The Delaware Water Gap is Pennsylvania Route 209, a shortcut from I-78 to I-84 from Easton, Pennsylvania to Port Jervis, NJ. when going either from or to New England & the Canadian Maritimes.
Still wondering what is going on with the Pennsylvania DOT, we came thru the Delaware Water Gap a couple of days ago, it still has a detour because of a sinkhole around Dingmans Ferry, which was there last October, 2011 when we went south, the sinkhole is on the federal land owned by the Federal Parks people & I guess they must be disputing who fixes it, the detour is very very poorly marked & we missed it driving 35 miles out of our way through the Pocono’s, not a happy experience!
I see where some posters are recommending this; I would advise avoiding it until the sinkhole is fixed or someone marks the detour with some signs......Ernie
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Jackthewonderdog wrote: I hope you were not trying to cross at Dingman's Ferry with anything larger then a car. It has 11 ft clearance and 4 ton wgt limit.
That is the road via the old mines road, we knew about that restriction.
Seems odd that a highway as popular as this one (209) would not be better marked, that it has a detour and the detour better marked.
Canuck Travellers wrote: The Delaware Water Gap is Pennsylvania Route 209, a shortcut from I-78 to I-84 from Easton, Pennsylvania to Port Jervis, NJ. when going either from or to New England & the Canadian Maritimes.
Still wondering what is going on with the Pennsylvania DOT, we came thru the Delaware Water Gap a couple of days ago, it still has a detour because of a sinkhole around Dingmans Ferry, which was there last October, 2011 when we went south, the sinkhole is on the federal land owned by the Federal Parks people & I guess they must be disputing who fixes it, the detour is very very poorly marked & we missed it driving 35 miles out of our way through the Pocono’s, not a happy experience!
I see where some posters are recommending this; I would advise avoiding it until the sinkhole is fixed or someone marks the detour with some signs......Ernie
I always thought that 209 was the Ho Chi Mhin Trail running from I-80 in Pa up to Port Jarvis, New York. Used to be the worst 35 miles of 2 lane to travel. Must be a lot different now.
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Quote: I always thought that 209 was the Ho Chi Mhin Trail running from I-80 in Pa up to Port Jarvis, New York. Used to be the worst 35 miles of 2 lane to travel. Must be a lot different now.
No, sorry not any different,maybe worse, great example though (Ho Chi Mhin Trail)!
It is even worse if you hit it on Sundays, bad road, congested, filled with slow moving traffic, rough, traffic lights, construction, sinkhole, poorly laid out detour or no detour signs at all.
I guess it is my fault for going thru this route for several years (slow learner I guess) but never never again.
I hear I-81 has a lot of construction around Scranton so going from north to south or vice-versa from I-84 near Newburg to I-81 near Harrisburg, it might be better to go I-87/I-287/I-78 to I-81. Only negative is tolls on I-87 and possibly a lot of traffic?
Any other thoughts on a better route?
Mileage I-84 near Newburg to I-81 near Harrisburg via I-84/I-81 is 192 Miles (Scranton Route)
Mileage I-84 near Newburg to I-81 near Harrisburg via I-84/I-87/I-287/I-78 is 188 Miles
Mileage I-84 near Newburg to I-81 near Harrisburg via I-84/Pa 209/I-80/Pa 33/I78 is 176 Miles (Delaware Water Gap)
So mileage is almost a wash.
Mileage I-84 near Newburg to I-81 near Harrisburg via I-84/I-81 is 192 Miles (Scranton Route)
Mileage I-84 near Newburg to I-81 near Harrisburg via I-84/I-87/I-287/I-78 is 188 Miles
Mileage I-84 near Newburg to I-81 near Harrisburg via I-84/Pa 209/I-80/Pa 33/I78 is 176 Miles (Delaware Water Gap)
So mileage is almost a wash.
Thanks for any suggestions....Ernie
If it were me I'd take your first option...I-84 to Scranton and then I-81 south....I think that is the easiest way and didn't think the Scranton construction is that bad...but of course, since I am a PA resident, I may just be used to it
Thanks johnwalkerpa1, I kinda lean to the I-84/I-87/I-287/I-78 route as we like to overnight at Cabelas at Hamburg on I-78 at exit 29, it is a great stop over, safe, restaurants & Wi-Fi and big lot & a dump station, breaks up the route when we are going south as our night before is in Lewiston, Maine or going north our night before is in Pedros South of the Border Campground, North Carolina/South Carolina State Line.
Of course if using the Scranton route this is by-passed.
Thanks.....Ernie.
We go up to Boothbay, Maine in the summer from Florida. I81/I84 was our prefered route for years. But last spring it was a parking lot at several locations. Came back I78/I81 last fall with few problems other than a bridge repair detour in the Va/Tenn area. I have also used 209 as an alternate several times but the road has degraded over the last few years. The I287/87 segement is heavy traffic bit not so bad at mid day. I've also run north on I91 and crossed Vermont and New Hampshire then across central Maine to the coast, but haven't found a good route for a big rig that way.
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