Cedar Point Road Trip Next Week

Note: I originally posted this in the travel tips thread and didn't get any responses. Read on...

Hi all. I don't post very often but I thought I'd start here.
I am headed to Cedar Point for 3 days from outside of Boston next week. I have driven there several times before and usually take the Mass Pike (I90) all the way out to Buffalo, down through Erie and into Cleveland. This year AAA's maps has me going via I80 through PA instead. I think I went this way once before and it seemed longer and the roads more hilly and curvy.

Should I just go the usual way? Any suggestions? Also, when I get into the Cleveland area are there any quicker ways up to the lake and park area than coming in through the mall/hotel road (sorry, the name escapes me)

Any suggestions anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Hello! If you want to save money then don't take I80, its the OH Turnpike....I-90 might be more of a straight shot for you, but we always take the turnpike, because it is faster (coming from Kent State University).

From Boston, it's just about the same either way (within 30 minutes). If you live north of Boston, you're probably better with I-90. The timing is so close, that it probably depends on what highway is close to your starting point. You'll save some money on tolls by going I-80, avoiding the NY Thruway.

When we go to Albany and Northampton, we go I-90. But if I were going to Boston, I'd probably go I-80.

Whatever way you decide, here is the quickest way to Cedar Point once you get into the state.

*** Edited 8/12/2004 1:42:17 PM UTC by Gemini***

I would expect I-80 to be longer as it brings you further South than you need to be.

I-90 won't be cheaper since it is the NYS Thruway, and the cost of the portion of the Ohio Turpike on I-80 would be less than the Thruway tolls across NYS, but I think I-90 would be faster overall. I'm not aware of any major construction, but I haven't been west of Buffalo on I-90 since my trip to CP last year. I'm headed to CP this weekend, so I'll post if there is any significant construction on 90 between Rochester and Cleveland after I get back on Monday.

As for going through Cleveland, take I-90 to route 2 (check a map for which route 2 exit though, 90 and 2 parallel each other for a while and you don't want to get on 2 until you have to) on the west side of Cleveland and take that to route 6 which takes you right to the causeway. That has worked well for me over the last few years coming from Rochester, NY. I think the Mapquest or Expedia directions show this route.

Hope this was helpful.

Melissa :)

ETA: P.S. I just looked on Expedia and you won't branch off to route 2 until around exit 145 (Of course that exit didn't show a number, but it is just after 145). It is just a few miles before I-90 merges with I-80. *** Edited 8/12/2004 2:03:00 PM UTC by MelH***

Thank you all for your suggestions!
I am coming from 20 miles West of Boston and I live a mile from the Mass Pike (I90) onramp.

Funny, in the past no one has ever sent me via 90 to Rt2 though I have noticed it on the maps for years. I'm trying it.

Last trip we got into the Cleveland area right about rush hour. Added nearly 2 hours to our trip. Is 90 to2 congested around 4pm in the afternoon on a weekday?

_g

Yeah, from that spot, I-90 is probably your best bet ... but not by much.

Cleveland rush starts around then, but doesn't peak until after 5 p.m. You'll be heading west, so you won't have much to worry about until you get downtown. Then, it's only a few miles of heavy stuff before it gets better.

Follow the directions that I linked to in my earlier post and you'll have the fastest, most direct way to Cedar Point.

What day are you going? Tuesday will be my first ever trip to CP, and Wed to GL. If you are gonna be there, I'd love to meet up with another Buzzer!

Here's an alternative...I-90 to I-88 to the new I-86. I-86 (NY-17) runs along the southern tier of New York state, saves about 30 minutes and $15.00 in tolls compared to I-90, and is much much more scenic. It joins back up to I-90 in Pennsylvania near Erie. A lot of maps don't list it yet because it's new and there's a few short sections that aren't Interstate Standard yet, but it's still the shortest route between Boston and Cleveland. Take it, you won't regret it.