I'm going to be driving back from D.C. to Ontario, and will be looking for a hotel room about 3-4 hours into the trip. Should I go I-70 to US-219 (staying in either Clearfield or Altoona) or US-15 to I-180 and stay between Selinsgrove and Williamsport?

Submitted by MikeJeffriesPA t3_11vtiwf in Pennsylvania

Sorry if this is a dumb question, my wife and I are taking a road trip to D.C. and back in the last week of April, and I'm just trying to figure out the best return route.

On the way down we're going the route through Williamsport, but that's mostly because of another stop we're making along the way that's taking us in that direction.

We're starting our trip back on the Friday late-afternoon, planning on leaving D.C. around 4ish and would like to be in a hotel that's 3-4 hours away, which is why I named those towns in the title as likely options.

Google Maps is telling me these two routes are roughly the same, I'm just looking for any suggestions or tips from locals as to which one would be better.

I am leaning towards going the more Western route just because it'll be a different view from what we'll see on the way down, plus the 219 seems like it'll have some terrific views, but there also appears to be fewer options for restaurants and places to stop on that route. Also, I'm not sure how Altoona/Clearfield is to stay in, compared to Williamsport (which seems very safe and nice).

Any suggestions or tips? Thank you in advance!

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shnutz69 t1_jcusea1 wrote

Stay in Lewisburg

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shnutz69 t1_jcusjqf wrote

Or if going western, you could always stay in Bellefonte which is quaint scenic and has good food

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MikeJeffriesPA OP t1_jcut842 wrote

Bellefonte seems like it would take me a fair bit off route, no?

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shnutz69 t1_jcv1l10 wrote

322 is between 15 and 219. I’m not sure your end destination but I think bellefonte is worth going to more than Altoona/clearfield. Not to mention state college is nearby if you wanted to see a large college town

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MikeJeffriesPA OP t1_jcvm4e6 wrote

Technically we'll be going from Bethesda, MD to the Peace Bridge (where we'll cross the border), and while Bellefonte is in the middle, we'd have to veer about 20 minutes off course (in and out, so 40 minutes total) to get there, since none of the north-south interstates run through it.

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shnutz69 t1_jcvne3n wrote

It’s definitely worth those 40 minutes out of your way

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withtreeslikeautumn t1_jcvbjcj wrote

I’d 2nd that! It’s a nice little university town. You’ll be able to find somewhere good to eat on Market St.

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MikeJeffriesPA OP t1_jcvszk8 wrote

I'll see if I can get any deals closer to when we go, but Lewisburg seems to be about $75-100 more expensive than the other towns.

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Hillbl3 t1_jcvzfcu wrote

If your only firm goal is dinner and a hotel room, the answer is there is no difference. You will find food and lodging to be roughly on par with each other on average. I wouldn't consider one any safer than the other. Nor one any 'nicer' than the other.

The section of 15 through southern Perry county is especially tiresome, although you'll most likely end up taking 581/81/322 to go around so maybe it doesn't matter. On the other hand, the western route will take you through the infamous Breezewood not-interchange.

Yeah, six of one, half-dozen the other.

One thing I will say is don't plan on making good time leaving DC on a Friday at 4. Traffic could very easily cost you an extra hour (or worse) trying to get out of the city.

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MikeJeffriesPA OP t1_jcw0hkp wrote

We'll be taking the Metro to Bethesda, MD (that's where our hotel is) and then driving out of there, should I expect the same kind of issue as far as traffic?

And thank you for the heads up, should I aim to just have dinner in Breezewood, since we'll likely be crawling through there anyway?

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Hillbl3 t1_jcw1vql wrote

I can't say you will or you won't have issues, just be aware there is the very large variance typically associated with rush hours that the roads can just barely handle. And there will be a lot of people on every route out.

While Breezewood certainly has places to eat I cannot endorse monetarily rewarding the tomfoolery that has led to it's continued existence.

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MikeJeffriesPA OP t1_jcw3ejv wrote

Haha fair enough, thank you.

We're eating at Ambar Capitol Hill for lunch, so the plan is to eat enough that we won't even want dinner until late. I'm also generally fine with traffic, I've done a lot of Toronto driving in my life, so as long as i know what to expect and can plan accordingly, I should be good.

But I get what you're saying, plan for up to 4 hours of driving, traffic could be a nightmare.

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Theskullcracker t1_jcuwogd wrote

If you’re going through Williamsport- there is a Wegmans. Otherwise it’s pretty even.

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Gullible-Service1479 t1_jcv9g4u wrote

Go through Altoona lots of places to stay and safe and lots of restaurants and places to shop

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the_dorf t1_jcvzlw3 wrote

Horseshoe Curve too...neat place in history.

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MikeJeffriesPA OP t1_jcve8sb wrote

Thanks, my wife is leaning more towards Altoona as well, giving us a shorter drive after spending the day in D.C. and a longer drive when we don't have anything else planned.

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Gothsicle t1_jcvx75t wrote

altoona has lots of hotels and restaurants

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snuffy_tentpeg t1_jcuwjgc wrote

What part of Ontario? Where'd you plan on crossing the border?

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MikeJeffriesPA OP t1_jcuwrj0 wrote

We live north of Toronto, so either the Peace Bridge or Rainbow Bridge would work.

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Optimal_Bad_8965 t1_jcv2a3l wrote

Probably cheaper if you go 219 and stay closer to the NY border

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MikeJeffriesPA OP t1_jcve4xf wrote

Would you say Altoona over Clearfield?

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artificialavocado t1_jcw5bwk wrote

I would probably do 15. Like someone else had mentioned, Lewisburg is a nice town.

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RubberChickenRacing t1_jcwxj8t wrote

Try this crazy idea: get in your car and drive. Take back roads through small towns. There are motels everywhere. If you really get stuck, look at Google maps for a major interstate highway junction and go there, there will be motels all around the intersection

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