driving to boston: anything i need to know before i set out?

hey folks;

decided to splurge and take a trip to boston with a couple of buddies to watch the leaf game on the 22nd. I will be departing from toronto at night (so I don't run into any crazy traffic)

can anyone give me pointers on how to get there the quickest way? i'm going to grab some maps from caa and plan out my route....any tips would be greatly appreciated

ALSO any (driving) laws that you think might be important for me to know when i cross from state to state would be greatly appreciated - and of course road conditions that you've come across if you've taken the trip yourself in december.


THANKS guys!

The drive there is incredibly easy. Basically you take the same highway (I-90E) all the way there, with a little switch in albany. I did the drive on June 30th, left at 4PM and got there around midnight including stops and everything. The roads are great, so are the toll charges

I don't know about road conditions, cause I drove in the summer. There are lots of stops for gas/food/washrooms, so don't worry about that. Be sure to have a good amount of american cash and change for the tolls.

maps! pft

http://maps.google.com input your location and input the destination and boom its all mapped out for you.

The directions are simple, just as puff_daddy_58_99 said.

Originally Posted by joey3k

I will be departing from toronto at night (so I don't run into any crazy traffic)

This time of year, you won't run into any crazy traffic during the daytime either. It's probably better/safer to do most of the driving during the day because the physical condition of the road and the visibility will be better.

Not to freak you out but be wary of people driving like idiots and trying to cut you off. You might come to the realization that they are trying to not cut you off but to box you in and slow you to a halt.

I haven't had the problem myself but a friend of mine did, luckily he had a fast car so he went onto the shoulder and outran them... course maybe that's why they tried to box him in in the first place, that and the foreign tags.

This happened on I90 near Syracuse some years back. Watch your mirrors more vigilantly than normal.

When you enter Mass from NY on I-90 you will be in the mountains for about an hour and it could be tricky in bad weather at night. So try to be at the NY-Mass boarder before sunset. It takes about 6-7 hours from Toronto to the NY-Mass boarder. Good luck.

I did the drive a few years back, but also during the summer. It took around 8-9 hours. Really easy (but boring) drive.

Just make sure to bring some money for the tolls.

Driving at night down the I-90 is going to be a little difficult due to the darkness (no overhead lights). But it really depends on if there's snow or not. It can get REALLY bad (at least in NY state). High snowfall with no overhead lights, and the trip will take much longer.

Have fun at the game! Boston is a good city.

dont speed

And have change ready. You'll get pass a few toll booth before you hit Boston. At least that was the case about 6 years ago

Always wondered...what happens if you come to a toll and don't have US change? Is there a chance to make change at that location, or are you forced to go back some ways to make change?

Originally Posted by Slippery_Pete

Always wondered...what happens if you come to a toll and don't have US change? Is there a chance to make change at that location, or are you forced to go back some ways to make change?

You don't need exact change...there are "manned" booths there where someone can make change for you. But you do need to have US currency.

I once crossed the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in NYC a couple american bucks short of the $9 toll required (I had a Canadian $20, though)... I had to turn around, go back over the bridge all the way to the other side to find an ATM, and then finally get back on the bridge once again.

They might be more lenient near Niagara Falls because it's relatively close to the border, but I wouldn't count on it.

Originally Posted by Slippery_Pete

Always wondered...what happens if you come to a toll and don't have US change? Is there a chance to make change at that location, or are you forced to go back some ways to make change?

A few years back I was on the I-95; I came to a toll for $0.50 USD. I paid the attendant in exact change that i pulled out from the change cubby and drove off.

3-500 meters down after the toll booth; a state trooper flips on his flashing lights and pulls me over. I gave the attendant 0.40 USD and a SINGLE Canadian dime.

Originally Posted by Rehan

You don't need exact change...there are "manned" booths there where someone can make change for you. But you do need to have US currency.

I once crossed the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in NYC a couple american bucks short of the $9 toll required (I had a Canadian $20, though)... I had to turn around, go back over the bridge all the way to the other side to find an ATM, and then finally get back on the bridge once again.

They might be more lenient near Niagara Falls because it's relatively close to the border, but I wouldn't count on it.

Did you get an official "Rejected Entry"? My friend had the exact same thing happened to him 4 years ago, going across from Kingston. They turned him away, and gave him a Rejected Entry in his record book. He now gets pulled to the little room EVERYTIME he flies to the States because he had a Rejected Entry on the record. Stupidest thing I've heard at the border, really

Originally Posted by NDman

Did you get an official "Rejected Entry"? My friend had the exact same thing happened to him 4 years ago, going across from Kingston. They turned him away, and gave him a Rejected Entry in his record book. He now gets pulled to the little room EVERYTIME he flies to the States because he had a Rejected Entry on the record. Stupidest thing I've heard at the border, really

That wasn't at the border...it was when I was driving from LaGuardia airport to New Jersey.

Originally Posted by Kenneth

A few years back I was on the I-95; I came to a toll for $0.50 USD. I paid the attendant in exact change that i pulled out from the change cubby and drove off.

3-500 meters down after the toll booth; a state trooper flips on his flashing lights and pulls me over. I gave the attendant 0.40 USD and a SINGLE Canadian dime.

Wow.

I get the feeling they don't like us Canucks or something. I mean, give me a break. I doubt they would do that here. Christ man, it's only a few cents difference.

Scary thing about being boxed in. I bet they would have shot and stripped the car or something henious.