Driving Across PA -- Which Route?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Okay, you YMOT Road Warriors, IF you had to drive across Pennsylvania, would you take 80 or 70?

Why?  

I am particularly interested in access to service areas, quantity of 18 wheelers on either route, and route preference during winter weather.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

GRG

[Cookies Galore]

I just looked up I-70 (never heard of it) and it only goes through the southwestern corner of the state. Did you mean I-80 vs. I-76? 80 has mountainous elevations and goes through not much of interest in upper PA. I've only driven 80 in NE PA, which is probably the only populated area you'll see on 80 until Ohio, lol. The turnpike (76) has rest stops and plenty of service areas when you get off it, but there was also a massive pile up outside Philly on the 276 turnpike this morning. The state is also collecting potholes right now. So... have fun!

I take the PA turnpike often, but I've never driven across the whole state. I'd probably shoot myself!

[midjd]

We always took 80 when driving from IN to NYC and back. The one time we tried another route, we got lost.

Pennsylvania is a very, very, very wide state. But pretty! We always seemed to time it so that the sun was rising about when we went through the Poconos area. Beautiful country.

[Shooby]

I 80 goes across Pa. I travel it everyday.

[steph08]

Where are you headed?

I-80 is more north than the turnpike (76). I've never taken 80, but DH has and I can ask him when he gets up.

We've taken the turnpike across the state many, many times. There are a lot of rest stops along the route. As for tractor trailers, I think there are some, but definitely not as crowded as some other highways (I-70, which you mentioned, has a lot going from PA to WV).

[Shooby]

Feb 14, 2014 22:55:28 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

I just looked up I-70 (never heard of it) and it only goes through the southwestern corner of the state. Did you mean I-80 vs. I-76? 80 has mountainous elevations and goes through not much of interest in upper PA. I've only driven 80 in NE PA, which is probably the only populated area you'll see on 80 until Ohio, lol. The turnpike (76) has rest stops and plenty of service areas when you get off it, but there was also a massive pile up outside Philly on the 276 turnpike this morning. The state is also collecting potholes right now. So... have fun!

I take the PA turnpike often, but I've never driven across the whole state. I'd probably shoot myself!

Yeah, well i have.  And, we had some friends visit from England.  They thought we could drive from our home to NYC, then maybe to Florida to Disney and then out to Colorado.  They had no  concept of how big our country really is, even just PA.  When we visited them, a 2+ hr drive to Scotland was something that they thought was too much.  

[Shooby]

Here is the interstate map of PA:

[constanz22]

I'm in NEPA and wasn't aware of 70 either.  80 is very heavily travelled, lots of 18 wheelers, and some dicey areas if weather is bad (but really anywhere in PA is going to be an issue in bad weather).  Can you be more specific where you are traveling to and from?  Might be easier to make recommendations.

[Shooby]

Yes, depends where you are trying to get too as well.  

[Miss Tequila]

I'm in NEPA and I can say that I dread taking 80W. Not because of traffic or conditions but because it is the most boring drive EVER!

I have no clue where I70 is....never heard if it

[ners]

I have always used the PA turnpike.  It was the most direct route to get to where I was going. 

I have always heard that 80 has more truck traffic since the trucks take 80 to avoid the tolls.

[Miss Tequila]

Feb 15, 2014 10:23:52 GMT -5 ners said:

I have always used the PA turnpike.  It was the most direct route to get to where I was going. 

I have always heard that 80 has more truck traffic since the trucks take 80 to avoid the tolls.

I think it depends on what part of PA you are going to/from. I take the turnpike to go south but I would never take it to go west because it goes West in the southern part of the state.

[wvugurl26]

I take I-70 from the DC metro area to Breezewood to pick up the Turnpike (I-76). Its I-70/I-76. I came out of Columbus last summer heading back to the DC area and I took the Turnpike route.

That is the only route I've taken across the state. Since I have EZ Pass now the Turnpike is a breeze. Boring as hell though. It has a fair amount of semi traffic. Honestly though it doesn't bother me, I've always traveled interstates with a ton of semi traffic. I'm on I-95 daily where they are running three lanes wide beside me.

[8 Bit WWBG]

Is it OK to call a turnpike other than the NJ turnpike "the turnpike"!

[Sunnyday]

Feb 15, 2014 10:19:44 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I'm in NEPA and I can say that I dread taking 80W. Not because of traffic or conditions but because it is the most boring drive EVER!

I have no clue where I70 is....never heard if it

I've always taken 80 when I would go back to school. If you don't have to drive through PA, don't do it.

