[ghfromaltonbay]

As long as you are not towing a boat, I've found that taking the NY Thruway across the Tappan Zee Bridge to 287 and then the Merritt Parkway cuts 11 miles off the 300+ mile commute. I used to take the Saw Mill Parkway after the Tappan Zee to 684 and then 84 in Danbury. Also I miss the dreaded stretch of 84 thru Waterbury and the never-ending construction. If you take the Merritt to its end in Meriden, CT, you take 91 North to 84 East just above Hartford, and then like Pepper I take the Mass Pike to 495. The only time to avoid the Merritt Parkway is during morning rush hour if you are heading south and of course in the afternoon going northbound. Normally if we leave Alton Bay around 10 am and come down the Merritt mid-afternoon, the slow traffic is on the northbound side and we sail through southbound. Another plus of taking the Meritt over 84 is NO TRUCKS!!