Driving Directions to New York City from Philadelphia

The New York City - Philadelphia connection is always of historical significance. Of course, Benjamin Franklin, The Liberty Bell, Valley Forge, and General Washington's Delaware River crossing at the Keystone State will always be associated with American Freedom. Although New York City actually took a back seat to Philadelphia at the time, the bourgeoning locale remained the stomping ground for the likes of Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. Indeed, the Liberty Corridor linking two cities is synonymous with New Jersey and the turning points of the American Revolution.

Today, these two metropolises have grown to switch positions in terms of international acclaim. Philadelphia remains a top cultural and financial center, which carries 1,517,550 inhabitants per the 2000 U.S. Census roll - the fifth largest city in America. Of course, New York City, population 8,214,426, holds the number one Alpha Crown - by far.

Indeed, Philly denizens have emerged as the most antagonistic lot upon the East Coast. I must speculate that said brazen mentality is a function of operating amidst the shadows of the political, cultural, and financial capitals of the Free World at New York City and Washington, D.C.

Irrespective of this provincial animosity, Philadelphians will continue to forge the 100-mile trip to New York City by car and train. This guide is concerned with those commuters and tourists that wish to make the brotherly Love - Big Apple connection by passenger automobile or commercial vehicle from the Delaware Valley.

These driving directions to New York City from Philadelphia are to be broken down into three sections. The trip begins by accessing the New Jersey Turnpike (NJTP) and closes by identifying the requisite Hudson River or Kills crossings into the separate New York City boroughs. The Jersey Turnpike represents the intermediate stage of the tour and motorists must recognize the distinct rules of the road for this iconic highway.

Our directives navigate a "kink" in I-95. 95 disappears outside of Trenton, NJ at the time of this writing and the signage magically reappears along the Turnpike in North Jersey. The funky directives and lack of a direct overland interstate route between two of the largest cities in America is a direct consequence of the Not in My Backyard backlash towards highway building.

Indeed, North Jersey residents shut down plans to extend 95 past Trenton and Princeton to today's NJTP via I-287 at New Brunswick. Today, Route 1 into Central New Jersey is sabotaged with traffic headaches as a direct consequence of those efforts.

We recognize the fact that The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is reconfiguring The I-95 Delaware Expressway and I-276 Pennsylvania Turnpike approach to carry the 95 shield into Jersey per the PENNA Turnpike. However, the fresh route should not alter our directions from Center City (Downtown Philadelphia). The goal remains to map the most efficient route, regardless of 95 signage.

The northbound trip costs $15.35 in tolls per the Turnpike and New York City crossing from Philadelphia for two axle automobiles.

Driving Directions to New York City from Philadelphia: Enter the New Jersey Turnpike

Philadelphia drivers must enter the tolled New Jersey Turnpike as quickly as possible. The New Jersey Turnpike is identified with a green and white NJTP banner and curved arrows directing motorists to the Turnpike entrance.

This directive mitigates the risks of confronting the heavy traffic congestion along I-95 between Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County, and Trenton, NJ. Additionally, I would advise against navigating the signaled U.S. 1 via Roosevelt Boulevard into New Jersey and New York City.

Both Route 1 and 130 are signaled; divided highways that cannot match the speed, convenience, and service of the New Jersey Turnpike. The time and fuel wasted, idling at red lights, do not justify the tollbooth savings earned by forgoing the New Jersey Turnpike. Further, the four to six lane NJTP throughout South and Central New Jersey carries solid traffic counts at all times, yet is rarely congested with stop and go traffic patterns.

Philadelphia drivers will span the Delaware River and look for NJ 73 South to make the connection to the NJ Turnpike. Route 73 can be accessed directly via the PA 73 Tacony - Palmyra and Betsy Ross bridges out of Northeast Philadelphia; and the Ben Franklin or Walt Whitman off I-95 to U.S. 30 (U.S. 130 North from Walt Whitman) and NJ 38 East.