I've fallen asleep at the wheel driving through PA. I can't believe that I'm still here today.

Just so boring, and I am someone who can drive 12 hours straight stopping only for gas with no problem. It's just something about pa.

[Cookies Galore]

Feb 15, 2014 12:05:05 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Feb 15, 2014 10:19:44 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I'm in NEPA and I can say that I dread taking 80W. Not because of traffic or conditions but because it is the most boring drive EVER!

I have no clue where I70 is....never heard if it

I've always taken 80 when I would go back to school. If you don't have to drive through PA, don't do it.

I've fallen asleep at the wheel driving through PA. I can't believe that I'm still here today.

Just so boring, and I am someone who can drive 12 hours straight stopping only for gas with no problem. It's just something about pa.

Tell me about it. Drive down to Virginia? Sure. Drive across PA? Kill me. The furthest I've driven west in the state was State College and I wanted to off myself. But maybe that's because I was driving to State College. ;-)

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Sorry for the confusion.  The choices were i80 and i76 (which merges with I70) west of Harrisburg or so.

Points about how boring driving across Pennsylvania is are all well taken.  I have driven from Boston to Clearfield (mid state) and that was enough to firmly engrave in my mind that I80 is boring as hell.  I have also driven from Boston to Gettysburg and some of those smaller state highways are trance-inducing, especially late at night.  

That said, I need to get across the boring, W I D E state to get somewhere else.  Doesn't really matter whether I take a westerly route in the northern or southern part of the state, just that I get across the darn thing.  I expect some bad weather, and so want some rest areas to stop at if the need arises.  I also have EZ Pass so tolls don't really figure into my thinking.  I, too, had heard that semis tend to take I80 to avoid the tolls, but I have also heard of some scary situations coming down the backside of some of the hills on the Turnpike with trucks practically riding in your backseat they are tailgating so closely.  

I *think * I will take the Turnpike.  In my own bizarre view of the world, I'd like to believe that staying south means it will be just that much warmer and so I will not as likely encounter blizzard conditions.  Hey, it's not a scientific, meteorological, fact, but if it reassures me during the drive, then I'm going with it.  

And, Shooby, you are in PA??  All along in my mind I have you living in New Mexico, LOL.  

And for Meghan and MT who seem to never leave the cities of eastern PA, I'll post a report after my trip and share the highlights so that you can each plan your own pan-PA adventure!  

As for the massive pileup on 276 yesterday, I was supposed to be driving from York to Radnor.  Fortunately, I cancelled my plans on Thursday when I saw the storm moving through that area.  I think I'll wait until Spring -- or until you folks learn how to treat your highways better during the winter.  

[Cookies Galore]

I'm near Radnor!

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

We'll talk.  But I ain't going anywhere near that area until Spring, LOL.  You people don't know anything about winter road maintenance.  And I'm a born and raised New Englander so if *anyone* was capable of driving on winter roads it should be me.  But *I* know better.    

[Cookies Galore]

It's pothole season!

[steph08]

Feb 15, 2014 12:50:20 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Sorry for the confusion.  The choices were i80 and i76 (which merges with I70) west of Harrisburg or so.

Points about how boring driving across Pennsylvania is are all well taken.  I have driven from Boston to Clearfield (mid state) and that was enough to firmly engrave in my mind that I80 is boring as hell.  I have also driven from Boston to Gettysburg and some of those smaller state highways are trance-inducing, especially late at night.  

That said, I need to get across the boring, W I D E state to get somewhere else.  Doesn't really matter whether I take a westerly route in the northern or southern part of the state, just that I get across the darn thing.  I expect some bad weather, and so want some rest areas to stop at if the need arises.  I also have EZ Pass so tolls don't really figure into my thinking.  I, too, had heard that semis tend to take I80 to avoid the tolls, but I have also heard of some scary situations coming down the backside of some of the hills on the Turnpike with trucks practically riding in your backseat they are tailgating so closely.  

I *think * I will take the Turnpike.  In my own bizarre view of the world, I'd like to believe that staying south means it will be just that much warmer and so I will not as likely encounter blizzard conditions.  Hey, it's not a scientific, meteorological, fact, but if it reassures me during the drive, then I'm going with it.  

And, Shooby, you are in PA??  All along in my mind I have you living in New Mexico, LOL.  

And for Meghan and MT who seem to never leave the cities of eastern PA, I'll post a report after my trip and share the highlights so that you can each plan your own pan-PA adventure!  

