SFGAd or Dorney Park

Why Harrisburg? Well, the main reason is that I-78 and I-83 (in York) never meet. To get from I-83 in York to I-78, you have to follow I-83 to Harrisburg where it connects to I-81 (I-83 also ends here). A few miles east of this point, I-81 makes a swing to the north and I-78 branches off toward Allentown (and eventually NYC area). So, you don't really travel "into" Harrisburg at all, but you do get the crazy Harrisburg traffic. Well... compared to big cities, the traffic is not all that bad... its just that the roads were designed with 1935 volumes of traffic in mind, not 21st century traffic.

As for Toll Roads. Technically tolls on the PA Turnpike do not go to local governments... but rather to the Turnpike Commision for upkeep of the Turnpike (it's not regulated or run by Penndot or the state... I-76 and I-276 are not even listed on Penndot's map of the highway system in PA). While I don't like paying tolls either when I can help it, I am mercenary about this sort of thing... what ever is the most convienent for me. If it involves a toll, so be it. It's sort of the same way I view Virtual Queuing (see other thread).

Truthfully... IF travelling from York on I-83 to I-81 and I-78 to Allentown, I would actually jump on the Turnpike where it meets with 83 (Harrisburg West), take it across the Susquehanna River, jump off at the first Exit (I forget the number... Harrisburg East), then take (the very short) I-283 to I-83 to I-81. So you pay 75 cents each way... it still avoids much of that crazy traffic on the narrow sections of I-83 at Harrisburg. (My "mercenary" thoughts on tolls at work again) *** Edited 6/3/2005 3:24:44 PM UTC by SLFAKE***

May I suggest an even better alternative: Hersheypark? ;)

I agree Rob.... Storm Runner :)

95 is not a toll road(i.e. Parkway,turnpike) , you pay 2 tolls on 95 coming up from D.C. 1 in baltimore(tunnel) and one in Deleware but they are minimal and if your heading to 476(NE extension) from 95 the first 15 miles are not toll. You only ride 476(portions toll) for about 40 miles and your not "giving" money to the local government in doing so. You will pay more in parking at the park than you will on tolls . I meant the harrisburg area, not the city itself but the area,which does have hectic traffic when you take Harrisburgs size into account.

Hmmm, I-78 boring? Maybe to you city guys who are used to an exit every 500 feet. If you all weren't in such a hurry going from park to park, I'd tell you lots of other places you could stop and see.

Here's my totally whack way of going from Baltimore to Dorney...
-- I-83 North to the PA turnpike
-- PA Turnpike East to Reading/Ephrata exit (Route 222)
-- Route 222 North to Dorney.
Totally avoids Harrisburg, I-81 and I-78, but meets 222 construction.

Even more bizarre way thought up at 12:30 AM...
-- I-83 North to the PA turnpike
-- PA Turnpike East to Morgantown.
-- I-176 North to US 422
-- US 422 West (toward Reading) till you run smack into 222 North, don't even have to exit, just go straight.
-- Route 222 North to Dorney.
A little roundabout, but misses all major construction zones.

On a Sunday, I've never experienced really heavy traffic in Harrisburg... not like 2 PM on a Friday when all the state workers take off early. :)

Those are all very scenic places. However you would not miss traffic on 222North. 222 is a jam and they are doing construction on 222 north from breiningsville to trexlertown and the added construction on 78 and 100 is flooding out on to 222 so that area is congested from trexlertown right up to Dorney Park. I think a great scenic route you mentioned would be 76 to morgantown to 176 to 422 to 222(just bypass the traffic) reading has some great things to do and places to see.

That's when I'd take the shortcut at the BK outside of Kutztown, nick, and head up toward New Smithville. Hop on 78 there, and you're just about past that construction.

Yeah, Reading has lots to do and see. Just be able to dodge the gunfire.

Thanks every one for suggestions. I have another trip planned for Hershey later this year. I was there last year. I have been to Dorney but did not ride anything but kiddie coasters. I want to try Steel Force, Talon and Hydra.

As for the directions, how about I-83 to US 30 E to US 222?

Oops, sorry about the I-78 to York comment. I was looking at one of those scunched-up online territory maps that made it look like it does. I should know better considering how many times I've traveled that corridor, but it's been quite sometime so my memory is hazy.

Nickpa610, unless your car can fly, or took I-695 to get around it, you missed a toll in Maryland. There's a $5 toll that is Northbound only up in Harford County. As for you comment that I-95 isn't a toll road, you're mostly right. Here are the states and their tolls taken from usastar.com/i95tolls.htm As you can see there's a lot of doubling up on roads, so to speak. It's it's a lot like the signage on 495S/95S in the D.C. area. When I went to Carowinds several years ago, I seem to remember a road having three different route numbers.

Maine-Maine Turnpike $3.25
New Hampshire-Blue Star Turnpike $1.00
New York-$1.00 & $6 for the George Washington Memorial Bridge
New Jersey-New Jersey Turnpike-Here's where I'll leave it up to you to decide. They only list the tolls at $5.50, but the total Turnpike is $6.45
Delaware-Delaware Memorial Bridge-$3.00 southbound only and $2.00 for the Delaware Turnpike
Maryland-$5.00 northbound, plus $2 for either the Harbor or Fort McHenry tunnels

So you're out about $25.75 (not including the section of New Jersey they don't count) by the time you get to Maine.

Woodyman,
That route will work just fine.

Woodyman, that's my preferred way of traveling to Allentown and back. There was a small section that went down to one-lane on 30 I believe, but it wasn't very long. If you do take that route, make sure to get off at Market St. in York so you don't have go around to get to 30. You'll come up to a light with a Saturn dealership on the right, and that's where you take a right to connect up to 30. You'll also pass a sad remnant of American building power called the Catepillar plant. Since they've constructed a lot of bypasses that may not have been updated on the maps, you cruise on 222 through some of the areas like Sinking Springs that used to take 15-20 minutes (or more) to get through (I always hated the infamous light by the McDonalds with the triple intersection).

There were many constructions on 222 but I got there fine. I think the SHORTEST route is I-95 to I-476. For some reason, the park was quite empty. I got on 10 SF, 5 Hydra, 5 Talon, 1 Thunderhawk and 1 Laser in 3 hours.