The best driving directions from Greater Boston to Philadelphia

You will save time with these directions to the Wyndham Hotel at 17th & Race Streets because:  You avoid the congestion of New York City and northern New Jersey, you avoid most of the New Jersey Turnpike, and you miss the congestion around Baltimore.

  1. Mass Pike West
  2. Take exit 9 onto I-84 West ("I-" means Interstate in these directions)
  3. Take left exit 57 onto I-91 South (if you miss it, keep going, take exit 50 onto I-91 South, and go to step 5)
  4. In about 2 miles, take exit 86 onto I-91 South
  5. After about 17 miles, take exit 17 onto Rte. 15 South, the W. Cross Parkway, which changes name to the Merritt Parkway

    (After exit 54, you'll go over the Connecticut River -- you might see Blackhawk and Seahawk helicopters at the Sikorsky plant that builds them across the river on your right.)

  6. After entering New York state (where Rte. 15 changes name to the Hutchinson Parkway, take exit 26W and quickly move into the left lane at the end of the ramp, and take the left ramp onto I-287 West
  7. Staying on I-287, cross the Hudson River on the Tappen Zee Bridge
  8. About 8 miles after the bridge, take exit 14A onto the Garden State Parkway -- this is the start, so it only goes South

    (If you have EZ-Pass or Fast Lane, take the express lane on the left without slowing down at the first toll booth -- they are adding express lanes on the Garden State, so you may see more.)

  9. After about 40 miles, take exit 129 onto the New Jersey Turnpike South
  10. Take exit 7A from the NJ Turnpike onto I-195 West toward Trenton
  11. At the end of I-195 in about 5 miles, take exit 60A onto I-295 South

    (There are a lot of choices for food and gas on I-295.  Exit 36A/B is one of the best with several choices for food and gas, and is easy on and off.)

    (Just before exit 40 is the bridge of a Navy ship in the field on the right, of all places -- it's a Navy lab for Combat Systems Engineering.)

  12. Take exit 27 onto I-676 North toward Philadelphia
  13. After crossing the Delaware River, take a left onto Vine Street toward I-676 West/Rte. 30 West
  14. In about a mile, turn left onto N. 17th Street, and you will see the Wyndham about one block ahead.