As for the massive pileup on 276 yesterday, I was supposed to be driving from York to Radnor.  Fortunately, I cancelled my plans on Thursday when I saw the storm moving through that area.  I think I'll wait until Spring -- or until you folks learn how to treat your highways better during the winter.  

Did you go to Denny's Beer Barrel Pub when you were in Clearfield?   We go there once or twice a year to the gun shop in town and usually eat there. It's only about an hour from us.

If you have an EZ Pass, I would definitely take the turnpike. It is really boring, but there are less trucks and you can go 75 mph (if the roads are good) without the cops pulling you over.

[doxieluvr]

Feb 15, 2014 12:05:05 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Feb 15, 2014 10:19:44 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I'm in NEPA and I can say that I dread taking 80W. Not because of traffic or conditions but because it is the most boring drive EVER!

I have no clue where I70 is....never heard if it

It's just something about pa.

My sentiments exactly...I have lived 10 miles from the Mason-Dixon Line my whole life. The grass ( and roads) is way better on the md side.

[muttleynfelix]

Feb 15, 2014 10:19:44 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I'm in NEPA and I can say that I dread taking 80W. Not because of traffic or conditions but because it is the most boring drive EVER!

I have no clue where I70 is....never heard if it

I'm guessing you have never driven across Kansas. 

[Miss Tequila]

Feb 15, 2014 21:33:10 GMT -5 muttleynfelix said:

Feb 15, 2014 10:19:44 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I'm in NEPA and I can say that I dread taking 80W. Not because of traffic or conditions but because it is the most boring drive EVER!

I have no clue where I70 is....never heard if it

I'm guessing you have never driven across Kansas. 

Lol! Good point...

[muttleynfelix]

I've road tripped a lot and I think the most boring stretch of road for me was from Ames, IA to the Twin Cities on I-35 and I've done the trip across Kansas (a couple times), the trip across Nebraska, the Ohio Turnpike, the Indiana Turnpike and I-55 between St.Louis and Bloomington, IL (round trip 3 to 4 times a year). I was very very little the times I was on I-80 in PA and the PA Turnpike.  But really, you would have to work to be more boring than any of the stretches of highway above.  I mean you at least have trees in PA. 

[Shooby]

Feb 15, 2014 18:37:49 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Feb 15, 2014 12:50:20 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Sorry for the confusion.  The choices were i80 and i76 (which merges with I70) west of Harrisburg or so.

Points about how boring driving across Pennsylvania is are all well taken.  I have driven from Boston to Clearfield (mid state) and that was enough to firmly engrave in my mind that I80 is boring as hell.  I have also driven from Boston to Gettysburg and some of those smaller state highways are trance-inducing, especially late at night.  

That said, I need to get across the boring, W I D E state to get somewhere else.  Doesn't really matter whether I take a westerly route in the northern or southern part of the state, just that I get across the darn thing.  I expect some bad weather, and so want some rest areas to stop at if the need arises.  I also have EZ Pass so tolls don't really figure into my thinking.  I, too, had heard that semis tend to take I80 to avoid the tolls, but I have also heard of some scary situations coming down the backside of some of the hills on the Turnpike with trucks practically riding in your backseat they are tailgating so closely.  

I *think * I will take the Turnpike.  In my own bizarre view of the world, I'd like to believe that staying south means it will be just that much warmer and so I will not as likely encounter blizzard conditions.  Hey, it's not a scientific, meteorological, fact, but if it reassures me during the drive, then I'm going with it.  

And, Shooby, you are in PA??  All along in my mind I have you living in New Mexico, LOL.  

And for Meghan and MT who seem to never leave the cities of eastern PA, I'll post a report after my trip and share the highlights so that you can each plan your own pan-PA adventure!  

As for the massive pileup on 276 yesterday, I was supposed to be driving from York to Radnor.  Fortunately, I cancelled my plans on Thursday when I saw the storm moving through that area.  I think I'll wait until Spring -- or until you folks learn how to treat your highways better during the winter.  

Did you go to Denny's Beer Barrel Pub when you were in Clearfield?   We go there once or twice a year to the gun shop in town and usually eat there. It's only about an hour from us.

If you have an EZ Pass, I would definitely take the turnpike. It is really boring, but there are less trucks and you can go 75 mph (if the roads are good) without the cops pulling you over.

Omg! I had my son's 16th bday party at Dennys Beer Barrell Pub!
And quit knocking PA , it is gorgeous. Drive thru here in autumn. Beautiful.

[Cookies Galore]

It is a gorgeous state. With a lot of nothing in the middle. :-P