The link above are three route options Google Maps shows. In summary, one goes through Syracuse NY. Other through Williamsport, and the third as well. I’ve tried to also show interstate numbers in the linked image
Our preferences are a route that has divided roads going up and down (right vs left) which makes it a lot safer to drive, and to avoid any long stretches in isolated regions where there are no close towns in 50 miles either way.
That said, which one of the three shall we choose, and what other alternatives if any please.
2 comments
In many parts of the country 50 miles between towns is normal and I wouldn’t call that an isolated region.
Given your preferences, the most suitable route is the one through Syracuse. That route is (almost) entirely along interstate highways, which are always divided, and it also keeps you close to more cities (Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Allentown) than the other ones. There are also many smaller towns along the way, probably every 5-10 miles or so on average.
While this drive is doable in one day for most people, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area would be a good place to stop overnight in case you do want to break the trip up into two days.
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That being said, you have an opportunity to see some very beautiful scenery if you take a different route, especially if you’re going to be traveling in autumn. If you don’t care about that at all, or just don’t want to do it, that’s fine! It’s just that I think the fall scenery is one of the greatest features of the Northeast US, and I would recommend a scenic drive to anyone from out of the area who’s going to be visiting at the right time. If you do decide that you’d be interested in a scenic route, I would suggest taking US 20A from near Buffalo to I-390, then down I-99/US 15 to just past Williamsport, where you can get on I-80 (or even keep going south to Harrisburg before turning east on I-76). Some of those highways are not divided, but on the other hand they’re much less busy than the interstates; e.g. on parts of US 15 you could go several minutes at a time without seeing another car. There are still small towns along the roads, perhaps every 20-ish miles on average, and I don’t think you’d have to worry about traveling for 50+ miles without seeing a restaurant or gas station, if that’s your concern. In (southern) NY and PA we don’t really have the huge stretches of highway with no amenities or population like some of the larger, western states do.
Note that I would _not_ suggest this if you’ll be traveling in winter, when there might be snow or ice on the road. In that case, you’re definitely better off sticking to the interstates.