Best way to drive from VA to Niagara Falls?

[RaistlinZ]

I'm taking a trip from NOVA up to Niagara next month and was wondering which is the best way to drive, via the 219N or the 15N. It looks like the 15N is the longer way mileage wise, but it might be faster if it's just straight highway.

Has anyone done this drive before and can recommend the better way to go?

 

[Triumph]

i took 15 north most of the way to Elmira once. It was a while ago, but figure on an average 55 mph speed, not 70 mph. Some stretches you are hitting stoplights, like from Harrisburg to Milton. 15 north from Frederic to Harrisburg is a fairly painless 60 mph road.

No real good way to go. I've driven to Clearfield PA the last 3 summers for vacation, it takes about 5 hours to get there from Nova. I know a few back ways to get that far rather than taking all highway, so that's the way I'd go if I were to do it. Not sure what 219 to Buffalo is like.

 

[Rakehellion]

Niagara

I find this term racist and offensive.

 

[shortylickens]

Oh shit this is a fantastic coincidence! My uncle lives in Niagara falls and visits once a year.

I'll shoot him an email and ask his route. He's done it 11 time so he should be pretty quick in his response. Can you wait till the morrow?

 

[eits]

i would think that the best way to drive from virginia to niagra falls would be north.

 

[shortylickens]

OK, email sent.

He's usually good about responding to me.

 

[RaistlinZ]

OK, email sent.

He's usually good about responding to me.

Thanks shorty.

 

[DrPizza]

If I recall correctly, south of PA, 219 absolutely sucks to drive on. It added a significant amount of time onto a return trip. We used to take 219 down through PA quite often.

Where at in VA are you departing from? I'd say that 15 is a quicker route, but once you get to NY, you're also a lot further away from Niagara Falls.
And, yes, I've made that drive dozens of times. Though, the 219 route the whole way only the once.

 

[soulcougher73]

Car

 

[Uppsala9496]

I'm actually doing this in 2 weeks but departing from Chicago. Going to cut through Ontario on the way there and maybe take the long way home along 80/90 if I am up and moving early the day we leave.
Simple 3 day trip with the wife and child which means the weather will suck so they can both have something to complain about.

 

[Anubis]

i would do this

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=winchester+va&daddr=40.8343637,-76.8363492+to:Niagara+Falls,+NY&hl=en&ll=39.715638,-76.827393&spn=7.054732,10.404053&sll=40.128491,-77.266846&sspn=7.012425,10.404053&geocode=FfzsVQIdelJX-ynBSmdA9-61iTGEgRacDwq1kQ%3BFTsVbwIdA5Jr-ylt-nwS8D_PiTH9vj9L3_PQAQ%3BFZaYkQId1fpJ-ym3M-Yp6mPTiTGzqsW55FqXYQ&oq=niag&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=7&via=1&safe=on&t=m&z=7

just chose winchester because i dont know where in NOVA you are coming from

i would avoid 219 like the plague
81 is a highway untill harrisburg
you can go 65-70 on 11/15 all the way to williamsport, north of there its all highway until Corning NY where you could prob drive 100 depending on the time of the day (ive done this) normal speed 75 without worrying about it.
its basically highway from there until you get off on 63 to cut across to bativa and then its highway again

 

[shortylickens]

HEYYYYYY!!!

This is my uncles email:

Okay, I have to admit my ignorance concerning route/highway 15N. To the best of my knowledge, I can't remember ever using it. It sounds like an interstate in California(?)
But 219 is my chosen route, and I've used it quite a few times even for trips that weren't to Virginia. It used to be poorly maintained, but they have improved 219 every year now for the last 7 or 8 years. I've noticed widening of the highway in many parts, repaving in many parts, and wholesale re-routing and improving of the 219. You probably already know that the highway system is such that one digit and two digit highways (i.e.: Interstate 76,etc) are considered major routes, whereas three digit routes are secondary and/or go around cities. So, yes, 219 is secondary but it's getting better every year.

In just a moment, I'm going to email you the Mapquest route that I take to VA. If you can't open the link I send, just let me know.

Hope that helps and doesn't add to the confusion.

He just uses the default Mapquest path between Manassas and Niagara Falls.