Driving from VA to Buffalo on Friday.. Considering the forecast, what route will be best?

Submitted by Attainted t3_zm5qpc in Pennsylvania

The two main ones are either taking 219 up from Bedford through small towns then in NY as well which I've done once before and was hoping to avoid. I know you guys are used to snow, but I'm not sure how quick or effective the plow crews are in the small towns and state roads vs the interstate.

The alternative is taking the turnpike west, past Pittsburgh then up towards Erie and I'm seeing how insane the tolls are, and then realistically I might be unlucky and hit Pittsburgh rush hour.. Is there actually a better option or am I just screwed either way here?

Some context: I'm from WI and typically fine with snow, but these conditions through unfamiliar twisty elevation is not really what I'm about. I also have a friend who will be taking a car up as well, and they're less comfortable, but unfortunately we are stuck taking both cars, and have to do it this weekend.

Thanks in advance, and please don't rip me too much on this one as I do already feel a bit dumb for even asking.

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newworldman1070 t1_j097uby wrote

219 from Ridgway to Bradford can get real fun in the winter time.

I’d take 81 to 15 to Buffalo.

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STLLC2019 t1_j098o4a wrote

I-81 is gonna be closed by tomorrow morning. Already has a CMV restriction on it all the way up to I-80 from the MD line.

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NativePA t1_j09kikk wrote

100% is open by Friday

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STLLC2019 t1_j09kr5f wrote

Looks like it currently. As long as the storm doesn't get hung up on the mountains and decide to stick around for a bit.

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theyeoftheiris t1_j0bw4e3 wrote

I thought it was supposed to start raining at some point? I don't think it will be closed tomorrow.

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STLLC2019 t1_j0bw95f wrote

Check PA511. All sorts of restrictions on today.

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Cptkiljoy t1_j0degl7 wrote

Cmv are on the tractor trailers and if they're pulling a trailer themselves

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Attainted OP t1_j09h20e wrote

Thanks for the input. Looking at the other reply to your comment I'm guessing I'm probably just boned.

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Dredly t1_j09pr4w wrote

I'm assuming you'll be sitting in traffic for hours, maybe wait til Sat

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Attainted OP t1_j0a4fao wrote

Assuming no accidents, I'm more than happy to sit in traffic than stay where I've been the last couple months lol. Though, haven't completely ruled it out for safety. More likely to just call the day early ahead of icy roads after I've already started the trip.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j0a8hwu wrote

From Winchester, take 522 up to I-70 to I-76 west to 99 north to 322 west to I-80 west to 153 to 219 all the way to Buffalo. Or, 81 to 15 to 147 to I-180 to 15 to I-86 to I-390 to 36 north to 20A west to 400 north to I-90 north to I-190 right into Buffalo.

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Google maps made easy.

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newworldman1070 t1_j0bfb33 wrote

153 is a terrible road when it snows, especially for someone who isn’t accustomed to driving on twisty mountain roads.

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MailOrderDog t1_j0a1342 wrote

Agreed, especially since the 219 doesn't get any better once you hit the NY line (at least until it turns to 4 lanes near Springville.)

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newworldman1070 t1_j0a2o54 wrote

NY takes far better care of its roads in the winter compared to PA. We travel into NY a fair bit and I’m always amazed a the difference between the two states. PA is very reluctant to use salt where we’re at, all we get is sand, and no pretreatment.

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Attainted OP t1_j0a5xcd wrote

OP here, and yeah that's another thing that had me hesitating with that route, since once you cross the state line it's a little more flat, but the trade off is then through more/worse intersections since a good chunk is just outright back roads.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j0a8qe1 wrote

You can also to the I-70 norht to I-76 west to I-79 north to I-90 east. Takes you towards Pittsburgh and up by Erie. Watch out for that lake effect snow!

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Pink_Slyvie t1_j0ajmmn wrote

Yea, it looks like it should be done by noonish on Friday, this would probably be my route.

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MuckRaker83 t1_j09i6g6 wrote

Just by looking where it's supposed to be bad, might be worth diverting a bit west, going up 79 to 90

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[deleted] t1_j09l25j wrote

I’ve made the trip many times. Key thing is to look at the weather radar and go where it isn’t snowing.

Taking US-15 north from Harrisburg to I-390 is a good route. On 390 you can take NY 63 to Batavia and I-90 to BUF. Alternatively you can take 390 to 90 to BUF.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW IS NOT TO BE MESSED WITH. Use your radar app and navigate away from the bands. Or stay home. (I was blown and raised in Tonawanda NY)

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MailOrderDog t1_j0a0urr wrote

>(I was blown and raised in Tonawanda NY)

I wasn't raised there, but the first part happened to me once! Good old days...

