I'm going to pick up a couple cars on Long Island, looks like I'll be traveling 80-295-495 out and back. is this the best route? What is the best time to get in and out with the least amount of traffic. From what I see I'll have 2 toll bridges to cross? any idea how much the tolls would be? any problems with a 102" wide trailer?
Rick

 

Back a few years when I was hauling horses I found that you go over after 7 pm and head back before 5-6 am. If I remember there is a bridge that gets closed overnight ( Tappen Zee ???) from mainland to Staten Island. Cannot remember fees exactly, it was around $20 for a dually and trailer.

 

Rick I feel for you. Remember "trucks on the expressways, cars on the parkways" That route sounds right. I think it is the only truck route.

Assuming you have to go during business hours, I would say go slightly after rush hour. There is a bit of a dead spot after rush hour but it is not that long. Maybe try to be crossing the George Washington Bridge a little after 10AM Around 3-4PM everything starts getting heavy again.

You will go over the George Washington Bridge on 80 , that'll turn into 95. That is an incoming toll only $6 for cars, no clue for trucks. The Throgs neck bridge (not positive) is incoming and outgoing, I think, and I think it's even more. Ouch.

If you can go in the middle of the night, you might do that, but then again, they always bust out the construction at night.

The

 

Try to check with AAA or somebody about construction . About 6 months ago I thought I'd run into Long Island Expressway about 5:30 a.m. and found out the expressway was closed for construction and wouldn't open until 6 a.m.

 

I travel back and forth to Ct to visit family, when going out of NY either south or west be **** sure you leave by 6:00 AM at the latest. I was runnig my 2500 and a tandem trailer and it cost me about 23 buck at the GW. You only pay one way. And you will pay if you run up the NJ turnpike. I went from NC to CT and back and the tolls alone were about 80 bucks!!

 

I just drove up to Ct from Va last month and am still up here. There is no good time to go through NYC. I got lost there for about an hour and never seen so many people in my entire life.
They tell me after rush hour is the best time. Good luck. I'll find out next Friday when I drive home. I may go via Michingan to get back to Va.

 

As was said...there is NO GOOD TIME to go thru NYC.

 

Wrong guys, leave before 6:00 AM and you will be fine!! Done it many, many times. My family that lives there always leaves before 6 to see me with no problems.

 

Go in the night for no traffic. The construction on the LIE is over.

Yep, the GW bridge is a 1 way pay. Inbound. The Throggs Neck is pay each way. Since you will be pulling a trailer, i cant give you the amounts.

If you MUST go during daytime hours, get on the island before 7 am. Than get off before 3 pm. Those times you should be OK

Where on Long Island are you going??

 

I just made the run last night to Bellport Long Island. I went in around 11pm and out by 1am. The traffic, or lack of was very light. Cost $24 for the GW bridge and $19 each way on the Throgs bridge and $1.50 to get out of NJ to PA.
They kept asking me at the toll booths if I was commercial, no just private, but they charged me the commercial rate! All went well except for following a rig the ending up in the EZ pass lane with cash!! Oh well that's what the the toll booth workers are for!! I did see lots of NYPD though, sitting every where looking for speeders.

 

Where in Bellport did ya go? You were probably 2 minutes from where I live.

 

I'm don't know the name, it was Yarrow Circle, in a gated condo complex, about 5 mile off 495.

 

Take some pictures if you can. Here's a site I hang out at a lot. I like skyscrapers as much as mountains. One of these days I'd like to go camp at the KOA north of NYC and go check it out...
NYC visit