I'm traveling from my house in ME to my sister's house in MA on the Thursday evening, then on to Greencastle PA on Friday.  Here's the route Google suggests, with the minor change of taking 81/84 around NYC/Newark.  Anyone have inside info on this route??  Link here: http://tinyurl.com/4ocm7r

On the way back Friday night, I think we can get as far as the Scranton area (ie 3 hours towards home) before we need to stop.  Anyone know a really easy-on easy-off motel with a big parking lot, in that area?

Hi Sharon,

I've driven this route a lot for work, usually by car but am used to pulling a 4 horse gooseneck through these areas as well. 84 through New York is smooth sailing, although CT gets congested especially around rush hours. There is usually construction on 81 around Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton as well as heavier traffic. Traffic will also pick up around Harrisburg but it's usually not too bad and will only take you about a 1/2 hour to get through there. Be very careful on 81 south of Carlisle as the speed limit drops to 55 in some areas and there are police behind many overpasses. There is also heavy truck traffic on 81 from Harrisburg south. There are plenty of hotels in the Wilkes-Barre/ Scanton area, but if you drive a little further out to the Hamlin exit (exit 17) on 84 there is a nice, clean comfortable Comfort Inn with plenty of parking. They allow dogs too! Hope this helps!  

I'm SURE it will help!  I'm going to try and make reservations at that Comfort Inn... is it actually located in Hamlin?

To your knowledge, is there construction on 84 east of Scranton right now, in addition to the construction you already mentioned on 81 to the west of Scranton? 

My dad looked at some fancy real-time software he has () and suggested avoiding Scranton altogether.  So his suggestion is 95-495-(stop at my sister's house in Marlborough)-495-90-84-684-287-78-81.  Is he nuts?

If I had my choice, I'd avoid 287 and 78 altogether. Traffic on 287 is bad no matter what time of day. (Bumper to bumper, people weaving across 3 lanes to exit, etc.) 78 is a washboard road that is always under construction. It is bad in both NJ and PA. The bumps are so bad I always think it's a miracle I don't end up with at least one or two flat tires. With construction around Scranton, it usually keeps moving.

I don't know if you an get a local construction report from the PA DOT website, but that may help. I try to avoid the northern/central part of NJ like the plague!!! 

We stayed in the most filthy Holiday Inn in Scranton a couple years ago. It was so bad I refused to stay the second night even though the manager offered to comp it for us on the second night. I travel for work very regulary and refuse to stay any place that is not safe or clean, especially for a woman travelling alone.

Got it, THANK YOU!  I'll tell Dad I got better intel.  LOL