Per Center City, Pennsylvanians will enter The I-676 / U.S. 30 Vine Street Expressway heading east for the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The 676 Vine Street Expressway can be picked up from many points downtown, with requisite signage that reads "Ben Franklin Bridge." Important interchanges for the crossing are located at Race Street, 24^th Street, 95, and The I-76 / Schuylkill.

676 is a depressed grade roadway and out-of-towners must recognize the fact that the "Interstate" features traffic lights prior to the Ben Franklin Bridge approach in Pennsylvania. The traffic signals prior to the bridge were installed to preserve Franklin Square.

The Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey collects $4 tolls upon drivers returning to the State of Pennsylvania.

Remember, all New Jersey gas stations are full service, and consumers may tip the attendants $1-$5 at their discretion.

Motorists are to cross the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and merge onto U.S. 30 in Camden, NJ. Drivers heading for New York City will follow Route 30 for two miles, prior to the NJ 38 exits. Philadelphia area commuters will bear left at the Airport Circle junction for Route 38 East. The overhead signage claims "Cherry Hill" and features the prominent "To NJTP" banner.

Stay on Route 38 for 3 miles after the 38-70 split to access the Turnpike from a more northerly point. Signage will read 38 East to Mt. Holly and the New Jersey Turnpike. 38 transitions into a divided highway per jersey barrier past Cherry Hill Mall to the NJ 73 exits. 38 - Kaighns Avenue is a relatively fast track, featuring quasi limited-access and the funky right-turn only intersections that are staples of New Jersey transportation.

Next, drivers will bear right through yet another fun house interchange, which reads NJ 73 South to Marlton. Remember to merge onto 73 South and keep right, as the New Jersey Turnpike on ramp will approach quickly and without adequate warning. 73 carries drivers across the 295 exits before approaching The Turnpike.

The New Jersey Turnpike signage features one meager arrow to the highway entrance off 73 - as if the interchange were thrown in as some type of afterthought. The NJTP does not carry any numerical header through South Jersey.

Still, Delaware Valley motorists must note that the connection is heavily trafficked, and one continuous parade of vehicles will pick up the Turnpike at this exit. In fact, The Turnpike carries one additional lane to six lanes across - heading north from NJ 73.

All traffic will stop and pick up a ticket at booths prior to entering the NJTP. The ticket identifies your requisite entry point and tolls are collected corresponding to the distance traveled along this route. The Turnpike charges drivers $7.35 for the 84-mile connection between Exit 4 and the George Washington Bridge.

Follow the "New York and North Sign" for New York City at the Turnpike complex.

Driving Directions to New York City from Philadelphia: The New Jersey Turnpike

The Rules of the Road enter a parallel Universe at the New Jersey Turnpike.

The Turnpike features elongated lane striping, integer exit progressions (1,2,3,4), lengthy distances between interchanges, and an absolute dearth of signage. I can recall one "New York - 90 miles" sign along the entire route, which served to measure distance traveled of any sort. Hence, veterans must appreciate the landscaping and layout of The Turnpike to gauge mileage.

The route is designed as a no-frills conduit of East Coast traffic hell bent upon "trapping" drivers onto the carriageway in order to collect tolls. Indeed, rest stops that serve as memorials to prominent residents of The Garden State are situated at key points along the Turnpike to accommodate the food and fuel demands of interstate traffic. Button-copy font overhead signs are notoriously old and seem to date back towards the road's original 1952 completion.

NJTP begins to open up towards its outrageously wide 4 by 3 dual format at Exit 8A and Dayton, New Jersey. Trucks and cars, not the typical express - local format, delineate the configuration. Meaning, all exits and welcome centers are available from both northbound roadbeds.

The expanded mainline signals that the Turnpike is entering Central New Jersey. Philadelphia drivers must acknowledge that this area is a notorious bottleneck heading south as the 7-lane thoroughfare eventually converges into three lanes at each direction. I-95 signage, rather than "To 95," now lords over The New Jersey Turnpike.

