My first long trip- any suggestions?

[v.jones]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ Jun 26 2006, 01:36 PM) [snapback]276883[/snapback]</div>

So far I have been mainly using my Prius for short (under 10 mile) trips. This week I'm taking a trip from Rhode Island to New Jersey (about 270 miles each way.) Mostly I will be on highways (I-95, NJ Turnpike)Any suggestions to maximize fuel economy- cruise control or not, etc? I don't mind driving at speed limit, but not much under.
[/b]

Couple of quick suggestions...

Unless you'll be hitting NYC between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM, do not use the MapQuest suggestion to stay on I-95 (Cross Bronx Expressway) to the George Washington Bridge. If its raining, don't even bother in the middle of the night. Instead, hop off I-95 just after you enter NY and take 287 to the Tappan Zee bridge. Yes its longer miles, but can save you hours of sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. Check the NY road reports as you get closer to New York (1010 and 880 AM have them every ten minutes) and if they mention construction on the GWB or an accident on any of the roads you plan to use, think alternate route. Just keep in mind that they don't even mention normal delays due to heavy volume during rush hour (which seems to run from about 6 AM until 10 PM.

If you decide to take the Tappan Zee, consider getting on the Merritt Parkway about 10 miles past New Haven rather than coming down I-95. It's a little slower (55 speed limit) but MUCH more pleasant. If you're driving during daylight hours so you can enjoy the scenery (yes, you left coasters, there is nice scenery in the northeast once you get away from the I-95 corridor), its definitely worth budgeting some extra time.

Incidentally, the "30 day ticket blitz" is an urban legend with no basis in reality. However, the roads are patrolled and tickets are issued, no blitz required.

You may want to practice interpreting road reports via the web, as they tend to use local highway names rather than numbers on the air for many of the older routes, like I-95 which predate the interstate system.

Enjoy your trip and try to take advantage of what the area has to offer above and beyond a roadway connecting Boston to DC :P

Vince

[tochatihu]

Free Trip Advice:
Check your tire pressures before you go. You have 5 tires.

[larkinmj]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(v.jones @ Jun 27 2006, 11:54 AM) [snapback]277382[/snapback]</div>

Couple of quick suggestions...

Unless you'll be hitting NYC between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM, do not use the MapQuest suggestion to stay on I-95 (Cross Bronx Expressway) to the George Washington Bridge. If its raining, don't even bother in the middle of the night. Instead, hop off I-95 just after you enter NY and take 287 to the Tappan Zee bridge. Yes its longer miles, but can save you hours of sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. Check the NY road reports as you get closer to New York (1010 and 880 AM have them every ten minutes) and if they mention construction on the GWB or an accident on any of the roads you plan to use, think alternate route. Just keep in mind that they don't even mention normal delays due to heavy volume during rush hour (which seems to run from about 6 AM until 10 PM.

If you decide to take the Tappan Zee, consider getting on the Merritt Parkway about 10 miles past New Haven rather than coming down I-95. It's a little slower (55 speed limit) but MUCH more pleasant. If you're driving during daylight hours so you can enjoy the scenery (yes, you left coasters, there is nice scenery in the northeast once you get away from the I-95 corridor), its definitely worth budgeting some extra time.

Incidentally, the "30 day ticket blitz" is an urban legend with no basis in reality. However, the roads are patrolled and tickets are issued, no blitz required.

You may want to practice interpreting road reports via the web, as they tend to use local highway names rather than numbers on the air for many of the older routes, like I-95 which predate the interstate system.

Enjoy your trip and try to take advantage of what the area has to offer above and beyond a roadway connecting Boston to DC :P

Vince
[/b]

Vince- thanks for your suggestions. I have been making this trip several times a year for the last 26 years, and I always take the Tappan Zee bridge. I've only taken the Cross Bronx Expressway a couple of times, and the last time I thought I saw a car being stripped , so I avoid it. I have never taken the Merritt Pkwy though (I always take 95 to 287), so I'll give it a try. I like taking the scenic route; for the same reason I usually get onto the Palisades Parkway (nice places to stop and overlook the Hudson River) from 287 and then take that to the NJ Turnpike. Going north I often take the NJ Turnpike to the Garden State Pkwy to 287, because getting onto the Palisades Parkway is a little trickier, and as many times as I've driven that way I still miss the turns! But since I have the NAV this time, I'll probably take th Palisades home also.

[OlyBob]

I just got back from a road trip from Olympia, WA to Great Falls, MT. A distance one way of ~720 miles which crosses two mountain ranges (Cascades & Rockies)

We used CC most of the way and averaged 47 on the way out and 49 coming back (downhiill to the Pacific?) Cruised at 75 - 80 most of the way.

We had to lay off the CC on some of the major uphill grades in the Rockies as the Prius tries too hard to maintain its speed going up the mountains. A few of the grades depleted the main battery to two pink bars before cresting the 'hill' and the engine was working pretty hard. No problems at all but was noticeable that the car was doing its best to keep up.

Turns out that the Prius is an excellent road car. It's comfortable, quiet. has power to spare, plenty of storage and got a few looks in some of the smaller towns.

OlyBob

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OlyBob @ Jun 27 2006, 01:12 PM) [snapback]277511[/snapback]</div>

We used CC most of the way and averaged 47 on the way out and 49 coming back (downhiill to the Pacific?) Cruised at 75 - 80 most of the way. [/b]

Most people will get better mileage doing it themselves compared to cruise control. If I got 49 MPG on my latest trip (which was 450+ miles and 52.5 MPG with the A/C on ¾ of the time) I would have been worried about what was wrong with my car.

The Prii's CC just doesn't know how to anticipate and take advantage of the road ahead, and it is geared toward maintaining a set speed, not get the highest MPG

It's a trade-off . . . comfort afforded by using CC or higher MPG.

[barbaram]

I still think that the computer is way much smarter than the driver and on a long highway trip cruise control is the only way top go.
I took at trip to Rochester NY in May from NJ and got my best mileage- over 52 using the cruise, this is through the Poconos and basically uphill the whole way.

Good luck on the trip! I drive to New Milford CT and happily do not go on 95.
Used to live in Wilton and use the merrit all the time.......Merrit pkwy is far more scenic but since I haven't driven there in a long time can't begin to tell you how folks drive there anymore...... jsut have a blast!

[barbaram]

Geez- what was I thinking!

IF YOU REALLY WANTED to be green- take amtrak to NY Penn, the NJ transit almost anywhere in NJ!!!!

Save on gas and stress of driving hopefully no train delays.......

PS- I saw a red in Princeton today... was it you???????????????