 to Rotterdam --> I-90 (NY Thruway/Mass Pike) to Worcester --> MA/RI 146 south to Providence.

I have no idea how to get to Meehan Auditorium - when I went, it was to Brown Stadium for the NCAA lax tournament.

[rhovorka]

http://www.chtg.net/cgi-bin/showschool.cgi?school=Brown+University#directions

[jy3]

matt - that seems the best way. i would suggest leaving as early as possible b/c snow and 206 do not mix well. watch your speed thru the little towns including greene

[jeh25]

Option A:NY79->I81 (or NY206 shortcut)->I88->I90->I495->I95

Option B: NY79->I81 (or NY206 shortcut)->I88->I90(Exit 10a)->MA/RI146

Option C: NY79->I81->NY17->I84->US44->CT/RI101->US6

Option D: NY79->I81->NY17->I84->CT74->US44->CT/RI101->US6

For the roadgeeks in the room, the interstate between Hartford and Providence was cancelled in the early 70's. Thus no obvious direct route exists. Hence websites like: http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/44ways.html

[sockralex]

Don't forget that there is a really confusing part in Albany where I90 turns into I87 and you need to move to that and then get back on I90 to stay on the NY thruway and then to get on Mass pike.  I got confused there too many times.

alex

[jeh25]

Alex - you are talking about the jog on I87 vs.  the infamous "free 90" section. That's right boys and girls, the NYS Thurway and I90 are not the same thing through Albany.

Here is the very easy trick to not screwing it up:  always follow the signs to Boston or Buffalo depending on which direction you are heading. Do that and you'll never mess it up again.

[rhovorka]

Well, there are 2 options around Albany.

1) Stay on I-90 the whole way.  To do so, you actually get off the Thruway at Exit  24 (no toll if you got on the Thruway from I-88) and then get back on the Thruway at Exit B1 on that Eastern spur of the NYS Thruway that runs into the Mass Pike.

2) Stay on the NYS Thruway the whole way.  The Thruway changes from I-90 to I-87 after Exit 24, and then you follow the signs for the Mass Pike/Boston.  This is probably quicker because you don't have to slow down for the toll plazas in getting off and back on the Thruway.  But you have to pay more.

A crude map: http://www.thruway.state.ny.us/maps/21-26.shtml

[Jim Hyla]

Yeah, back when I was poor, taking I90 through Albany saved a couple of bucks. But don't do it at rush hour as it is slower.

[melissa\'01]

Am I the only one confused about 79 -> 81 -> 206?

I thought it was just 79 -> 206 ... That is what I always do when heading from Ithaca to Albany.

[rhovorka]

Melissa is correct.  To get to Rt. 206, you pass by the interchange for I-81 in Whitney Point, but you don't take it.

[Tub(a)]

79->206->88 etc... was what the Pep Band caravan to RPI/Onion took. I think you can get on 81 to 206 if you want to, but there is no point.

[DeltaOne81]

[Q]Don't forget that there is a really confusing part in Albany where I90 turns into I87 and you need to move to that and then get back on I90 to stay on the NY thruway and then to get on Mass pike. I got confused there too many times.[/Q]
Reason #2 why I don't like the ECAC's being in Albany, I consider the chance of finding my way on the first try less than perfect.

[melissa]

I will gove everyone easy directions when the time gets closer ... I promise. :-)

[Chris 02]

Actually if you stay on 79 out of Ithaca, it meets up with I-88 about 2 exits south of Bainbridge (the normal entrance/exit for 206).

However, having driven from Albany to Ithaca for 4 years, I always did the 79->206->88 route.