I-95

I-95 in Georgia
   Georgia is rich with historical sites and Savannah is, perhaps, the king. In fact, at times, a tourist would get the impression that Savannah is pure history! While known for its history (and there are many historical tours for history buffs), Savannah tempers its industrial and financial activities as one of the South's major arts centers. Its yearly Jazz Festival (late September) has become world famous and the city almost explodes with the influx of people.

I-95 in South Carolina
   The northbound motorists on I-95 enter South Carolina in the area known as the Coastal Plain. This is mostly low-level marshland and swamps, most of which are populated with moss-hung cypress trees. Yes, this is picture postcard country! Among these swamps are small, treeless, wild grass prairies called savannas.
   As you cruise northward on I-95 you are slowly gaining elevation until, at Santee, you are now in the fringes of Carolina's famous Sand Hills. The Sand Hills were part of an ancient beach indicating that the Atlantic Coastal Plain was once covered by the ocean. Many of the more popular winter resorts are in this region.
      By the time you cross I-26, I-95 had wandered a significant distance from the coast. The route stays well inland until it reaches New York.

I-95 in North Carolina
   Fayetteville is home for the 82nd Airborne and Fort Bragg. At the intersection of I-40 you are almost midway between Raleigh and Wilmington, both very interesting but rather out of your way. At the intersection of US-64 (exit 38) you are as close as you will get to Cape Hatteras. Finally you get to Roanoke Rapids and the Virginia State Line.

I-95 in Virginia
   As in North Carolina (and northern South Carolina), I-95 follows the 'Fall Line*' in Virginia. You will also swap the mostly rural areas for urban clutter. At the outskirts of Petersburg (exit 46) you will encounter your first belt highway. I-295, and, yes, we encourage you to take this route around the Richmond megapolis. Jamestown-Williams-burg-Norfolk traffic should take I-64 at exit 28. Northbound traffic will rejoin I-95 at exit 43 of I-295. Then there's Fredericksburg and, finally, the Washington-Baltimore megapolis. At exit 170 I-95 joins I-495 cross the Potomac River, enter Maryland and skirt Washington, D.C.

I-95 in Maryland
   The southern half of I-95 in Maryland passes through urban areas with a lot of traffic. 'Rush hours' here tend to start earlier and last longer than rush hours anywhere else on I-95 except New York City. You'll want to avoid driving through this area during these periods if at all possible!
   We have been told that the preferred route through Baltimore is I-895 which goes through the Harbor Tunnel. This is not only a toll road but our experiences have shown that it is neither faster nor shorter. As stated, above, rush hour is bad all over this area and there is no way to beat it except by avoiding being on the road during those time periods.
 The northern half of I-95 in Maryland is almost rural in nature and rarely presents problems.

I-95 in Delaware
   Folks heading north on I-95 from Maryland and points south to northern New Jersey and points north should have taken exit 5-D in Delaware. This puts you on I-295 (also a toll road) which, in New Jersey, becomes the New Jersey Turnpike (yes, a toll road). Eventually, in northern New Jersey, the New Jersey Turnpike is also signed I-95 although there is no connection to the I-95 that runs through Pennsylvania and into New Jersey for a few miles.
   Folks heading south on I-95 from northern New Jersey and points north to Delaware and points south should continue on the NJ Turnpike to its end and then continue on I-295 across the Delaware River into Delaware and I-95.

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I-95 in New Jersey
   Welcome to the New Jersey Turnpike. Driving in the urban areas of the Northeast is usually tedious and frequently dangerous. The NJ Turnpike is one of the most crowded thruways in the region (perhaps the country) and accidents here can be severe. You'll be on the Turnpike to its end where it joins I-80 at exit 70 in Ridgefield Park in Bergen County. Now it is hard to believe that Bergen County used to be mostly truck farms supplying New York City with their veggies.
  I-80 terminated here and I-95, in a sweeping curve, finally heads east to cross the double-deck, 14-lane George Washington Bridge and enter New York City.

I-95 in New York
   I-95 enters New York City via the George Washington Bridge, crosses upper Manhattan (a mainly residential area) and then heads north, passing through New Rochelle, on its way to Connecticut. The only hotels near I-95, offering discounts, in New York are in New Rochelle. There are, however, many hotels offering discounts all over the New York City area. You can view them by clicking on the gold sun representing the borough on our NY I-95 strip map.

I-95 in Connecticut
    Welcome to New England. Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are especially rich with historic, colonial-times sites. One stop, which we have found fascinating and would like to recommend is Mystic, CT (exit 90). You can read about Mystic at www.What-Where.info.
    I-95 follows the coast in Connecticut and this is where most of the industry started and matured with the advent of the Industrial Age. Among the earliest industries along the coast was the maritime - including ship building. And almost every one of the larger towns along I-95 has at least one maritime museum.
  New Haven is home to the world-famous Yale University.  It is also rich in beautiful landscapes. The Yale campus in right in the middle of the city and traffic/parking can be a problem.
    Except, of course, during rush hours, I-95 through Connecticut is easy driving. And, when you left New York, you left the toll booths behind! Welcome to Connecticut!

I-95 in Rhode Island
   During off-peak hours you should be in Rhode Island for less than an hour. During rush hours it could be several hours (and you'd never guess it is only 43 miles from Connecticut to Massachusetts!) most of the delays in the Providence area.
   At exit 11-A I-295 splits off of I-95 and is the belt highway around Providence. It adds a few miles but saves a lot of time during high traffic periods. (southbound traffic would exit at exit 4)

I-95 in Massachusetts
   Most of I-95 in Massachusetts is skirting around Boston. Unlike most cities where s designated belt high skirts the central city, I-95 is actually the belt highway around Boston; I-93 is the Interstate to take to reach down-town Boston. They made it very simple; just follow the signs.
   At mile post 60 you enter New Hampshire and more toll highways.

I-95 in New Hampshire
   I-95 is on and off again toll in New Hampshire (but mostly toll). You'll only be in New Hampshire for a few minutes (6.5 miles).
   Warning! A lot of folks who work in the Boston area live in New Hampshire and traffic can be heavy during the commute hours.

I-95 in Maine
   Welcome to Maine. Yes, about 100 miles of I-95 are toll but the remaining 200 miles are free. The tolls are collected in the southern part of the state which is where most of the traffic is.
   I-95 ends at the New Brunswick (Canada) border. There, also, the freeway ends and 2-lane begins.
   Every state in the United States of America has its own set of unique characteristics. Sometimes, going from one state to another is like entering a different country. Maine will not disappoint you; it is unique in a host of ways. An old timer in Bangor once told me that there are more myths about Maine than any other place on earth and, "we enjoy every one of them." I've also been told that Maine is a favorite site for retirees, cold winters and all. Well, whatever, Maine has about the most beautiful coastline of anywhere and they have made it very easy to enjoy.
   Ah, yes, welcome to Maine!

contributed by Rudi Tautz