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Attainted OP t1_j0a40dt wrote

Thanks! Are any of those roads flatter or better plowed than 219? I guess that's the main thing I'm trying to avoid with 219 since I'll probably get hosed by the weather through the center of the state either way. That and being forced through small towns like Salamanca, NY where I'm guessing they won't be plowed well (maybe I'm assuming too negatively..?). Definitely agree on not messing with lake effect and trying to stay out of the bands though - will probably make a stop near or ahead of the southern state line to evaluate & go from there. Again, I'm from WI so I'm familiar with lake effect, but uh, man. I know the last few weeks were record setting for you guys, but I don't think we've ever even had 5 feet on the ground in WI, let alone in one go.

Btw, hope the blowing experience was an enjoyable one.

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[deleted] t1_j0d20ge wrote

I read the Western NY forecast. If it were me, I wouldn’t go.

219 is quite remote and hilly.

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festerwl t1_j09n5td wrote

Head to 64, to RT20, to RT19, then 79 will take you all the way to 90.

79 will be boring and mostly straight north of Pittsburgh, 90 from Erie to Buffalo is the same. Fill up with gas before you get to PA to save yourself to 60 cents a gallon.

Weather looks clear here in Erie through Sunday afternoon.

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Attainted OP t1_j0a2j67 wrote

Thanks for the tips on that route! That's basically what I imagined for if I go that way - that if I get past Pittsburgh things seem they should be okay.

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SWPenn t1_j0bvxwy wrote

The turnpike skirts the eastern and northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, so I don't think you have to worry about heavy traffic, other than commuter traffic on that section. You won't be going into the city.

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fitm3 t1_j09o3k8 wrote

Check out an app called On The Way, or a handful of others for weather on route. Quite handy for seeing weather based on route and time of departure

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Attainted OP t1_j0a200p wrote

Thanks! Didn't know about these, I'll look into a few.

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the_dorf t1_j09o98n wrote

Well, there's I-68, instead of the turnpike...but that is all rolling hills. I think your best bet is to take US 219 up and taking your time on parts is ideal. Good luck and have fun! Watching the Bills game?

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Attainted OP t1_j0a2dwt wrote

Thanks. Is the turnpike anymore flat? And do you happen to know when rush hour usually starts up around Pittsburgh?

Won't be watching the game, home is actually a bit more north haha. Good luck to them though!

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the_dorf t1_j0a7cln wrote

It has some hills, but nothing of the rolling nature of 68. Haven’t done much time in Pittsburgh so maybe 230 on a Friday is when things pickup?

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HerpDerpinAtWork t1_j0ceg3p wrote

The turnpike, if it's open, should be fine. Of all the roads mentioned, it's IMO the most heavily plowed/salted, and if it's undriveably bad, it closes. The only bits on the turnpike that stick out to me as potentially spicey might be the climb out of Bedford to the Allegheny Mountain tunnel, and the series of S-bends descending from the Laurel Highlands west of Donegal. I wouldn't be worried about traffic around Pittsburgh, as 76 isn't really a commuter route, and you link up with 79 far enough north that you're not really in-range of traffic. 79 is then mostly boring and at worst rolling/sweeping, as opposed to mountainous and twisty. 90 from Erie to Buffalo I'm less familiar with, but so long as it's not actively lake-effecting (keep an eye on forecasts and radar), it should be fine?

Basically, of your options, to me that seems the most straightforward and least likely to cause problems, as all the roads on that route are major arteries that are well traveled and plowed, higher-speed limit (= more gradual turns and hills), and unless I'm mistaken, they're all divided highways, so if it you do get caught in a snowstorm, "oncoming traffic," at least, is one less concern to worry about.

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Hib3rnian t1_j09ur9n wrote

Might just want to head south on 95 to Fla. and call it a long weekend 🙂

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ImNorm29 t1_j0a87rk wrote

The more you stick to highways the better you’ll be. Turnpike has its own dedicated crews so it’s usually the best kept road in PA (that may not being saying much). Depending on how cold and windy it really gets I would think you’ll be fine on Friday.

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UpsetHyena964 t1_j0ai7vq wrote

Just be careful as they are calling for a massive snow storm tomorrow in Northern PA around bradford area

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Attainted OP t1_j0ajdf0 wrote

Definitely. On the radar even right now you can see the precipitation system is literally bigger than the length of the whole country. It's a bigg'un and serious.

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cutiecat565 t1_j0c66bi wrote

I think you'll be if you leave a little later. The biggest chunk of the storm is supposed to be through by noon Friday. Highways and main state roads will be plowed.

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invisiblearchives t1_j0d7zxv wrote

I absolutely adore the ride through 219 and always take it when I'm going home

context: I only go home 3/4 seasons of the year.

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