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1918 wrote:

moose wrote:

1918 wrote:Take the Palisades all the way up PAST the Thruway to route 6 West. Go over the hill to Central Valley and you end up at the Harriman Exit toll booths. This way bypasses all the congestion at the 287/87/17 merge which can be murder on a Friday night. I leave from Englewood NJ and so far that is the best way. IMHO.

that is actually a good idea, but it would be slower on non-traffic days, which is actually most of the time.[/quote]

Non-traffic most of the time?? Maybe at 3am.

The alternative is 4/17 and there IS traffic most of the time.

I'm usually doing 4 -> 17 between 6 and 6:30 PM on Fri night, and I rarely ever see any meaningful traffic. I guess I'm just lucky.

when your sitting in that bottleneck, you can look to your right and see the building that I live in. (make sure to wave hi!) so take it from me, with a few rare exceptions, its only bad on friday nights.

the only place that has traffic daily is 17 through paramus - but it still would be faster than palisades to 6.. and 208 to 287 would be faster than both when there's traffic on 17. and the 17 traffic is overrated.. most of the time you're going 20 and you'll be through it in 15 minutes or so.. that's just a ten minute delay. the LIE - now that's murder.

moose wrote:If you're already on 4 and you hear or see that 17 is backed up, you can stay on 4, then go to 208 to 287 to the thruway. This is good because sometimes 17 is bad enough to back up 4 from the ramp.

Just a word of caution about Rt. 208.... gets VERY backed up during rush hour and is only a 4 lane highway for the most part and stay away from it in bad weather during rush hour. That highway just can't handle all the commuters.

moose wrote:

1918 wrote:Take the Palisades all the way up PAST the Thruway to route 6 West. Go over the hill to Central Valley and you end up at the Harriman Exit toll booths. This way bypasses all the congestion at the 287/87/17 merge which can be murder on a Friday night. I leave from Englewood NJ and so far that is the best way. IMHO.

that is actually a good idea, but it would be slower on non-traffic days, which is actually most of the time.

I live off the Palisades north of the thruway, so I always take 6 to the Harriman tolls.
It's great heading north - just a couple of right turns and you're on your way. It is a good alternate to 87.

But heading south you should just stay on 87 because you have to make a couple of lefts and regardless of outlet traffic you have to deal with about 5 ill-timed lights to get onto 6 east.

Skibumtress wrote:

moose wrote:If you're already on 4 and you hear or see that 17 is backed up, you can stay on 4, then go to 208 to 287 to the thruway. This is good because sometimes 17 is bad enough to back up 4 from the ramp.

Just a word of caution about Rt. 208.... gets VERY backed up during rush hour and is only a 4 lane highway for the most part and stay away from it in bad weather during rush hour. That highway just can't handle all the commuters.

I agree. When I lived in Hawthorne I would take 208/4 route to work every day. Route 208 is a disaster where 4 merges into 208 right at Saddle River Rd. and then at Fairlawn Ave and at Maple Ave. It is worse then 17 North. One other alternative is the Garden State Parkway from 17 north to 287. It will cost you .35 cents but I think the majority of people here can afford that.

Getting to the thruway from the west bank of the Hudson (Hoboken). I find the fastest to be 495 to NJ Turnpike to 80 West to Garden State Parkway to 17 North to Thruway.

I've tried the route 3 to route 17 method, but the traffic and lights on 17 during the evening rush all the way up to Paramus are not worth fighting.

Also, it doesn't pay to take 17 North from 80 to hit all the traffic in Paramus. I stay on 80 for another mile, then take the GSP up to 17 North. The extra $0.35 cent toll on the GSP is well worth it.

Edit: Also, since I'm west of the Hudson, it doesn't pay for me to try to get to the Taconic. Besides, you can't do 80+ MPH on the Taconic (in an SUV).

SkiDork wrote:

1918 wrote:

moose wrote:

1918 wrote:Take the Palisades all the way up PAST the Thruway to route 6 West. Go over the hill to Central Valley and you end up at the Harriman Exit toll booths. This way bypasses all the congestion at the 287/87/17 merge which can be murder on a Friday night. I leave from Englewood NJ and so far that is the best way. IMHO.

that is actually a good idea, but it would be slower on non-traffic days, which is actually most of the time.[/quote]

Non-traffic most of the time?? Maybe at 3am.

The alternative is 4/17 and there IS traffic most of the time.

I'm usually doing 4 -> 17 between 6 and 6:30 PM on Fri night, and I rarely ever see any meaningful traffic. I guess I'm just lucky.

I must be a traffic magnet --- I always hit traffic on 4 and 17 on friday nights at 5PM rush hour if I go that way.

Worst traffic I ever hit is in the city. I try getting out in many ways, but always

Once I am out, there are no worries from the Sprain North. 30 miles shorter than the Thruway, I love the taconic - Except for on the worst days.

This thread is like - Whats your favorite car, your favorite baseball team, is you like skiing or boarding or favorite ski area out west...

It's too subjective... Everyone's opinion is correct.... For them...

Depending on driving styles - kind of car - what your willing to put up with as far as traffic - etc...

Everyone's gong to have a different correct answer...

1918 wrote:

SkiDork wrote:

1918 wrote:

moose wrote:

1918 wrote:Take the Palisades all the way up PAST the Thruway to route 6 West. Go over the hill to Central Valley and you end up at the Harriman Exit toll booths. This way bypasses all the congestion at the 287/87/17 merge which can be murder on a Friday night. I leave from Englewood NJ and so far that is the best way. IMHO.

that is actually a good idea, but it would be slower on non-traffic days, which is actually most of the time.[/quote]

Non-traffic most of the time?? Maybe at 3am.

The alternative is 4/17 and there IS traffic most of the time.

I'm usually doing 4 -> 17 between 6 and 6:30 PM on Fri night, and I rarely ever see any meaningful traffic. I guess I'm just lucky.

I must be a traffic magnet --- I always hit traffic on 4 and 17 on friday nights at 5PM rush hour if I go that way.

I guess the extra hour makes a difference