I-70 or I-80?

[AllSeasons]

I’m moving from the Midwest to the East Coast (New Jersey) in less than a month. Is it better to take I-70 or I-80? We took I-70 last time, and it was not easy driving, with all the mountains and everything, especially in Pennsylvania. Is I-80 better? Thank you in advance.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

I-70 is BEAUTIFUL to take from the midwest to the east coast. I took it when I drove from StL to DC (No, it doesn’t go through DC, but you take it most of the way) in the fall and is was breathtaking.

As for comparative ease to I-80 I have no idea.

 

[AllSeasons]

I-70 is BEAUTIFUL to take from the midwest to the east coast. I took it when I drove from StL to DC (No, it doesn’t go through DC, but you take it most of the way) in the fall and is was breathtaking.

As for comparative ease to I-80 I have no idea.

Coincidentally, we also took I-70 coming back from DC. The driving wasn’t as bad as on the way there, probably because it was Memorial Day weekend when we drove there, and there was a lot more traffic then.

 

[PatriceA]

I’m moving from the Midwest to the East Coast (New Jersey) in less than a month. Is it better to take I-70 or I-80? We took I-70 last time, and it was not easy driving, with all the mountains and everything, especially in Pennsylvania. Is I-80 better? Thank you in advance.

They are about the same in comparison in PA, mountains and lots of semi trucks. I prefer 80 myself.

 

[jilly4ski]

I have only been on I-80/I-90, and it is ok. (Moved from the upper midwest to NY and back again). But you will have lots of tolls on I-80. Chicago, Indiana, Ohio. Getting one of the I-Pass/Zooms are probably worth it. But make sure you check construction maps. Because that will probably determine which route worse. (When we moved back last summer the construction on I-80 was pretty terrible, we thought we were going to see orange forever). Also depending on where you are getting on/off on I-80 you will have to navigate either around or through Chicago, which can be a bear (avoid rush hour and lunch). But you won’t have to go through Cleveland and their ridiculous 90 degree turns. (Which is after 80 and 90 split.

 

[Cristiano]

My experience of moving from NY to WI on I-80 goes back to 25 years ago and moving from WI to NY goes back to 18 years ago. I would assume that things changed since then to make my experience valuable.

 

[PatriceA]

I have only been on I-80/I-90, and it is ok. (Moved from the upper midwest to NY and back again). But you will have lots of tolls on I-80. Chicago, Indiana, Ohio. Getting one of the I-Pass/Zooms are probably worth it. But make sure you check construction maps. Because that will probably determine which route worse. (When we moved back last summer the construction on I-80 was pretty terrible, we thought we were going to see orange forever). Also depending on where you are getting on/off on I-80 you will have to navigate either around or through Chicago, which can be a bear (avoid rush hour and lunch). But you won’t have to go through Cleveland and their ridiculous 90 degree turns. (Which is after 80 and 90 split.

I-80 isn’t a toll road in PA. They tried to make it so a few years ago, but it didn’t pass.

 

[jilly4ski]

I-80 isn’t a toll road in PA. They tried to make it so a few years ago, but it didn’t pass.

Yeah, 90 isn’t either for the short stretch in the corner. And NY doesn’t make it a toll road until after Buffalo.

 

[monicatholic]

if you’re going to south jersey, you may be tempted to cut south in PA on the PA turnpike (70 to 76.) **dont do it. ** the PA turnpike is uber hatable AND expensive. i think it cost me 14 dollars to cross the state last time on PA turnpike.

i-80 is the best. i just drove it both ways last week. not too much construction (less than it’s been in 30 years, in fact). if you’re heading to south jersey from 1-80, dont go to the NJ parkway. instead, cut down on 287 THEN to the parkway. it costs about 8 bucks to cross ohio on i 80.

i 90 is not the best bet. it’s too north. even if you’re going to north jersey, i-80 comes right in at the northwest corner-- lake hopatking, west milford etc. 1 80 is more direct.

 

[HouseArrest]

We have to get on I-80 to get just about anywhere. It’s not bad at all, in my opinion. I have driven on it from Akron to State College within the past year. It’s never crowded and the construction has not been bad. Good luck!

 

[AllSeasons]

Thank you for all the replies. We ended up booking a (non-refundable) hotel on I-70, since we’ve already driven it twice. We did have to pay a hefty toll, to the tune of $13.50 each way, on the PA turnpike (I-70/I-76). Not exactly sure how to avoid it, though.