I-95 becomes increasingly more industrial and congested as the route enters Northern New Jersey. The mixing bowl of Eastern Seaboard traffic is greeted with oil refineries, petrochemical complexes, barge traffic, railroads, smoke stacks, and the utilitarian infrastructure that is all too characteristic of the Jersey Tough Guy shtick.

The Turnpike is built for speed and aggressive New York and New Jersey drivers will tear up the highway at ridiculous speeds over 100 mph during the off-peak hours. Defensive motorists and tourists should bear right simply to mitigate the risk of being ran off the road faster than one New York minute.

Driving Directions to New York City from Philadelphia: New York City Bridges and Tunnels

All Hudson River and Kills crossings into the 5 boroughs of New York City are accessible from the I-95 / New Jersey Turnpike. Philadelphia motorists into the Tri-State area will crane their necks to the right to peruse the Manhattan skyline and suspension bridges from the elevated sections of The Turnpike at Northern New Jersey.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey collects $8 cash tolls upon all private passenger vehicles entering The Big Apple. The following shorthand list matches the New York City borough with the requisite NJTP exit and Port Authority span:

Exit 10 / NJ 440 / Outerbridge Crossing for Staten Island

Exit 13 / I-278 / Goethals Bridge for Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island

Exit 14 / I-78 East NJTP Extension / Holland Tunnel for Lower Manhattan

Exit 16E / NJ 495 East / Lincoln Tunnel for Midtown Manhattan

Remain on 95 for GW Bridge to The Bronx via Washington Heights, Manhattan

All New York bridges and tunnels off the New Jersey Turnpike are maddening bottlenecks. The exits mark the confluence of frantic New Yorkers, East Coast commercial traffic, and wide-eyed tourists- funneling themselves towards toll collection booths that feature minimal signage and abrupt off ramps. The fear factor is exacerbated by steep grade elevations towering over the Jersey swampland and garish industrial capacity leading into the New York City connections.

The Lincoln Tunnel into Midtown Manhattan is the most critical Hudson River crossing into New York City for tourists and commuters.

Philadelphians must take care to follow 95 "Lincoln Tunnel" signage over the Jersey swamps. The New Jersey Turnpike will divide prior to the Lincoln Tunnel exits to separate Meadowlands sports traffic and GW Bridge through traffic from locals seeking access to NJ 3 - 495, U.S. 1-9, and The Lincoln Tunnel.

The Lincoln Tunnel exit and approach is a harrowing experience, and drivers must arrive prepared.

Follow Exit 16E off The Turnpike for NJ 3, NJ 495, and the Lincoln Tunnel. Motorists will quickly stop and pay tolls, prior to following guide signage for NJ 495 and the Lincoln Tunnel. I would advise that out-of-town motorists begin to bear right for 495 as quickly as possible to navigate this madhouse interchange.

Fast moving locals will pay tolls and barrel into the mixing bowl to exit onto and off NJ 3 and U.S. 1-9. Meanwhile, NJ 495 is a limited access route, cut into rock, that features a 35 miles per hour speed limit. The meager speed limit is for good cause, as the narrow lanes and lack of viable shoulders indicate that the 495 deathtrap is well beneath interstate standards.

Of course, the daunting voyage into New York City is made all worthwhile, as The Empire State building looms large over The Lincoln Tunnel helix.

New York, New York, the City of Dreams.

Summary Driving Directions to New York City from Philadelphia

1: Take the Benjamin Franklin Bridge into New Jersey.

2: Follow U.S. 30 and Route 38 East for 5 miles onto Route 73 South.

3: 73 quickly meets the New Jersey Turnpike. Take the NJTP North for 80 miles.

4: Exit The Turnpike at Outerbridge Crossing, Goethals Bridge, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, or The George Washington Bridge for New York City.

Driving Directions to New York City from Philadelphia, Sources:

The CIty of Philadelphia, http://www.phila.gov/

New York City, http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/?front_door=true

The New Jersey Turnpike, http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/

Kofi Bofah, New York City Traffic: New York's 5 Most Congested Roads, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2038255/new_york_city_traffic_new_yorks_top5.html?cat=16